A minister today said the Government is not ruling out an emergency Budget to respond to the cost of living crisis.

       Kit Malthouse, the policing minister, said ultimately such a decision is up to Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, who is "constantly reviewing what he can do to assist" struggling families.

       Mr Malthouse told Sky News "we don’t rule anything in or anything out" as he said ministers have looked with "alarm" at rising inflation levels.

       He made the comments as Westminster prepares for the Queen's Speech later this morning as Boris Johnson unveils his legislative plans for the new parliamentary session.

       However, The Queen will not be attending the State Opening of Parliament for the first time in nearly 60 years as she continues to suffer with "episodic mobility problems". The Prince of Wales will deliver the address on her behalf.

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       Kit Malthouse, the policing minister, said Boris Johnson will personally intervene in Stormont powersharing talks "if required".

       Downing Street yesterday said the Prime Minister does not currently intend to get involved.

       Mr Malthouse told Sky News: “He stays very close to his Northern Ireland Secretary [Brandon Lewis] and I know that they talk a lot about the negotiations and if required I am sure he will.”

       Kit Malthouse, the policing minister, said ministers are looking with "alarm" at soaring inflation levels but he hopes the Bank of England's decision to raise interest rates will help to "dampen" spiking prices.

       The Bank forecast last week that inflation will hit 10 per cent by the end of 2022.

       Asked for his prediction of how high inflation could go, Mr Malthouse told Sky News: “I am a Government minister so I can’t make a personal prediction to you but obviously we look with alarm at the predictions the Bank of England have made just in the last week or so of inflation peaking towards the end of the year and we will have to think carefully about what our response to that might be.

       “Obviously the Bank is taking the measures it needs to do by raising interest rates to start to restrict that money supply to dampen things down a little bit so that inflation doesn’t get out of control and I sincerely hope that that works.”

       Kit Malthouse, the policing minister, said the Government is not ruling out an emergency Budget to respond to the worsening cost of living crisis.

       Asked if their could be an emergency budget, he told Sky News: “Well, I don’t know, you would have to get the Chancellor on and talk to him about that but I think he said in the media yesterday that he is constantly reviewing what he can do to assist.”

       Told that he did not appear to be ruling it out, Mr Malthouse said: “Well, we don’t rule anything in or anything out. I am afraid you are asking me questions above my pay grade.”

       Kit Malthouse, the policing minister, would not be drawn during the morning media round on what will be included in the Queen's Speech on tackling the cost of living.

       But he said Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak are in "constant conversation" about how the Government can help struggling families.

       He told Sky News: “As far as the cost of living crisis is concerned, it is incredibly challenging for people out there at the moment.

       “Obviously legislation takes some time to put in place. It has to go through both Houses, it can often be many months, sometimes over a year before it hits the statute book.

       “But I do know that the Prime Minister and the Chancellor are in constant conversation about how we can be agile in assisting people through this challenging time.”

       The State Opening of Parliament will get underway at approximately 11.30am.

       The Prince of Wales will deliver the Queen's Speech in the House of Lords, with both peers and MPs in attendance.

       The announcements made by Prince Charles will then be debated in the House of Commons from 2.30pm.

       MPs will then continue to debate the contents of the speech on Wednesday and Thursday this week as well as on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

       Good morning and welcome to today's politics live blog.

       We have a busy day ahead, with the State Opening of Parliament and the Queen's Speech as Boris Johnson sets out his legislative plans for the new parliamentary session.

       However, The Queen will not be taking part as she continues to suffer with "episodic mobility problems". The Prince of Wales will deliver the address on her behalf. (You can read the full story here).

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