Squirming Labour minister dodges questions over tax hikes | Politics | News




A Labour Cabinet minister dodged questions on more tax rises and if the hikes in the Budget were a "mistake".

Science Secretary Peter Kyle was asked about the Chancellor's pledge that she had "wiped the slate clean" and would not be back for more.

Pressed twice if that was still the case amid economic turmoil, he told Sky News's Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme: "When the Chancellor speaks, she speaks for the Government.

"And my job is to make sure I put her words into action so I'm keeping a tight grip on my own department so we don't have to come back with the additional pressure.

"Over the summer we got everything out into the open. At the autumn Budget the Chancellor reset our finances, she fixed the foundations."

Asked twice if the tax-hiking Budget was a "mistake" following a business backlash, Mr Kyle added: "If we hadn't had that Budget I could not be sat here talking about an investment programme that will get our country fit for the future in the areas where growth is going to come from.

"We always said we could't fix the country in six months. After an election you don't go back to zero, you don't start from a clean sheet, you start from where the predecessors left off.

"They left us with a broken economy, public services on their knees and our international relationships in tatters.

"We've fixed the foundations and now we're building on them."

It comes as increases in the Government's borrowing costs have sparked concern that the Chancellor will be unable to meet her debt and spending targets, requiring either tax rises or deeper spending cuts when she delivers a fiscal statement at the end of March.



Source link

Posted: 2025-01-12 12:06:35

People realising what the tiny button on car seatbelts is actually for
 



... Read More

UK weather maps show a 742-mile Arctic bomb hammering Britain with freezing -8C | Weather | News
 



... Read More

Encourage your Christmas cactus to ‘produce more blooms’ with expert's simple care tips
 



... Read More

Harry and Meghan's controversial move left Royal Family 'wringing their hands' | Royal | News
 



... Read More

Charles confronted by reminder of angry protestor as he continues tour | Royal | News
 



... Read More

How to get Spotify Wrapped 2024 as yearly round-up is finally released
 



... Read More

Keir Starmer pays tribute to brother who died on Boxing Day | Keir Starmer
 



... Read More

Tropical Cyclone Alfred: Queensland evacuations begin as storm path tracks towards Brisbane | Tropical Cyclone Alfred
 



... Read More