The former Chancellor outlines his approach to supporting families through the winter, as Liz Truss faces criticism over her tax-cut proposals.

Rishi Sunak has unveiled his plan to fund winter cost-of-living support for millions by pushing Whitehall departments to make efficiency savings, as concerns over rising energy bills mount. The former Chancellor, seeking to become Prime Minister, emphasised that his approach would minimise one-off borrowing by focusing on cutting unnecessary government spending.

His proposal mirrors measures previously adopted to fund aid for Ukraine, where departments and devolved administrations were tasked with finding savings from capital budgets, funds earmarked for investment and future growth. Mr Sunak stressed that this strategy would be key to providing necessary support to families amid a harsh winter.

With energy bills expected to rise sharply, Mr Sunak is focusing on practical, targeted measures to assist those most affected, particularly vulnerable groups. Meanwhile, his leadership rival, Liz Truss, has continued to defend her stance on reducing the tax burden and ruling out “handouts” if she becomes Prime Minister. Despite this, her supporters argue that she remains committed to alleviating financial pressures on struggling households.

The two Tory leadership contenders are set to campaign further, including a hustings session in Darlington, a constituency that turned from Labour to Conservative in the 2019 election. In response to Ms Truss’s plan for tax cuts, Mr Sunak described it as a “big bung” for large businesses and the wealthy, claiming it would not provide adequate help to those most in need this winter.

Mr Sunak, in his own proposal, reiterated the urgency of providing swift relief to families facing rising living costs. He explained, “This winter is going to be tough for families, and more support will be required. Bills are going up beyond expectations, and the next government must act. I will use the framework I created as Chancellor to provide further support for hard-working families and pensioners.”

He added that while keeping borrowing to a minimum, he would focus on finding savings within Whitehall to fund direct financial aid. “I’m very clear about what is required to help people,” he said. “Once we know how much bills will rise, I will act quickly.”

With inflation forecasted to soar to 13%, and average household energy bills predicted to reach almost £4,000, Mr Sunak wrote in The Sun that his rival’s plans would be insufficient to address the crisis.

On the other hand, Brandon Lewis, a former Northern Ireland Secretary and Truss supporter, emphasised that Truss’s strategy focuses on creating a low-tax, high-growth economy to help people through inflation. He argued that her plan would result in higher wages and more jobs, ultimately giving families more financial flexibility to handle the rising costs.

Lewis also stated that it’s possible to address inflation while still improving people’s financial situation, countering claims that tax cuts would worsen the inflationary pressures facing the UK.