Johnson vows to help Britons struggling with rising living costs – The Peninsula

Johnson vows to help Britons struggling with rising living costs – The Peninsula

Boris Johnson promised to help people in the U.K. who are struggling with rising energy bills as he signaled the U.K. will make "big bets” on nuclear power and increase offshore wind generation in an effort to wean the country off foreign oil and gas.

Addressing the Conservative Party’s spring conference in Blackpool, the British prime minister said Russian President Vladimir Putin had been "pushing hydrocarbons on the West like a back street pusher” and was now seeking to take advantage of that "addiction” by "pushing up the cost of living, hitting us at the pumps and in our fuel bills.”

"We’ve got to do everything we can to help people with their daily costs, help people with the cost of living,” Johnson said.

The premier’s remarks signal that Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak might do more to help Britons struggling with inflation at a three-decade high, after already unveiling a 9 billion-pound ($12 billion) package last month to alleviate soaring energy bills. Sunak is due to give a speech in the House of Commons Wednesday about the state of the British economy, and may use that moment to announce further measures.

Sunak on Friday addressed the conference, telling delegates his priority for