Liz Truss rejects energy bill help as ‘Gordon Brown economics’

Cost of living crisis dominates latest Tory hustings as foreign secretary rules out tax rise to fund government help

Liz Truss has said she rejects the Gordon Brown economics" of helping people directly with bills as her rival, Rishi Sunak, warned the British people will not forgive us" if vulnerable households do not get extra help this winter.

At the latest Conservative hustings, the former chancellor said he would not be prepared to spend sums similar to the help offered earlier this year, and that support should be more targeted. He said: I don't think that will be necessary because what we are talking about now ... is the extra increase on top of what we thought.