Pressure On PM As Inflation Soars

BORIS Johnson hinted at future help for people struggling with the rising cost of living, but there was no immediate extra support as inflation hit a 40-year high.

The Prime Minister and Chancellor Rishi Sunak are under intense pressure to act after Consumer Prices Index inflation soared to 9% in the year to April, up from 7% in March, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Mr. Sunak warned that he could not "protect people completely" from the cost-of-living squeeze, but the Prime Minister promised to "look at all the measures that we need" to get people "through to the other side" of the inflation spike.

Mr. Johnson suggested that part of the rise in energy prices was because of the "tough" decision to sanction Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.

The rise in CPI was the fastest measured rate since records began in 1989, and the ONS estimates it was the highest since 1982.