Have Boris’s ‘lost’ texts fuelled the sleaze scandal?

The ‘lost’ texts sent by Boris Johnson to Lord Brownlow over his Downing Street flat refurbishment continues to dominate the headlines today. As the story unravels, it’s a sign that the Tory sleaze issues hitting Boris at the end of 2021 will continue way into the new year.

‘It’s not going to go down well when people are seriously thinking about the cost of their energy bills over the next few months: how much it costs to buy food, what supplies are in shortage, to be reminded that the Prime Minister was trying to put extremely expensive wallpaper up in his flat’ – Kate Andrews

Also on the podcast, various problems are snowballing towards a cost of living crisis. The energy price cap is expected to rise just as household contributions are due to increase from the National Insurance hike. Can the government retain support as households struggle to cope with costs this winter?

‘It is politically imperative for the Tories that they can cut taxes before the next election’ – James Forsyth

Cindy Yu speaks to Kate Andrews and James Forsyth.