Help for households may have to wait till autumn, minister warns

A MINISTER today told struggling families they may have to wait until the autumn before the Government decides on a fresh package of financial support to ease the cost of living crisis.

- David Bond

There are growing calls for outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the two Tory leadership contenders to act now to alleviate what has been described as a "national emergency".

But Leader of the Commons Mark Spencer said ministers were waiting to assess the "full extent of the challenge" before taking further action.

His comments come as Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi and Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng were holding talks today with the bosses of the UK's big energy firms to discuss the crisis and how they might help people as they face soaring energy bills this autumn and winter.