In an exclusive interview with Kay Burley, he accused Russia of using energy to divide Western countries, but insisted the UK must continue to support Ukraine. Mr Zahawi promised that there would be additional help for struggling families. But he stuck to the Downing Street line that it would be up to the new prime minister – due to be named on Monday – to decide what form it would take. The chancellor’s comments come as the Resolution Foundation warns that British households are on course for the deepest squeeze in living standards in a century, with real household disposable income expected to fall by 10% this year and next. Politics Hub: Truss and Sunak split on how to tackle energy crisis Mr Zahawi was speaking to Kay Burley during a visit to Washington, where the administration is working on plans with the US to stop Russian President Vladimir Putin profiting from high oil prices. “We have a cost of living crisis, [with] much of it is due to the high level of energy costs being used by Putin as a weapon to get back at us for helping Ukraine,” he said. “So this international cooperation is incredibly important, because we need to send a message to Vladimir Putin… [that it is] he is not going to work to separate us. “We will remain resolute. We will remain committed to helping Ukraine get its country back.” Asked how long the UK could continue its support as the crisis grows at home, the chancellor said prices would be “much higher” if Britain left and Europe needed to “coordinate”. Subscribe to Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts “We have to be decisive and remember why we are doing this,” Mr Zahawi told Kay Burley. “There is war on our continent. “Very few people predicted it. Wars are fought in far away places. And our answer now [is] our ability to stay strong. “[But] Of course, we have to make sure as the chancellor, as a government, that we help those families who need the help and target that help.” “Nothing off the table” The minister refused to elaborate on what steps either Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak would take if they took the keys to Downing Street next week, with both candidates remaining tight-lipped on their exact plans. But he promised the Treasury had prepared “all options” and “nothing is off the table”, adding: “It would be irresponsible of a chancellor to start talking numbers before there is a new prime minister at number 10.” But Mr Zahawi admitted he was “deeply concerned” about people freezing at home this winter when they can’t turn on the heating and his “preference” was to target any help to those on the lowest incomes. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 4:53 How will energy prices hit households? Pressed on whether he could guarantee that no one would be cut off because they couldn’t pay their bills, the chancellor said: “No one should be cut off because they can’t pay their bills. “I’m working with the companies … to make sure that these people who are really struggling get that help both financially and personally.” He added: “My promise to your viewers is that we will deliver the £37 billion [the support package announced earlier this year]… but we will go beyond that because we know we have to send the message to Mr Putin that this strategy is not going to work, so we have to target aid to the most vulnerable to enable us to expand it help as much as we can. “And then, of course, make sure that we remain committed as a coalition to continue to help Ukraine. They are paying with their lives, with their blood. What we have to do is make sure that we continue.” Big appeal for the next PM Fears are mounting over upcoming rises in energy bills after regulator Ofgem announced last month that the price cap would rise by 80% in October – leaving the average household paying £3,549 a year for gas and electricity drift. In addition, food prices rose at their fastest pace since 2008 in August – up 9.3% after rising 7% last month – and headline inflation is at a 40-year high. The government is under increasing pressure to announce more support to help homes and businesses cope. But outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson insisted it was up to his successor to decide what moves to make. With just days to go until the next prime minister is announced, front-runner Ms Truss gave the strongest indication yet that she would provide further support to households to help with rising energy costs. Image: Conservative leadership candidates Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak stand together at the latest event in London Speaking at the final showdown of the Tory leadership race at Wembley last night, the Foreign Secretary – who had previously ruled out ‘leaflets’ – reiterated her two main priorities, cutting taxes and securing the UK’s energy supply Vassiliou, but added: “In a fiscal In the event that the chancellor will deal with the issue of household support.” She also pledged that there would be no energy cuts under her prime ministership. But her rival, former chancellor Mr Sunak, gave a more cautious response when pressed on the same issue, saying: “We shouldn’t rule anything out.” He said he was “delighted” to bring in a windfall tax to pay for the current support offered to households, adding: “It is absolutely the right thing to do when energy companies are making billions of pounds in profits because of a war. .” But Ms Truss ruled out using such a measure again. Sunak supporter and Tory MP Mark Harper told Sky News that Ms Truss’ plans – which have so far focused on tax cuts rather than direct support – will not “stick” because they “simply don’t help people”. He added: “[Cutting] Taxes are great for people who pay a lot of taxes, but you can’t help people who don’t pay a lot of taxes by cutting their taxes.” After the new Tory leader and UK prime minister is announced on Monday, they will travel to Balmoral on Tuesday to be officially appointed by the Queen, before returning to Westminster to face their first PMQs on Wednesday.


title: “No One Should Cut Themselves Off This Winter Because They Can T Afford Their Energy Bills Says Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi Political News Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-31” author: “Anthony Jones”


In an exclusive interview with Kay Burley, he accused Russia of using energy to divide Western countries, but insisted the UK must continue to support Ukraine. Mr Zahawi promised that there would be additional help for struggling families. But he stuck to the Downing Street line that it would be up to the new prime minister – due to be named on Monday – to decide what form it would take. The chancellor’s comments come as the Resolution Foundation warns that British households are on course for the deepest squeeze in living standards in a century, with real household disposable income expected to fall by 10% this year and next. Politics Hub: Truss and Sunak split on how to tackle energy crisis Mr Zahawi was speaking to Kay Burley during a visit to Washington, where the administration is working on plans with the US to stop Russian President Vladimir Putin profiting from high oil prices. “We have a cost of living crisis, [with] much of it is due to the high level of energy costs being used by Putin as a weapon to get back at us for helping Ukraine,” he said. “So this international cooperation is incredibly important, because we need to send a message to Vladimir Putin… [that it is] he is not going to work to separate us. “We will remain resolute. We will remain committed to helping Ukraine get its country back.” Asked how long the UK could continue its support as the crisis grows at home, the chancellor said prices would be “much higher” if Britain left and Europe needed to “coordinate”. Subscribe to Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts “We have to be decisive and remember why we are doing this,” Mr Zahawi told Kay Burley. “There is war on our continent. “Very few people predicted it. Wars are fought in far away places. And our answer now [is] our ability to stay strong. “[But] Of course, we have to make sure as the chancellor, as a government, that we help those families who need the help and target that help.” “Nothing off the table” The minister refused to elaborate on what steps either Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak would take if they took the keys to Downing Street next week, with both candidates remaining tight-lipped on their exact plans. But he promised the Treasury had prepared “all options” and “nothing is off the table”, adding: “It would be irresponsible of a chancellor to start talking numbers before there is a new prime minister at number 10.” But Mr Zahawi admitted he was “deeply concerned” about people freezing at home this winter when they can’t turn on the heating and his “preference” was to target any help to those on the lowest incomes. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 4:53 How will energy prices hit households? Pressed on whether he could guarantee that no one would be cut off because they couldn’t pay their bills, the chancellor said: “No one should be cut off because they can’t pay their bills. “I’m working with the companies … to make sure that these people who are really struggling get that help both financially and personally.” He added: “My promise to your viewers is that we will deliver the £37 billion [the support package announced earlier this year]… but we will go beyond that because we know we have to send the message to Mr Putin that this strategy is not going to work, so we have to target aid to the most vulnerable to enable us to expand it help as much as we can. “And then, of course, make sure that we remain committed as a coalition to continue to help Ukraine. They are paying with their lives, with their blood. What we have to do is make sure that we continue.” Big appeal for the next PM Fears are mounting over upcoming rises in energy bills after regulator Ofgem announced last month that the price cap would rise by 80% in October – leaving the average household paying £3,549 a year for gas and electricity drift. In addition, food prices rose at their fastest pace since 2008 in August – up 9.3% after rising 7% last month – and headline inflation is at a 40-year high. The government is under increasing pressure to announce more support to help homes and businesses cope. But outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson insisted it was up to his successor to decide what moves to make. With just days to go until the next prime minister is announced, front-runner Ms Truss gave the strongest indication yet that she would provide further support to households to help with rising energy costs. Image: Conservative leadership candidates Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak stand together at the latest event in London Speaking at the final showdown of the Tory leadership race at Wembley last night, the Foreign Secretary – who had previously ruled out ‘leaflets’ – reiterated her two main priorities, cutting taxes and securing the UK’s energy supply Vassiliou, but added: “In a fiscal In the event that the chancellor will deal with the issue of household support.” She also pledged that there would be no energy cuts under her prime ministership. But her rival, former chancellor Mr Sunak, gave a more cautious response when pressed on the same issue, saying: “We shouldn’t rule anything out.” He said he was “delighted” to bring in a windfall tax to pay for the current support offered to households, adding: “It is absolutely the right thing to do when energy companies are making billions of pounds in profits because of a war. .” But Ms Truss ruled out using such a measure again. Sunak supporter and Tory MP Mark Harper told Sky News that Ms Truss’ plans – which have so far focused on tax cuts rather than direct support – will not “stick” because they “simply don’t help people”. He added: “[Cutting] Taxes are great for people who pay a lot of taxes, but you can’t help people who don’t pay a lot of taxes by cutting their taxes.” After the new Tory leader and UK prime minister is announced on Monday, they will travel to Balmoral on Tuesday to be officially appointed by the Queen, before returning to Westminster to face their first PMQs on Wednesday.