Boris Johnson has doubled down on his insistence that it is for his successor to “make significant fiscal decisions” after crisis talks with energy bosses ended with no new measures to ease the cost of living crisis.

Speaking after the meeting, the prime minister said he would continue to urge the energy sector to ease the pressures on people facing rising bills.

But he repeated his stance that it is for his successor in Number 10, either Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak, to “make significant fiscal decisions”, a Treasury spokesperson said.

Mr Johnson has come under mounting pressure to use his remaining time in office to help people facing soaring energy bills.

He has been accused of going “missing” and running a “zombie government” as the country hurtles towards a recession, with energy bills expected to top £4,200 by January.

On Monday Mr Johnson rejected calls from Gordon Brown to hold daily emergency COBRA meetings to stop people “going cold and hungry” this October, when the energy price cap rises.

His spokesman said that “by convention it is not for this prime minister to make major fiscal interventions during this period”.

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In a tweet after today’s meeting, Mr Johnson said he knows people are worried about the “difficult weather ahead”, saying there is already a package of support in place, including a £400 energy bill discount for all households.

He added: “This morning I urged electricity companies to continue working on ways to help with the cost of living.”

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