Kemi Badenoch’s jibe at Keir Starmer’s refusal to answer her questions about the new Jobs Tax had Tory MPs in stitches this lunchtime. Taking to PMQs the Tory leader demanded answers about the Government’s pending National Insurance hike, which could prove disastrous for businesses, charities and hospices.
Ms Badenoch demanded to know whether Rachel Reeves will exempt hospices from the jobs tax, something the PM refused to do. She blasted: “His MPs know that this could affect end-of-life care. So I will ask the same question again: will he exempt hospices from paying his jobs tax.” Keir Starmer dodged the damning question, arguing that the government has already invested £100 million for adult and children’s hospices.
He turned the questions around, asking Ms Badenoch whether she would apologise for the state of the economy handed over to Labour by the previous government. Ms Badenoch stood to reply, but was shouted down by cocky Labour MPs.
After pausing, she quipped: “If they want me to answer questions then we can swap sides!”
The retort had Tories sparked delight from her MP backbenchers, with shouts of “hear, hear! And “More!”
She continued: “I remember when he made that announcement – he’s forgotten. The money he’s referring to for hospices is for buildings, it is not for the salaries hit by the jobs tax.”
“As St Helena hospice in Colchester said: ‘We cannot use this funding for salaries, which is where we need urgent help’. Why is the Prime Minister not listening to hospices?”
Sir Keir insisted he had “already set out the position in relation to hospices”.
Referring to her hit back about swapping sides, Sir Keir retorted: “Heaven forbid – after 14 years of breaking everything we’re getting on with the job of fixing it and all she can do is carp from the sidelines with absolutely no policy.”
Earlier this month, Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride warned that Rachel Reeves has just one month to scrap her “ticking time bomb” jobs tax ahead of the Spring Statement.
The rise in employer National Insurance contributions will take effect on April 6, with the 1.2% increase set to cause thousands of jobs losses.
Mr Stride wrote: “This is not just another tax increase. It’s a ticking time bomb that threatens to further decimate jobs, stunt economic growth, and escalate inflation – making an already difficult economic situation far worse.
“A 1.2 per cent increase to employers’ National Insurance contributions might not sound a lot, but as an entrepreneur I can tell you it’s a significant sum that will see jobs cut, wages stagnate, investment plans shelved, prices rise and businesses fold.”
A Conservative spokesman said: “The Prime Minister just failed to repeat the Chancellor’s pledge not to extend the freeze on income tax. The only logical conclusion is that at next week’s emergency budget Labour are plotting stealth taxes to drag more people into paying higher tax rates.”