Boris Johnson’s bizarre explanation why everyone should ‘buy a kettle’ leaves people angry and confused

With bills mounting and millions struggling to make ends meet, a bit of advice about how to beat the pinch would be pretty helpful right about now.

And you'd assume that the country's leader, the man in charge of the economy, would have some wisdom to share on the matter. Well, up steps Boris Johnson.

Speaking at a press conference in Suffolk, the 59-year-old suggested the effects of the cost of living crisis could be alleviated by people simply buying a new kettle. Yes, really.

He said: "If you have an old kettle that takes ages to boil, it may cost you £20 to replace it but if you get a new one you’ll save £10 a year every year on your electricity bill."

If that reads to you like using a supersoaker to deal with a house fire, you're not alone.

There were plenty of people out there who were taken aback by Johnson's comments, with most a combination of confused and absolutely fuming.

One perplexed critic said: "We have waited ages for Boris Johnson & the Govt of which Liz Truss is a part to advise us what we should do about the extraordinary living crisis that we are facing and FINALLY who knew the answer was a NEW KETTLE?"

Slamming the PM, another chimed in: "Boris Johnson disappears for months, pops back in to suggest consumers spend £20 on a new kettle to shave £10 a year off their £3,549 energy bills (nonsense anyway).

"It's like suggesting using a thimble to bail out the Titanic after it struck the iceberg."

"Boris Johnson is really out there telling people to buy a new kettle to save money on energy bills," put a third. "From a man who has never struggled with money. B*****d."

While another commented: "Boris Johnson’s answer to millions of people who face energy bill increases of thousands of pounds?

"Buy a new kettle and save a tenner. Is he seriously out of touch or is it that he just doesn’t care or both?"

Last week, a campaign group revealed that it was planning to sue Ofgem over its 80 percent energy price cap hike as it would have a 'devastating' impact on UK households.

In response to the energy regulator's announcement that the price cap will jump to £3,549 this October, the Good Law Project is looking to take legal action alongside Fuel Poverty Action and the HIHAAW group.

Speaking about Ofgem's announcement, Jo Maugham, director of Good Law Project, said the news will 'devastate families'.

He added: "Just who and what is Ofgem for? Do not be fooled. This is a choice. And the choice they’ve made is to let low income consumers and small businesses bear the brunt of this crisis.

"We believe Ofgem can, and should, do more. We intend to put the question before the High Court, and will ask for a fast-tracked timeline to reflect the urgency of this crisis."

Featured Image Credit: Sky News/Rhys Llwyd/Alamy

Topics: UK News, Boris Johnson, Politics

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers is LADbible's Editorial Lead. After graduating from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History, he went on to write for the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express. So as you can imagine, he’s spent many a night wondering just how useful that second language has been. But c'est la vie.

@SmithersDom