The chairman of Asda has delivered a scathing verdict on the government's handling of the energy cost crisis - lashing out at "Captain" Boris Johnson vanishing "on shore leave".
Lord Rose, who is a Tory peer, lashed out at the holidaying PM, who has taken two breaks in a fortnight despite having just weeks left at the helm.
He fumed: “We’ve got to have some action. The captain of the ship is on shore leave, right – nobody is in charge at the moment.
"Nothing is happening. We're sitting here now, into the fourth month of the crisis, and we're still waiting to see what action will be taken - it's horrifying.”
It comes as ministers face growing halls to act as bleak forecasts suggest energy bills could top £100 a WEEK in coming months.
More than 120,000 people have signed a petition calling on an emergency budget to be passed now as Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss squabble over the best way to handle the unfolding catastrophe.
Ms Truss - who looks increasingly likely to be the next PM - has pledged an emergency budget if she wins, but her supporters admit this could take weeks to pass.
Lord Rose, former chairman of pro-Remain Britain Stronger in Europe, told the BBC's Today programme: “We’re going to have an emergency budget, we are told.
"When is the actual effect of that budget going to take place? Are we going to wait till October, November, December? Inflation isn’t sitting there waiting for us.”
He added that a recession is now "inevitable" and said it is crucial to “look after those people who can’t take the hit”.
Labour accused Mr Johnson of having "bailed on the country" as figures from the Office for National Statistics showed the Consumer Prices Index measure of inflation reached 10.1% last month.
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said: "Boris Johnson has once again left Britain in an inexcusable mess.
"He has abdicated his responsibility and bailed on the country, leaving those vying for his job scrapping it out amongst themselves but deafeningly silent on solutions to the challenges our country faces.
"While the British people face a dire cost-of-living crisis, this zombie Conservative Government increasingly resembles a scene from the Night Of The Living Dead."
However Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi insisted the Treasury is "working night and day" to prepare options for the next Prime Minister.
The Chancellor said he is preparing options for the next prime minister to "hit the ground running", as he insisted the Government is not missing in action.
During a visit to a holiday club in south-east London, he said: "I don't agree with that, nor do I recognise it. The moment I walked into the Treasury on July 5, I gathered my top leadership team.
"We are working night and day to make sure we get this done and have all the options for the incoming prime minister for more help for both households that are really struggling and for small businesses."
