RACHEL Reeves’ right-hand man refused to admit to a single mistake when confronted over tax hikes, broken promises, and Britain’s flatlining economy.
Treasury Minister Darren Jones was grilled on Labour’s economic record on the same day as the Chancellor unveiled a host of pro-growth policies.
Political Editor Harry Cole with Treasury Minister Darren Jones
EPAChancellor Rachel Reeves delivers a major speech on boosting growth[/caption]
GettyTreasury Minister Darren Jones failed to rule out further tax increases in the Spring[/caption]
In a major speech on Wednesday, Ms Reeves announced a raft of measures to turn the UK economy around as she tried to reset Labour’s economic message—after months of doom-laden warnings.
But while the Chancellor talked up Britain’s economic potential, her deputy refused to acknowledge any mistakes made by the government since taking power.
And he also failed to rule out further tax increases in the Spring.
Appearing on our Never Mind The Ballots show, Mr Jones was pressed directly on whether his party had blundered.
He replied: “I don’t know. I can’t think of any…”
Political Editor Harry Cole then confronted Mr Jones, pointing to Labour’s decision to hike National Insurance on businesses at a time when companies were already struggling with rising costs.
He highlighted the decision to break promises on inheritance tax for farmers, despite ministers previously reassuring the agricultural sector that no such changes were planned.
And he challenged Mr Jones on Britain’s stalling growth and the collapse in business confidence under Labour.
On the tax raid on farmers, he defended himself, saying: “Of course, that wasn’t in the manifesto, but it wasn’t under active consideration in opposition because we didn’t know the scale of the money we needed to raise quickly in order to deal with the mess.”
When pressed further on whether Labour’s tax hikes were hitting businesses, Mr Jones admitted: “It’s a cost for business, that’s absolutely clear.”
But he claimed Labour was focused on protecting working people, despite warnings from business leaders that the extra burden on employers would force them to scale back hiring and investment.
Mr Jones also dodged questions on potential tax hikes in the upcoming Spring Statement — just hours after Ms Reeves also failed to rule them out.
Asked if spending cuts or tax hikes were on the table, he said: “Well, the April forecast will update the figures that we will work to in the spending review, but we won’t conclude the spending decisions until June 11.”
The minister added: “We don’t know what the OBR forecast will say. But the OBR forecast in March, which the Chancellor will present to Parliament, so everyone can see it, will tell us what the updated figures look like.
“And that will be reflected in the spending plans that we then publish on June 11.”
Asked if tax raids and budget cuts will be included in the Spring Spending Review, Ms Reeves also said this morning: “I am not going to write five years’ worth of budgets in the first six months of office.
“We said when we set out the plan for change, we want living standards for working people to improve.
“That’s what we want people to see and experience and feel in their own pockets by the time that this parliament comes to an end.”
It came as the Chancellor announced a third runway will be built at Heathrow Airport in a bid to boost growth.
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