Sunak says he ‘can’t do everything’ after spring statement criticism
Rishi Sunak has said more financial support could be announced later this year to tackle spiralling energy bills but stressed he could not solve “every problem”, after criticism of the mini budget designed to tackle the cost of living crisis.
In a terse defence of the measures revealed on Wednesday, which critics said would fail to stem the biggest fall in living standards on record, the chancellor insisted that a 5p cut to fuel duty, a rise in the national insurance threshold and the promise of an income tax cut in two years’ time “will make a difference”.
“They will put money in the pockets of hardworking British families because this government wants to support them through these challenging months ahead,” he said.
After facing criticism for announcing no further support for those on universal credit, who will see their benefits rise by just 3% while inflation leaps to nearly 8%, Sunak retorted that “we can’t do everything”.
Pressed on why he did not reinstate the £20 uplift put in place when the Covid outbreak began, Sunak said that the government “did some things temporarily in the pandemic, which have ended” but those were “not the right and appropriate interventions now”.
With energy bills expected to grow by up to 54% when the price cap is raised next month, Sunak suggested he could intervene again to help those struggling to heat their homes by the time the cap is reviewed again in October.
Asked if he may be forced to provide more financial support, Sunak told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Yes: of course, we’ll have to see where we are by the autumn and it’s it’s right for people to recognise that they are protected between now and the autumn because of the price cap.
“I always keep everything under review and the
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