Boris Johnson news – live: Khan refuses to back Starmer rule changes as Brown slams ‘callous’ UC benefit cut

Sadiq Khan today repeatedly refused to be drawn on if he supports Sir Keir Starmer’s plan to change the Labour Party’s leadership election rules.

Under the controversial proposals Labour would ditch the one member, one vote system and replace it with an electoral college system which would give MPs and unions a stronger say in future leadership contests.

Mr Khan was asked on three occasions if he supported the alterations suggested by Labour but said that “internal party rules isn’t at the fore of my mind”.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Gordon Brown lambasted ministers for an upcoming cut to universal credit, adding that he had never seen a government act “so callously”.

He also called the withdrawal of the £20-a-week uplift “more economically illogical, socially divisive and morally indefensible than anything I have witnessed in this country’s politics”.

It comes as Boris Johnson has told leaders at the UN the world is not “indestructible” and that the upcoming climate summit in Glasgow is “the turning point for humanity”.

The prime minister was addressing the General Assembly in the early hours on Thursday in the final act of his US visit, where he also discussed the Covid-19 pandemic and trade.

Read More

Boris Johnson calls on world leaders to be ‘awesome’ at Glasgow climate summit

Keir Starmer faces defeat over Labour rule changes after frosty reception from unions

Priti Patel’s asylum plan will break international law, says UNHCR

Key Points

• Sadiq Khan refuses to back Keir Starmer over Labour leadership rules

• ‘I have never seen a government act so callously’: Gordon Brown condemns universal credit cut

• Minister says taxes would need to rise by £6billion to keep £20 UC uplift

• Boris Johnson says Glasgow climate summit a ‘turning point for humanity’

• Keir Starmer’s ‘10 principles’ for power leave out pledges that won him Labour leadership

• London mayor Sadiq Khan calls violence against women and girls an 'epidemic’

• Kwasi Kwarteng tells Commons the Government will not be bailing out energy firms

• Labour leader faces defeat over rule changes after frosty reception from unions

Good morning

07:52 , Joe Middleton

Hello and welcome to The Independent’s rolling coverage of politics news from the heart of Westminster and beyond.

Boris Johnson says Glasgow climate summit a ‘turning point for humanity’

07:56 , Joe Middleton

Boris Johnson has called on world leaders to be “awesome” at November’s climate change summit in Glasgow, as he completed a US visit which has heightened expectations of a deal to curb global warming.

The prime minister said he had upgraded his assessment of the chances of success in Glasgow from six out of 10, following a $5bn (£3.7bn) climate finance pledge from Joe Biden and a Chinese promise to stop building coal-fired power stations overseas, writes The Independent’s political editor Andrew Woodcock.

But he stepped up pressure on Beijing to follow up its initiative by also swearing off investment in the fossil fuel domestically, at a time when 43 new coal-fired power plants and 18 blast furnaces are slated for construction in China.

In a keynote speech to the United Nations general assembly in New York, Mr Johnson said that Glasgow must mark “a turning point for humanity”, when countries come together to throw off the adolescent belief that they can continue trashing their home planet for their own gratification without reaping the consequences.

Boris Johnson calls on world leaders to be ‘awesome’ at Glasgow climate summit

Keir Starmer’s ‘10 principles’ for power leave out pledges that won him Labour leadership

07:59 , Joe Middleton

Keir Starmer has unveiled “10 key principles” behind his pitch for power, but omitted many of the left-wing pledges that helped win him the Labour leadership.

Promises to pursue “economic justice”, “common ownership”, “equality” and to “defend migrants’ rights” are not mentioned in a 14,000-word essay released ahead of a make-or-break party conference.

Instead, the Labour leader’s “10 simple key principles” include to “put hard-working families first”, to reward people who “work hard and play by the rules”, and to restore “honesty, decency and transparency in public life”.

The Independent’s deputy political editor Rob Merrick reports.

Keir Starmer’s ‘10 principles’ for power leave out left-wing campaign pledges

Liz Truss set to push for Mexico’s support for UK to join international trade pact

08:07 , Joe Middleton

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will push for Mexico’s support for the UK to join an international trade pact as she visits the country on Thursday.

She will travel to Mexico from the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where she has represented the UK with Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

It comes after Mr Johnson conceded an agreement with the US was not about to be struck, following meetings with President Joe Biden.

But Ms Truss will focus on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and discuss plans to develop a new and updated deal between the UK and Mexico.

The CPTPP is a free trade agreement between Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

The UK applied to join in February, and in June the CPTPP announced that the accession process would begin.

Ms Truss said: “Closer ties with Mexico are a key part of our plan to strengthen economic, security and diplomatic links with like-minded allies who share our belief in free enterprise and free trade.”

Minister says taxes would need to rise by £6billion to keep £20 UC uplift

08:18 , Joe Middleton

Business minister Paul Scully has said taxes would need to rise to keep the £20 weekly Universal Credit uplift.

He told Sky News: “The Chancellor... will look at the whole aspect of public finances in the Budget and the Spending Review that is coming up.

“But if you were to reverse the Universal Credit as it is, you would have to put up income tax by the equivalent of a penny and 3p on fuel.

“You have to find £6 billion from somewhere.”

Put to him that “most people would accept putting a penny on income tax” to pay to keep the uplift, he added: “What I’m saying is you have to find £6 billion from somewhere and what you don’t want to be doing, for the lowest paid in particular, is giving with one hand and taking and increasing taxes with the other.”

Keir Starmer faces defeat over Labour rule changes after frosty reception from unions

08:35 , Joe Middleton

Keir Starmer is facing the prospect of defeat or a humiliating U-turn over his plans to change Labour leadership election rules, after he failed to secure the backing of trade unions at a crucial meeting.

A rejection or backtrack over the controversial plans would be a major blow to Sir Keir’s authority ahead of his first in-person party conference as leader, which is due to kick off in Brighton at the weekend. Critics have even raised the possibility of a fresh leadership election if he presses ahead with the proposals.

The Labour leader met with union chiefs at the party’s trade union liaison committee on Wednesday, and was hoping to secure their votes for the changes on Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and at conference next week.

But The Independent understands that all unions in the room were either hesitant or outright opposed to the rule change, leaving Sir Keir with the choice of either shelving the changes or pressing ahead and potentially losing the vote.

Policy correspondent Jon Stone has the details.

Keir Starmer faces defeat over Labour rule changes after frosty reception from unions

‘We have an epidemic when it comes to violence against women and girls’ - Sadiq Khan

08:41 , Joe Middleton

London mayor Sadiq Khan has called violence against women and girls an “epidemic”, urged men to be “allies” and said that misogyny should be made a hate crime.

It comes amid a national outcry over violence against women following a number of high-profile crimes including the murder of Sarah Everard, who was abducted from the street in Clapham, south London, and the recent murder of primary school teacher Sabina Nessa, who was attacked while walking in a park in Kidbrooke, south-east London.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain, Mr Khan said misogyny should be made a hate crime, and harassment in a public space against women should be a criminal offence.

He said: “Between last year’s International Women’s Day and this year’s International Women’s Day, 180 women were killed at the hands of men across the country.

“We do have an epidemic when it comes to violence against women and girls.

“I think us men have got to be allies in addressing this issue.”

Minister says Government aims to scrap PCR tests for travelling abroad

08:50 , Joe Middleton

Business minister Paul Scully said the Government could scrap the need to take departure and arrival PCR tests when travelling abroad, from as early as the October half-term holiday.

Asked on Sky News whether PCR tests would be scrapped in time for half-term, the minister said: “That’s absolutely the aim.

“We’ve got to get the systems in place because we want to move to lateral flow tests to make it easier and cheaper for people to be able to enjoy those holidays at half-term.

“The aim is later on in October.

“We know that half-term is looming, we know people want to get away, but we also want to encourage business travel as well, because that is investment in the UK, it is investment in jobs and creates opportunities for people.”

Sadiq Khan calls for climate action as London faces heat and floods

09:05 , Joe Middleton

The climate crisis is one of the biggest challenges facing London with millions already at risk from soaring temperatures and worsening floods, Sadiq Khan will say today.

In a major address ahead of Cop26, the pivotal summit taking place in Glasgow, the London mayor will warn that “time is running out” to get the world on track for meeting the Paris Agreement goals and urge the government to show climate leadership.

Nearly half of London’s hospitals, one in five schools and a quarter of the city’s rail stations are already at risk of flooding, according to City Hall analysis.

The Independent’s climate correspondent Daisy Dunne reports.

Sadiq Khan calls for urgent climate action as London faces soaring heat and floods

We won’t bail out energy firms says minister

09:15 , Joe Middleton

Minister for Small Business Paul Scully told BBC Breakfast that the Government will not bail out small energy companies.

said: “We are not going to bail out companies where there business model cannot be sustained. But what we are interested in doing is protecting consumers.

“We want to make sure they have continuity of supply, we want to make sure we can keep their prices as keen as possible and we are doing that through the Price Cap and the Warms Homes Discount.”

Priti Patel’s asylum plan will break international law, says UNHCR

09:30 , Joe Middleton

Priti Patel’s new asylum plan stigmatises those seeking asylum in the UK as “unworthy and unwelcome” and creates a two-tier system that would be in violation of international law, the UN Refugee Agency has said.

The UK Nationality and Borders Bill, which the government has introduced in order to deter people from attempting “illegal” entry into the UK, will create a “lower class of status” for the majority of refugees who arrive in the country spontaneously, the UNHCR said.

The bill, which was published in July and is currently going through parliament, would make it a criminal offence for an asylum-seeker to arrive in the UK without permission. Asylum seekers would face up to four years in prison if convicted.

The Independent’s Tom Batchelor reports.

Priti Patel’s asylum plan will break international law, says UNHCR

Iceland boss ‘not overly concerned’ over lack of supplies at Christmas

09:40 , Joe Middleton

Richard Walker, managing director of Iceland, has said he is “not overly concerned” about a lack of supplies at Christmas because the shortages are hitting fresh produce first, but warned food prices could rise this winter due to “inflationary pressures” on supermarkets.

He told Sky News: “We’re fortunate, we’re obviously frozen experts, we’ve got lots and lots of stock fully available so I’m not overly concerned and certainly there’s no need for customers to panic buy, we certainly don’t want to go back to those dark days.

“But I do think it’s right to sound the alarm bell on some of these issues that we’re facing because if they’re not sorted, then we might have some issues.

“But it’s more issues within the fresh chamber than it is frozen.

“We’re also facing inflationary pressures because of all the things that we’ve talked about.

“I’m also concerned about retail selling prices as well as we get into the winter and into 2022.”

Judge calls for Patel to open public inquiry into Salisbury attack

09:51 , Joe Middleton

A judge has called for the home secretary to “urgently” establish a public inquiry into the death of Dawn Sturgess, who was poisoned by novichok after the Salisbury attack.

It would also cover the attempted murder of Sergei Skripal, allegations of Russian state responsibility and involvement of GRU agents named as suspects by British police.

Priti Patel was accused of delaying the process at a hearing on Wednesday, after refusing to indicate if she would be willing to convert an existing inquest into a public inquiry.

The Independent’s security correspondent Lizzie Dearden has the details.

Judge calls for Priti Patel to ‘urgently’ open public inquiry into Salisbury attack

Government launches consultation on flexible working

10:04 , Joe Middleton

The Government has today launched a consultation on plans to give everyone the right to request flexible working from the first day in a job.

The move, reported earlier this week, will lead to 2.2 million more people given the right, rather than having to wait for six months under current arrangements, said ministers.

The consultation will also consider cutting the current three-month period an employer has to consider any request.

The Government said a range of flexible working methods will also be looked at, including job-sharing, flexitime, compressed hours and phased retirement, as well as working from home, a trend which has accelerated as a result of the pandemic.

A day-one right to a week’s unpaid leave for carers balancing a job with caring responsibilities is also being planned.

Ministers said there were some circumstances where businesses will not be able to offer flexible working, so they should still be able to reject a request if they have sound business reasons.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “Empowering workers to have more say over where and when they work makes for more productive businesses and happier employees.

“It was once considered a ‘nice to have’, but by making requests a day-one right, we’re making flexible working part of the DNA of businesses across the country.

“A more engaged and productive workforce, a higher calibre of applicants and better retention rates - the business case for flexible working is compelling.”

But Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner, who is also shadow future of work secretary, said it reflected “another broken manifesto promise”.

She said: “Labour will give workers the right to flexible working - not just the right to request it. Labour will make flexible working a force for good so that everyone is able to enjoy the benefits of flexible working, from a better work-life balance to less time commuting and more time with their family.”

‘We can’t arrest our way out of a drugs death crisis'

10:23 , Joe Middleton

Scotland’s drugs minister has defended a change in stance which will allow police to issue warnings to those caught with drugs such as heroin or cocaine, saying: “We can’t arrest our way out of a drugs death crisis.”

Angela Constance hit back after the Conservatives claimed the new approach - announced by Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain QC - amounts to “defacto decriminalisation”.

Police officers can already use their discretion to issue warnings to those caught with Class B and C drugs - such as barbiturates and cannabis.

Ms Bain announced on Wednesday that that power is now being extended to Class A substances, which also include ecstasy, crack cocaine and magic mushrooms.

Describing the change as a “smart use of the law”, Ms Constance said it will be at the discretion of police whether a warning is issued, and she stressed this will only be an option in cases of possession for individual use, not where someone is suspected of being involved in supplying drugs to others.

She hailed the move as “very significant” as Scotland aims to reduce drugs deaths - which reached a record 1,339 in 2020.

‘We are working tirelessly’ to secure Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s release, Foreign Secretary says

10:36 , Joe Middleton

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said she would continue to work for Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s release “until she returns home”.

In a statement, the Cabinet minister said: “Today marks 2,000 days since Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s cruel separation from her family.

“She is going through an appalling ordeal.

“We are working tirelessly to secure her return home to her family.

“I pressed the Iranian foreign minister on this yesterday and will continue to press until she returns home.”

Kwasi Kwarteng tells Commons the Government will not be bailing out energy firms

10:46 , Joe Middleton

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, responding to an urgent question in the Commons, told MPs that the government would not be bailing out failed energy companies and said the energy price cap would remain in place.

He said: “The Government has been clear that protecting consumers is our primary focus and shapes our entire approach to this.

“We will continue to protect consumers with the energy price cap.

“The solution to this crisis will be found from the industry and the market, as is already happening, and the Government - I repeat - will not be bailing out failed energy companies.”

Mr Kwarteng maintained the price cap will remain in place and has insisted the industry and market will find the solution to the energy crisis.

Ed Miliband tells MPs the Government has been ‘complacent’ about the gas crisis

10:56 , Joe Middleton

Shadow business secretary Ed Miliband said the Government had been “far too complacent” about the gas crisis, after he made warnings earlier in the week.

The Labour MP, speaking in the House of Commons, added: “Events since have unfortunately borne this out: complacent about the crisis in the market, complacent about the impact on families, complacent about the cost of living crisis.

“He pretended on Monday and again today that it was normal for a number of suppliers to go down each winter, but what we are dealing with is far from normal - 8,000 customers losing their suppliers yesterday alone, 1.5 million in the last six weeks.”

Mr Miliband also quoted from a letter energy regulator Ofgem sent to the Government 18 months ago warning about “systemic risk to the energy supply as a whole”.

The MP said: “It said the usual Ofgem mechanism, the supplier of last resort, may not be possible, and it went on, the failure of medium and large suppliers would need to be handled via a special administration regime, placing significant burden and costs on Government.

“We are seven days from the cut to Universal Credit. This is the last time a Government minister will be in the House to explain to millions of families why it is plunging them further into fuel poverty. Instead of warm words or platitudes, can he now tell the British people how he can possibly justify this attack on their living standards?”

Second MoD data breach compromising safety of Afghan interpreters emerges

11:00 , Joe Middleton

A second data breach at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) could have compromised the safety of dozens more Afghans, it has emerged.

The details of 55 Afghan citizens who might be eligible for relocation to the UK under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (Arap) were mistakenly made public in an email, rather than being hidden to shield their identities, according to the BBC.

This comes shortly after the defence secretary Ben Wallace launched an investigation into how a similar error - affecting more than 250 people - was made.

Rory Sullivan reports.

Second MoD data breach compromising safety of Afghan interpreters emerges

‘I have never seen a government act so callously’: Gordon Brown condemns universal credit cut

11:15 , Joe Middleton

Gordon Brown has fiercely condemned ministers for the upcoming cut to universal credit, suggesting he has never seen a government act “so callously”.

The former prime minister said the withdrawal of the £20-a-week uplift on 6 October could not come at a worse time for struggling households, which face the prospect of rising food and energy costs, writes The Independent’s Rory Sullivan.

“I have never seen a government act so callously and with so little concern for the consequences of their actions on the poorest in our society,” he said.

Gordon Brown condemns ‘morally indefensible’ universal credit cut

Northerners will be hardest hit by soaring energy prices, Kwarteng acknowledges

11:29 , Joe Middleton

People living in the north will be hit hardest by soaring energy prices this winter, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has acknowledged.

Labour MP Rachael Maskell (York Central) told the Commons: “The rise in energy prices will disproportionately impact people living in the north because it is colder during the winter in the north.

“So what assessment has he made of the regional disparities and how is he going to mitigate against that?”

Mr Kwarteng replied: “I think the honourable lady raises a very fair point and clearly, in terms of the gas price, the single most important determinant of it is the weather, and she’s absolutely right.

“That’s why we’ve got schemes like the Warm Home Discount and that’s why we’re absolutely focused on protecting the most vulnerable customers, wherever they are in the UK.”

Sadiq Khan refuses to back Keir Starmer over Labour leadership rules

11:38 , Joe Middleton

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has refused to back Sir Keir Starmer’s plan to end the one member, one vote system which elected Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader.

Labour mayor was asked three times if he supported Sir Keir’s proposal to replace existing rules with a return to an electoral college system, which would give MPs and unions a much greater say.

But Mr Khan three times spurned the chance to back the party leader. “I’ve got to be frank, as the mayor of London, internal party rules isn’t at the fore of my mind,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

The Independent’s Adam Forrest has the details.

Sadiq Khan refuses to back Keir Starmer over Labour leadership rules

Tory MPs call for Government to reduce or abolish VAT on energy bills

11:57 , Joe Middleton

The Government should reduce or abolish VAT on energy bills, two Conservative former ministers have told the House of Commons.

Christchurch MP Sir Christopher Chope said: “Why don’t we reduce VAT on fuel as a temporary measure?

“We did it for the hospitality industry, which was badly affected by Covid-19. Why don’t we abolish VAT for consumers on fuel now?”

He was followed by the MP for Harlow, Robert Halfon, who told the Commons: “I am sure the Conservative answer to this is to reduce VAT on energy bills, something that was pledged by those who support Brexit in the EU referendum.

“He will say it is up to the Treasury to decide, but he is very persuasive. He believes in tax cuts and I know if he went to see the Chancellor, he would ensure that we will get VAT cuts on energy bills.”

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng replied: “As he knows, I see the Chancellor on a regular basis and I am delighted to inform him that these conversations tend to be confidential.”

Ending Troubles prosecutions in Northern Ireland ‘could breach international law’, Council of Europe warns

12:10 , Joe Middleton

The UK may be about to breach international law with its controversial plan to end all Troubles-era prosecutions in Northern Ireland, the Council of Europe is warning

The controversial plans – which would also end all legacy inquests and civil actions from the conflict – appears to be an unconditional amnesty, its human rights commissioner says.

In a letter, Dunja Mijatović tells ministers they “might bring the United Kingdom into conflict with its international obligations, notably the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)”.

The Independent’s deputy political editor Rob Merrick reports.

Ending Troubles prosecutions in Northern Ireland ‘could breach international law’

Ex-Labour MP Keith Vaz engaged in ‘sustained and unpleasant’ bullying, inquiry finds

12:20 , Joe Middleton

Former Labour MP Keith Vaz was responsible for “sustained and unpleasant” bullying of a parliamentary clerk, a House of Commons inquiry has found.

A two-year inquiry into Mr Vaz carried out by an independent expert panel (IEP) found his bullying had a “real and enduring psychological impact” on a member of staff, writes The Independent’s Adam Forrest.

The ex-MP for Leicester East “should be ashamed of his behaviour”, said the panel – which also ruled that his eligibility to hold a pass allowing for members access to parliament should never be restored.

Keith Vaz engaged in ‘sustained and unpleasant’ bulling, inquiry finds

12:30 , Joe Middleton

We will push ‘rogue regime’ of Iran ‘as far as we can’ for release of Zaghari-Ratcliffe, says Jacob Rees-Mogg

12:43 , Joe Middleton

Jacob Rees-Mogg said the Government will push the “rogue regime” of Iran “as far as we can” for the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

Shadow Commons speaker Thangam Debbonaire said: “Today marks the 2,000th day of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s detention in Iran. Outside, a demonstration is taking place to raise awareness of her case, of Anoosheh Ashoori’s, and of countless others imprisoned there.

“When will the Government bring them home?”

Commons Leader Mr Rees-Mogg replied: “I hope she is assured to note that the Foreign Secretary (Liz Truss) raised this issue and said that it was quite inexcusable for Nazanin to still be detained by the Iranian authorities as one of the first things she said as Foreign Secretary.

“I think it is extremely reassuring that the Government is publicly saying that this must happen, but there are limits to the power of the Government in forcing rogue regimes to doing what we want and that has been the case for too long.

“But it is inexcusable Nazanin is still held and the Government will push the Iranian authorities as far as we can.”

Coronavirus unlikely to become more deadly because it’s run out of ‘places to go’, says Oxford jab creator

13:10 , Joe Middleton

Covid is unlikely to mutate into a deadlier, vaccine-evading, variant because it’s run out of “places to go” , the creator of the Oxford jab has said.

Dame Sarah Gilbert said coronavirus is likely to become less severe in its effects. Speaking at a Royal Society of Medicine webinar on Wednesday, she said: “We normally see that viruses become less virulent as they circulate more easily and there is no reason to think we will have a more virulent version of Sars-CoV-2.”

Dame Sarah said that some variations were to be expected but predicted that coronavirus would eventually become like the flu virus, saying: “What tends to happen over time is there’s just a slow drift, that’s what happens with flu viruses. You see small changes accumulating over a period of time and then we have the opportunity to react to that.”

Holly Bancroft reports.

Covid-19 variants have run out of ‘places to go’, says Oxford jab creator

13:40 , Joe Middleton

Government was warned energy firms could collapse 18 months ago, Ofgem letter reveals

14:16 , Joe Middleton

The government was warned 18 months ago that some of the UK’s struggling energy companies faced possible collapse, a newly-released letter has revealed.

Regulator Ofgem wrote to business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng last March to warn him of the “systemic risk” faced by energy suppliers, urging the government to consider action to help stabilise the market.

Shared by Labour on Thursday, the Ofgem letter warned that many firms had only “thin cash reserves” – telling the minister that any shocks could mean “significant numbers of suppliers who have otherwise good business models may fail”.

Adam Forrest has the details.

Government was warned energy firms could collapse 18 months ago, letter reveals

Kwasi Kwarteng denies ‘complacency’ over energy crisis

14:44 , Joe Middleton

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng denied being complacent over 18-month-old warnings about risks to the UK’s energy supply.

A host of suppliers have gone to the wall in recent weeks after the energy sector was hit by rocketing global wholesale gas prices.

Labour used an urgent question to drag Mr Kwarteng before MPs to face questions over the crisis.

Shadow business secretary Ed Miliband quoted a letter from energy regulator Ofgem warning of a “systemic risk to the energy supply as a whole” which had been sent 18 months ago.

Opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted that the details showed the Government was “warned about a looming crisis and didn’t prepare”.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Miliband accused ministers of being “complacent” about the shock that rising gas prices could wreak upon the market, as well as families and the cost of living.

But Mr Kwarteng said the Conservative administration had “not been complacent” as suppliers collapsed.

The Cabinet minister said that Ofgem’s concerns had been “interrogated” during the coronavirus pandemic, with the supplier of last resort programme, where consumers are automatically transferred to a new provider if their supplier exits the market, was “found to work”.