Boris Johnson and Angela Rayner have clashed over power costs and the broader price of dwelling within the first prime minister’s questions of the 12 months, throughout which Johnson made a collection of false statements to advance his arguments.
Rayner, standing in for Keir Starmer after the Labour chief once more examined constructive for Covid, castigated Johnson over the impression of inflation and rising payments, saying the prime minister was “governing shambolically” and making an attempt responsible others.
In response, Johnson talked up rising employment figures and authorities schemes to assist with power payments. He additionally made three incorrect statements in his feedback to Rayner.
The Labour deputy chief started by difficult Johnson over inflation, saying: “In October the prime minister mentioned that fears about inflation had been unfounded, however working individuals throughout the nation are beginning the brand new 12 months dealing with rising payments and ballooning costs. So how did he get it so flawed?”
Johnson replied: “After all I mentioned no such factor, as a result of inflation is all the time one thing that we have now to watch out about.”
However in an interview with Sky Information in October, he had mentioned: “Individuals have been fearful about inflation for a really very long time, and people fears have been unfounded.”
On the finish of PMQs, Rayner raised some extent of order, noting this and asking if Johnson “wish to appropriate the report”, which he didn’t, as an alternative starting a press release on Covid.
Rayner mentioned inflation was heading in the direction of 6%, and would badly have an effect on individuals’s livelihoods and financial savings. She went on: “Mired of their sleaze, with a divided social gathering, the prime minister is shedding the assist of his backbenchers and governing shambolically – and a Labour social gathering able to take over.” She added: “What’s going to the prime minister do to get a grip of this?”
Johnson replied by saying he was “delivering jobs for British individuals”, and mentioned that when the Omicron variant emerged, Labour “mentioned that we would have liked a roadmap to lockdown”, which might have harmed the economic system.
Nevertheless, Labour known as just for the so-called plan B suite of restrictions, similar to masks use and residential working, which Johnson himself imposed quickly afterwards.
Turning to power costs, Rayner reiterated Labour’s demand – one shared by numerous Tory backbenchers – for VAT to be faraway from gasoline payments, to decrease costs.
“The prime minister pretends it’s not his fault,” she mentioned. “He blames world forces. He blames the market. The prime minister has made political decisions which have led us into this place. His authorities has didn’t spend money on long-term power safety.”
Vitality costs can be a “seismic hit” for households, Rayner mentioned. “Can’t the prime minister see what’s taking place but once more? Working households are selecting up the tab for his incompetence.”
Johnson responded by saying that eradicating VAT from gasoline can be unimaginable if he had been to “do what Labour would do, and return into the EU”. Nevertheless, Labour’s coverage is to not search re-entry to the EU.
Rayner went on to say the UK was struggling due to Johnson: “Underneath this prime minister, the nation is worse off. Costs for on a regular basis items are hovering uncontrolled. Arduous-earned financial savings will probably be hit, and the wages of working individuals received’t go as far.”
Critical options had been wanted, she mentioned, including: “As a substitute, we have now this prime minister and his incompetent management.
“And each time we’re confronted by problem, he denies there’s an issue. He tries to snicker it off. He seems to be for another person responsible.
“Can I counsel to the prime minister: it’s not about brushing your hair, it’s about brushing up in your act.”