Boris Johnson hits out at Rishi Sunak over VAT U-turn on energy bill

The outgoing prime minister said the controversial decision would be "easier than we thought" in a thinly veiled inquiry into the former chancellor during a a speech at the Commonwealth Business Forum in Birmingham

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Boris Johnson delivers a speech ahead of the Commonwealth Games

Boris Johnson weighed in on Rishi Sunak this morning following the former Chancellor's announcement that he would reduce VAT on energy bills.

Speaking at the Commonwealth Business Forum in Birmingham, the outgoing Prime Minister said the move would be "easier than we thought".

He made the remark after Mr Sunak was accused of flip-flopping on the VAT, having previously opposed the move while in Cabinet.

Addressing the race to succeed him, Mr Johnson told the audience: 'We now come to the next stage of the great political relay race.

"By the way, I didn't think it was supposed to be a relay race when I started.

"I can assure you that the baton will be passed seamlessly and invisibly to someone else's hand."

Rishi Sunak said he intends to reduce VAT on energy bills to deal with the cost of living crisis (

Picture:

REUTERS)

He added: "I give you this assurance, they will continue with the same program, reducing taxes, simplifying the regulations as much as possible, taking advantage of all our new regulatory freedoms, getting rid of all charges, from solvency to MiFID to VAT on fuel - turns out to be easier than we thought."

Mr. Johnson also lashed out at "spoilsport" rail unions which he said could "unnecessarily" disrupt the Commonwealth Games.

He said: "The organizers will be biting their nails because this is the moment of greatest terror.

"Will the transport system hold up, will the RMT spoilsports make things painfully, needlessly, unnecessarily difficult?"

The Prime Minister, who is due to leave office on September 6 and is reportedly trying to find a safe seat for the next general election...