Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng today made a formal request to the Treasury for support to industries hit by high energy prices.
He made the request on behalf of industries – such as manufacturing – that heavily rely on energy and would be adversely impacted by sky-high gas and electricity costs.
A government source confirmed to The Independent that BEIS (Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy) had submitted a plan to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s department, but details of the proposals were not immediately clear.
The move comes after a row in which the Treasury denied it was in discussions with Mr Kwarteng.
A Treasury source had told Sky News on Sunday they are “not involved in any talks” and also accused Mr Kwarteng of having “made things up in interviews”.
Today, a source from BEIS told the channel that comment was “dreadful”, adding “there was no need for a brutal slapdown.”
Downing Street has poured cold water on allegations that Mr Kwarteng lied about his and Mr Sunak’s departments being in talks.
The PM’s official spokesman said: “As you would expect, ministers from BEIS are working across government, including with Treasury, on this important issue, the challenges that are currently facing industry in light of global gas prices, and that will continue.”
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