Boris looks for solutions to the rising cost of living in a brainstorming session with ministers

Boris Johnson is scrambling for cost-of-living crisis cures today after a brainstorming session with top ministers.

The PM is mulling proposals to loosen childcare rules and make MoTs two-yearly as he faces huge pressure from Tory MPs and Labour for more action.

Downing Street said he urged senior ministers including Rishi Sunak and Michael Gove to ‘go faster’ and be ‘as creative as possible’ in devising measures to ease the squeeze.

No10 insisted Mr Johnson would be saying more on the issue ‘in the coming days’ – and on a visit to Finland this evening he stressed the government would show the ‘maximum possible energy’.

‘There will be more, of course there will be more, in the months ahead,’ he said.

But it is far from clear that any major intervention is imminent after the Chancellor ruled out an emergency Budget.

The Department for Education is believed to have reservations about lowering the ratio of adults to children in nurseries to lower costs, although Nadhim Zahhawi is seriously exploring the move.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps was not present for the discussion on the MoTs, as he is on an official visit to the US.

Meanwhile, senior Tories have been ramping up the pressure on Mr Johnson for a more dramatic response.

Former minister David Davis said the government should be cutting taxes now. ‘Fix the problem now, not after people have suffered for six months,’ he told Sky News.

And another ex-Cabinet minister, Stephen Crabb, tweeted: ‘Conservatives tend to emphasise work, good budgeting/housekeeping, strong families etc as defences against hardship.

‘Problem right now for many people is that ticking all those boxes still doesn’t keep their heads above water. Government has done a lot but more is required.’