The UK Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi is travelling to the United States for talks on how to tackle the spiralling cost of living. During what could be his final week in the job, Zahawi will meet US bankers and officials to seek "international solutions" to soaring costs.
Labour has criticised the trip, saying he should be focusing on the UK. The two candidates for PM have signalled they will offer more help when elected on 5 September.
The government has been accused of not doing enough to help people cope with the crisis, amid warnings that people are facing a dire winter with rocketing energy bills. Many people are having to make tough choices such as skipping meals, while others are dreading the colder months. Both Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, one of whom will be announced as the next prime minister, have pledged further support, though neither has given details.
James Murray, Labour's shadow financial secretary to the Treasury, accused Zahawi of being part of a "do-nothing Tory government" - adding that the chancellor was "jetting off to an international chinwag".
"Rather than going on another junket at the taxpayers' expense, the chancellor should start listening to people here at home and implementing Labour's fully funded plan to freeze energy bills," he said. Zahawi said that he has been working tirelessly to come up with proposals for either leadership candidate to bring in more cost-of-living support.
