Johnson focuses on cost of living despite Pincher row

Boris Johnson promised to “help people through the current difficult times” as he tried to shift the focus onto the economy rather than the row surrounding his former deputy chief whip Chris Pincher. The Prime Minister highlighted the increase in the national insurance threshold as the “single biggest tax cut in a decade”. The changes will see the point at which people start paying national insurance rise to £12,570, partly offsetting the increase in the rate of the tax previously announced to help fund health and social care measures. The Government says the move will save an average employee around £330 a year, with 30 million people set to benefit. Opening a meeting of his Cabinet, Mr Johnson said: “It will be in people’s pay packets from tomorrow onwards and amongst other things it is there to help people up and down the country with the cost of living. Subscribe to the Evening Standard on YouTube:    / @thelondonstandard