Martin Lewis: UK needs ‘new leaders in office asap’ ahead of ‘catastrophic’ winter

Martin Lewis has called on the Conservative Party to get "new leaders in office asap" ahead of a "catastrophic" winter.

The government was thrown into chaos on Thursday as Boris Johnson announced his resignation but revealed he planned to stay in office until a successor had been selected - a decision that has triggered outrage among MPs of all parties.

The Money Saving Expert called on the Tory Party on Thursday morning to speed up the process of replacing their leader to allow the government to tackle the escalating cost-of-living crisis.

"I would politely urge the Conservative party to a very quick succession process," said Lewis on Thursday.

"We need a working administration at speed.

"This winter will be catastrophic, pushing millions into poverty with typical energy bills rising to £3,000 a year. We need leaders in office taking action asap."

Torsten Bell, chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, expressed further concern about the government's absent economic agenda.

"This is a country without anything even remotely like an economic plan," said Bell.

"And it’s a massive problem with huge consequences for the incomes of those on low and middle incomes."

At present, it is unclear who will be Johnson's successor - or whether he'll manage to stay on until a new leader is chosen.

Sir Keir Starmer has said Johnson must not be allowed to linger in office and must be removed immediately.

Starmer threatened to use a Commons vote of no confidence procedure to attempt to oust the prime minister unless he hands over the reins to another premier.

“He needs to go completely. None of this nonsense about clinging on for a few months," he told reporters in Westminster.

“He’s inflicted lies, fraud and chaos in the country.

“We’re stuck with a government which isn’t functioning in the middle of a cost of living crisis.

“And all of those that have been propping him up should be utterly ashamed of themselves.”

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves on Thursday warned the government's behaviour is damaging for the economy.

"The Tories’ behaviour isn’t just chaotic, it’s extremely damaging for our country," said Reeves.

"They are hitting people’s living standards, undermining confidence and causing immense harm to our economy.

"They are not fit to govern. Britain deserves so much better than this."

The warnings come after the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) on Thursday said soaring energy prices and rocketing inflation threaten to tip the UK into recession, hitting household finances and sending government borrowing ballooning.

The OBR also said the Ukraine war, soaring energy prices and long-term pressure on the nation’s finances “add up to a challenging outlook for this and future governments as they steer the public finances through inevitable future shocks”.

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