Minister insists 10 days 'not long' to wait for energy bills helps plan

Boris Johnson, still Prime Minister until next month, took two days off in the past month - and offered no new measures to helping with the crisis since May

Image: PA)

Ten days is 'not long' for the public to wait for news on how the government will help them cope with spiraling bills, a senior minister said today .

Families are growing increasingly worried about the cost of living crisis, accusing Boris Johnson of presiding over a 'zombie government' for months during the long Tory leadership race.

Boris Johnson, still prime minister until next month, took a two-day vacation last month and has offered no new measures to deal with the crisis since May.

But Environment Secretary George Eustice insisted people "don't have long to wait" to find out what the next prime minister will do.

He said the two Tory leadership candidates have already set out "some specific things" they would do to ease the burden, but it's true that whoever lands the top job "wants to look at all the properly encrypted options" when they come into operation.

Among contenders to replace Mr Johnson as Prime Minister, Liz Truss is said to be willing to make extra winter fuel payments to pensioners to ease the burden - although she has insisted in the past on the tax cuts rather than "handouts".< /p>

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While his rival Rishi Sunak said he would provide additional support targeted at the most vulnerable.

Mr. Eustice told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We announced a package of measures in June which was a £400 rebate for everyone and then additional support for the most vulnerable.

"Both candidates said they would do more. You don't have long to wait, there will be a new prime minister in place in about 10 days."

He added: "This is when the new Prime Minister should consider options and make decisions. And they have both made it clear that this will be absolutely at the top of their basket."

He added, "I think it's fair that when...