The leader of Barrow Borough Council claims 'Boris Johnson and his gang have done practically nothing to help' with the cost of living crisis. 

Ann Thomson's message was in response to the packages announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak that will see every household get £400 off the energy bills in the autumn. Pensioners will receive another £300 on top of that.

The packages will be funded by a windfall tax on energy suppliers.

"Labour has for months been calling for a windfall tax on the massive profits that oil and gas companies have been making," said Cllr Thomson.

"These calls were ignored by Tory ministers who have demonstrated contempt for ordinary people." 

Conservative MP for Barrow Simon Fell said: "The measures will have a direct impact for people struggling with high energy prices and the cost of living.

"Pensioners will receive a package of £850 after the £150 from the Council Tax rebate. It will support them when they need it the most." 

READ MORE: https://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/20168922.barrow-mp-simon-fell-responds-windfall-tax-announcement/

Yet Cllr Thomson said: "Hundreds of families and individuals across Furness have been hit by the most severe cost of living crisis for decades. 

"As recently as April 26 Rishi Sunak called it 'silly' to provide more help for families bearing the brunt of soaring inflation.

"But now, with fresh revelations point to off-the-scale energy price rises in the autumn and hand-grenade headlines, the government has been forced to act.

"This help is better late than never, but it is a humiliating U-turn for Johnson and his cronies whose problems are far from over." 

Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron also said that the Government had implemented the windfall tax too late.

"It's incredibly frustrating that the Government dragged their feet over it for so long while people struggled to heat their homes and feed their kids" he said.

He also said that the Government had announced the packages to 'save their own skin.'

Earlier this week the Government had to defend itself against the revelations of the Sue Gray report. This pointed to 10 Downing Street having parties during lockdown.