Cost Of Living Help Coming In ‘Months', Says PM After Earlier Pledging It In Days

Boris Johnson has promised more help with living costs “in the months ahead”, stepping back from his suggestion on Tuesday that he would announce new support measures within days.

- Liam James

The apparent climbdown came after Michael Gove denied there would be an emergency budget.

The levelling up secretary yesterday played down the prime minister's statement to MPs the day before that he would say more about financial support “in the days to come”. The remark was “overinterpreted”, Mr Gove said.

Despite support for an emergency budget among opposition parties and some Conservative backbenchers, Mr Gove said the government would not take such a measure to tackle the cost of living crisis. He said ministers were working on their own policies that “will be announced by individual departments in due course”.

Mr Johnson on Tuesday told ministers to “go faster” and be “as creative as possible” in devising measures to help struggling households.