Rachel Reeves faces criticism amid Budget turmoil
Rachel Reeves has been accused of being in “la la land” as Budget chaos heaped more pressure on the Chancellor, reports BritPanorama.
Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, launched a blistering personal attack on Ms. Reeves, claiming she misled the public concerning recent tax hikes. This exchange unfolded in the Commons a full week after taxes increased by £26 billion alongside a £16 billion rise in welfare spending.
An emergency press conference was held in Downing Street as the Treasury deliberated on potentially breaking a manifesto pledge to raise income tax. Badenoch’s comments included references to past allegations of plagiarism in Reeves’ book and inaccuracies in her CV during her heated debate with Sir Keir Starmer.
Badenoch stated, “We now know the black hole was fake, her book was fake, her CV was fake, even her chess claims are made up.” She accused Reeves of not belonging in the Treasury, comparing her to someone from “la la land” while asserting that recent tax increases burdened working people.
Furthermore, Badenoch highlighted that the £16 billion increase in benefits was intended to protect the government from backlash from its own backbenchers. This criticism was coupled with remarks about Richard Hughes, who resigned as head of the Budget watchdog after economic forecasts leaked prior to Reeves’ address last week.
In response, Ms. Reeves questioned whether the Prime Minister believed that leadership should be held accountable in the event of systemic failures within an organization. Sir Keir Starmer countered Badenoch’s claims, asserting, “We’re fixing the mess that they left, and I’m very proud to be doing so.”
Starmer also accused Badenoch of “completely losing the plot” for suggesting that the Chancellor should face prosecution for market abuse linked to the Budget process. Badenoch additionally claimed that the Prime Minister was now dependent on his backbench MPs following his decision to abolish the two-child benefit cap, a move estimated to cost around £3 billion.
The ongoing debate highlights significant tensions within UK politics as the government navigates fiscal challenges and public scrutiny.
This episode underscores the complex interplay of political accountability, fiscal policy, and public perception, reflecting broader themes of governance and responsibility in contemporary Britain.
