The leader of the Liberal Democrats has called on the Government to cancel the energy price cap increase and absorb the £36billion cost of the increase as living costs are set to spiral out of control.
Ed Davey is the latest political figure to urge the outgoing Prime Minister to attempt to tackle the cost of living crisis before he leaves No10 next month.
He accused the Tory leadership hopefuls of "living in a parallel universe" as they have "no idea" how to help families through what could be the toughest winter in decades.
The Liberal Democrats say the estimated £36 billion cost should be met by expanding the windfall tax on oil and gas company profits, and using the Government’s higher-than-expected VAT revenues as a result of soaring inflation.
Inflation is set to skyrocket to 13% or more in October, the Bank of England warned last week.
Mr Davey said: “The contest to be leader of the Conservative Party might as well be happening in a parallel universe.
"Neither candidate has any idea how to help families and pensioners through what could be the toughest winter in decades.
“We need bold and urgent action to help families pay their bills and heat their homes this winter. There is no other choice.
“ Energy bills have already gone up by £700 this year, and Conservative Ministers have barely lifted a finger to help. We simply cannot afford more inaction in the face of another even bigger rise in October.
“This is an emergency, and the Government must step in now to save families and pensioners £1,400 by cancelling the planned rise in energy bills this October.”
Nicola Sturgeon earlier demanded Mr Johnson moves cost of living crisis talks from September to this week as Brits "can't afford to wait".
The First Minister of Scotland told the PM the situation is "fast deteriorating", after the Bank of England's gloomy projections that could see inflation skyrocket to 13% or above in October.
In a letter sent to Mr Johnson on his first day back from holiday, Ms Sturgeon stressed that “targeted” support was necessary for the most vulnerable, while hitting out at tax cuts proposed by those vying to succeed Boris Johnson in No 10.
Liz Truss was accused of making another U-turn, as her ally said on Sunday Ms Truss would consider "handouts" as a way of tackling the cost of living crisis if she becomes the next PM.
But Rishi Sunak said her plans to scrap the national insurance hike, which he brought in as chancellor to fund the NHS and social care, would leave someone on the national living wage less than £60 a year better off while pensioners would not get a penny.
Writing in The Sun, he said that her proposed cut in corporation tax would do nothing to help small businesses and would simply put money back in the coffers of the biggest companies with the largest profits.
