Tory minister says leadership race during cost of living crisis 'deeply regrettable'

Tory minister outlines long leadership race of his party as "deeply regrettable" during a cost of living crisis.

Matt Warman said the months-long decision to find the new prime minister was "disruptive" and said the consequences had been warned even before Boris Johnson was ousted from office.

But with less than a week to go until the new Prime Minister takes office, "it's like that", he told Sky News.

The government has made it clear that no action can be taken on the crisis until the new Prime Minister is in place.

Mr Warman's comments came as thousands of pubs warned they would have to close without help to pay their soaring energy bills this winter.

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Two former Tory education secretaries have also warned of a looming crisis in UK schools.

< p>M. Warman, who supports the leadership of the Rishi Sunak campaign, said: "It was widely underlined before Boris Johnson stepped down, how disruptive this process would be. It is deeply regrettable and it is truer than ever, but I think, as I said, there is less than a week left, which is what it is right now."

When asked about the duration of the contest, he added: "I don't set the rules on how long it takes to pass this contest, but I personally think I would have preferred it if I had it took a little less time yes.

"I think when the party considers what the rules might look like in the future, I guess it will be something that a lot of people will be interested in, but it's not an issue that we can address right now, we have less than a week before the new Prime Minister is in place."

He also said he supported the targeted principles behind the support described by former Chancellor Mr Sunak earlier this year, "which are to focus aid on those who need it most, but also to recognize that some degree of universality is the right thing."

“I think for me the most important thing is that we target those who need it the most,” he said, “we target the most vulnerable… but recognize that everyone needs it. of help”.

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He added: "It is right that the next Prime Minister makes these decisions."