Rishi Sunak has said cost of living support delivering hundreds of pounds to every household will have a “minimal impact” on inflation – and suggested those who do not need it could give the money to charity.
The chancellor told Sky News that the announcement of new measures worth £15bn to ease the burden on squeezed households was “targeted at those most in need”.
Under the plans, every home will see £400 knocked off their energy bills – an upgrade from a previous policy of loaning them £200 to be repaid over five years – while eight million of the most vulnerable will also receive £650.
Labour said it was wrong that someone owning more than one home could be receiving the government help multiple times.
Politics live: Chancellor Rishi Sunak defends cost of living package
Mr Sunak’s support package comes at a time when inflation of 9%, a 40-year high, is squeezing households’ spending power, largely thanks to soaring bills for gas and electricity – which are…
