Tory leader Kemi Badenoch hammered Labour on inflation today, after new figures showed it has risen to 3.6%, the highest in the G7 and 150% higher than the government’s official target.
Taking to the dispatch box for PMQs, Ms Badenoch slammed Sir Keir Starmer for presiding over a worsening economy.
She fumed: “We just heard inflation is up again – the worst in the G7 – we left him with 2% inflation. We have borrowing up, unemployment up, taxes are up under his government.”
“The fact is the Prime Minister doesn’t get it! So let me tell him, his Budget last year had high taxes. That’s why the economy is contracting.”
Ms Badenoch attempted to get the PM to clarify who will be hit by the inevitable tax rises later this year, after ministers insisted they won’t rise for people on “modest incomes”.
Asked what counts as a “modest income”, Sir Keir defaulted to his soundbite about “working people”.
“I think about working people up and down this country who put in every day and don’t get back what they deserve, and that’s who we’re working for, that’s why we’re fixing the country. The sort of people who work hard but haven’t got the savings to buy themselves out of problems.”
Ms Badenoch pointed out Sir Keir hadn’t answered her question, leaving millions of hard-pressed Britons concerned they will be hit by Rachel Reeves’ inevitable tax hikes.
Responding to the claim that she is “talking the country down”, the Tory leader hit back: “I’m not talking the country down, I’m talking him down!”
MORE TO COME…
