Boris Johnson is facing criticism for taking a holiday in Spain as the Government battles to stem a cost of living crisis and the fallout from spiralling gas prices.

The Prime Minister has reportedly flown to Marbella to holiday in a private villa on the Costa del Sol.

Downing Street did not deny reports Mr Johnson had travelled to Spain, but declined to say whether the Prime Minister was instead working at No 10 or in Chequers, as is commonplace.

Mr Johnson travelled with pregnant wife Carrie and their year-old son Wilfred following the Conservative Party conference last week, according to the Mail on Sunday.

READ MORE: Kwasi Kwarteng accused of 'making things up' by Treasury after energy talks claim

Scottish Labour Peer George Foulkes is just one the voices heavily criticising the Prime Minister today as the UK contends with fuel, food and gas shortages.

The politician said in a tweet: "Fuel, food, NHS & immigration crises & Boris Johnson heads off on yet ANOTHER holiday.

"When will some people realise he’s treating us all like peasants and start a more aggressive response?"

It is the Tory leader’s second getaway this summer. In August, he was forced to cut short a break in Somerset when the Taliban captured Kabul following the withdrawal of Western troops from Afghanistan.

However, he returned to his break when the last UK troops were evacuated.

 

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng insisted it was “reasonable” for the Prime Minister to take a break. 

Mr Kwarteng said he remains in “regular WhatsApp contact” with the Prime Minister, who he noted has recently lost his mother.

The Business Secretary told Times Radio: “I believe he has gone away. I’m not sure where he’s gone.

“But what I would say is I am in regular contact with him. He’s also had a year-and-a-half in which he’s almost lost his life to Covid, his mother passed away very sadly two or three weeks ago and he may have decided to take a short break.

“I think that’s something reasonable.

The Herald:

“I’m in regular WhatsApp contact with him, I spoke to him only a few days ago. I’m not sure when he’s supposed to have left the country.”

Labour called for “urgent answers on who exactly is running the show” after Mr Kwarteng’s claims he was in talks with the Treasury over support for firms struggling during the energy crisis were denied by the Treasury.

Shadow chief secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “In the teeth of a crisis of its own making, the Government has put its out of office on.

“The Prime Minister has gone on holiday, no one knows where the Chancellor is, and this morning we understand the Business Secretary has entered the realms of fantasy.”