Labour’s Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson was grilled by Kay Burley on Sky News about the government’s low public satisfaction polling this morning (December 17).
In the tense exchange, the presenter also accused Ms Phillipson’s colleagues of “telling porkies” about the unpopular rise on national insurance paid by employers announced by the chancellor in October.
Ms Burley began by asking for the minister’s response to a Politico poll that revealed Labour to be tied with the Conservative Party on just 26% public satisfaction – telling her that: “61% of Brits are dissatisfied with the Prime Minister.”
Ms Philipson replied: “We’ve had to make some tough choices as a new government to stabilise the economy and to get Britain back on track. We know it’s been a challenge.
“But what I’m talking to you about today is the difference we will make to transform children’s life choices. So, yes, there are tough choices and with that, you do run the risk of unpopularity.”
The conversation then took a turn as Ms Burley accused the Labour minister and her governmental colleagues of “telling porkies” during the general election campaign, when they promised not to raise taxes on working people.
Rachel Reeves announced an increase on the amount of national insurance paid by employers from 13.8% to 15% in the October budget – a move widely seen at odds with the campaign pledge.
Ms Burley said: “We were told by the chancellor that there wouldn’t be any increased taxes on working people.”
She also quickly countered the Education Secretary’s response that Labour hadn’t known about a “£22 billion black hole in the public finances left behind by the Conservatives” – telling her: “You added to that”.
Ms Phillipson argued: “The fundamental principle is that we have sought to stabilise the economy and get Britain back on track and to invest in our public services, our health services and schools through that budget process.
“And that has required us to take decisions, for example, around national insurance contributions where it comes to employers. There is a lot that we are getting on and doing.
“The next general election is a good while off and in that time we will seek to deliver what the British people voted for, which was change and we’ll stand on our record at the next election.
“Polls come and go – they go up and down. That’s just the nature of these things.”
It comes amid rumours that Kay Burley is set to leave the Sky News breakfast show after five years. She has worked at Sky in some capacity for nearly 40 years – a milestone the 63-year-old celebrated on X last month.
Express.co.uk has contacted Sky News and Kay Burley’s representative for comment.
