Over the weekend, Mr Johnson was seen in Greece as UK households grapple with the deepening impact of the cost of living crisis. The prime minister went on holiday earlier this month despite warnings of further inflation and the risk of a recession later this year. The prime minister’s official spokesman confirmed to reporters that the prime minister “is on leave this week” and is not doing day-to-day work. Politics Hub: Truss maintains commanding lead in No. 10 race Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab may deputize for him at any meetings, the spokesman said, but none are currently scheduled. The spokesman added that Mr Johnson “will be in touch” and “will be kept informed of any urgent matters”. The prime minister will take national security decisions if needed and lead emergency decisions if needed, they added. The prime minister’s official spokesman also confirmed that Johnson is paying for his trip, but declined to say whether his insurance is being funded by the taxpayer. Asked why Mr Johnson could not wait until his successor was appointed on September 5 before going abroad, the prime minister’s spokesman said he could not go into detail but said “government business continues”. “I can’t go into the decision on timings, but he’s on leave this week. He’ll be back this weekend,” he told reporters. “In recent weeks we have made some important announcements and will continue to do so in the coming days.” It comes as removal trucks have been spotted outside the number 10. The Times reported that Mr Johnson is spending a week on holiday in the country, with locals seeing him shopping with his wife Carrie Johnson at a supermarket in Nea Makri, a town east of Athens. Earlier today, former cabinet minister Brandon Lewis defended Mr Johnson’s trip. “He’s probably in his second week [of] holidays in the last year or so, certainly this year,’ he told LBC. “So as long as someone is gone, be it the foreign minister or let alone the prime minister, he will continue to work.” But Labor criticized the prime minister, accusing him of treating the last few months as “one big party”. A party spokesman said: “On the evidence of the last few months it seems to make little difference whether the Prime Minister is in the office or on holiday as he is not constantly responding to the challenge of the Tories’ cost of living crisis. just one big party for Boris Johnson, while the country struggles to pay its bills.” Analysts have predicted that typical energy bills could rise to around £3,500 in October and above £4,200 in January. Bills are set to cost more than two months of average wages next year unless the government intervenes, according to a report. The prime minister’s official spokesman also once again ruled out further government intervention to ease the burden of rising living costs until Mr Johnson’s successor is appointed in early September.
