Prime Minister Boris Johnson under fire as UK inflation rockets to 40-year high

United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under fire amid a rise in prices as official data showed on Wednesday (May 18) that the inflation rate in the country has surged to a 40-year high on soaring energy costs.

UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) noted that in the country, inflation jumped to 9 per cent in the 12 months to April, which is up from 7 per cent in March. Notably, April’s figure marked the highest inflation rate since 1982.

The data has caused concerns and sparked calls for an emergency government budget in order to combat a worsening cost-of-living crisis in the country.

Amid the crisis, the new chief inspector of the constabulary stated that the cost of living crisis will trigger an increase in crime. He advised that the officers should use their “discretion” in case of punishing people who might steal to eat.

“The impact of poverty, and the impact of lack of opportunity for people, does lead to an increase in crime. There’s no two ways about that,” Andy Cooke said as quoted by The Guardian.

“What they’ve got to bear in mind is what is the best thing for the community, and that individual, in the way they deal with those issues. And I certainly fully support police officers using their discretion – and they need to use discretion more often,” he added.