Boris Johnson jets off on holiday as Brits face soaring bills, cuts and shortages crisis

Exclusive:

Boris Johnson jetted to the Costa del Sol as millions face soaring UK energy bills, a cruel benefit cut, empty supermarket shelves and higher petrol prices

Boris Johnson is on a sunshine break in Marbella… as a cloud of misery engulfed Britain.

The Prime Minister jetted to the Costa del Sol as millions face soaring UK energy bills, a cruel benefit cut, empty supermarket shelves and higher petrol prices – if they can get any.

Mr Johnson arrived on Friday and is understood to be staying in a luxury villa until Thursday.

Hillside properties around Marbella typically boast private pools, swanky bedrooms and sweeping views across the countryside.

Temperatures in “Marbs” – a favourite with stars of TV’s The Only Way Is Essex – are set for 24C today.

In London it will be 18C – though angry Brits are much hotter under the collar at government bungling over the ongoing supplies and bills crisis.

Should the PM have gone on his hols? Have your say in the comment section

A Westminster source said: “It’s fine the PM taking a break, but the timing shows just how out of touch he is with ordinary Brits facing bills, bills and yet more bills.”

And a Spanish police source told the Sunday Mirror last night: “Officially we can’t confirm, but unofficially he’s in a big luxury villa on the border between Mar-bella and Benahavis.

“We have been made aware that the British Prime Minister is staying and so we are all being extra vigilant. We know how important he is globally and what a potential target he is so there are extra patrols over the next few days.”

It was unclear whether Mr Johnson’s pregnant wife Carrie, 33, and their year-old son Wilfred were with him in Marbella.

Spain had been on the Government’s amber list, before green and amber countries were merged into one list on Monday.

And Mr Johnson wasted no time jetting off soon after the Tory conference ended , leaving Brits back home to cope with the pain.

As he flew out, store shelves back home were left empty across the country with many shoppers unable to buy essential foods as Britain’s supply chain crisis continued.

Some supermarket aisles were stripped bare of meat, fruit and frozen goods as customers panic-bought items, including toilet roll and water bottles.

There were even warnings of shortages of festive favourites like Quality Street. Meanwhile, millions of households were facing up to yet tougher times ahead following the £20-a-week cut in Universal Credit benefits.

Mr Johnsons’s trip comes as something of a surprise as a senior government source had claimed only in August: “The PM’s going to staycation this year.”But the same month the PM said: “We need to get the travel industry moving again”.

Last year, the Johnsons had a summer holiday on the west coast of Scotland – renting a house on the Applecross peninsula. And in December 2019, the PM and his then fiancé took a luxurious winter break to Mustique, a private island in the archipelago nation of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The PM was later criticised by the MPs standards watchdog for failing to properly explain how the £15,000 holiday was funded.

Marbella, meanwhile, is a popular spot with other leading Tories too. Zac Goldsmith has a sprawling property there.

And Lord Stanley Fink – a chum of the PM – is said to have a place on a luxury private estate.

The resort is more commonly known as popular with 20-somethings like the cast of ITV’s Towie.

Young sunseekers often go on fad diets then show off their bodies at beach parties in a pheomenon dubbed “No carbs before Marbs”.

Downing Street was approached for comment last night.