Row Over Chancellor's US 'Junket' During Energy Crisis

Nadhim Zahawi is under fire for flying to the US for a "junket" in his dying days as chancellor, while the public are in the dark about help with rocketing energy bills.

- Rob Merrick

The chancellor is spending several days across the Atlantic for discussions about financial services cooperation, support for Ukraine and energy security, the Treasury said. But the visit comes when Mr Zahawi has no real power in the job he was handed by Boris Johnson in early July, as he is almost certain to be removed, whoever wins the Tory leadership race next Monday. Liz Truss, the overwhelming favourite, is expected to appoint business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng to No 11 - with Mr Zahawi tipped to be demoted to health secretary.

Labour attacked the visit while the public are "desperately worried about the massive rise in energy bills" and both the government and the leadership contenders are silent. "We're stuck with this do-nothing Tory government. Now we discover the chancellor is jetting off to an international chinwag,” said James Murray, a shadow Treasury minister.

"Rather than going on another junket at the taxpayer's expense, the chancellor should start listening to people here at home and implementing Labour's fully funded plan freeze energy bills."