Boris Johnson has said his situation is “different” to Rishi Sunak’s after the Chancellor confirmed he would be donating his £400 energy bill rebate to charity.
Mr Sunak unveiled a further £21 billion of support for households on Thursday after a surge in energy bills and increasing shop prices led to demands for the UK Government to step in and help people.
As part of the emergency cost-of-living package, the Chancellor announced each household will get the £400 energy discount that will be partly funded by a £5 billion windfall tax on oil and gas giants.
Mr Sunak, who last week appeared on The Sunday Times Rich List with his wife Akshata Murty for the first time with their joint £730 million fortune, was questioned about what would happen to his £400 grant.
He told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “I’m sure you will join me in giving that money to charity.”
But when questioned if he would be following suit and donating his grant money, the Prime Minister said it works differently for him.
He told reporters during a visit to Stockton-on-Tees: “I think my arrangements are different because I live in a Government flat.
“But I think it’s important that people should recognise these payments will not necessarily cover the increased costs fully.
“We can’t cover every single cost that people are going to pay, we’ve got to be realistic about that.
“However, they will go a long way towards helping people.”
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