UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer pushed back firmly against accusations that Chancellor Rachel Reeves failed to present the full picture of Britain’s economic situation ahead of her first Budget. Speaking to reporters, Starmer insisted there was “no misleading”, rejecting claims from opposition parties and some economists who argue that key fiscal pressures were not fully disclosed.
The controversy follows growing scrutiny surrounding the government’s economic messaging as the UK faces sluggish growth, rising borrowing costs, and competing political expectations over spending and taxation. Reeves has defended her approach, saying the Budget will be grounded in “economic honesty” and “long-term stability,” while critics say the public deserves a clearer breakdown of the financial landscape.
#KeirStarmer #RachelReeves #UKBudget #UKPolitics #Starmer #Reeves #Chancellor #BritishEconomy #Budget2025 #Westminster #Parliament #Economy #FiscalPolicy #Government #LabourParty #PoliticalNews
The controversy follows growing scrutiny surrounding the government’s economic messaging as the UK faces sluggish growth, rising borrowing costs, and competing political expectations over spending and taxation. Reeves has defended her approach, saying the Budget will be grounded in “economic honesty” and “long-term stability,” while critics say the public deserves a clearer breakdown of the financial landscape.
#KeirStarmer #RachelReeves #UKBudget #UKPolitics #Starmer #Reeves #Chancellor #BritishEconomy #Budget2025 #Westminster #Parliament #Economy #FiscalPolicy #Government #LabourParty #PoliticalNews
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NewsTranscript
00:00This morning they will be very proud to see you standing up here delivering those words so
00:04really really good Miata. Thank you very much indeed and thank you to all of you for joining
00:14us at the Coyne Street Neighbourhood Centre and you may have seen downstairs there's a nursery
00:19I've been down there with the young children this morning seeing them and the staff and seeing how
00:24the staff guide them from in this nursery nine months to four years and it is a real reminder
00:31that learning begins at such an early age and what a difference it makes and that giving our
00:38children the best start in life unlocking their full potential is so important to our country's
00:46future and that is the purpose of this government in a nutshell. Now I said it at Labour Party
00:53conference we have a plan for Britain that is built for all and we're going to unlock the potential
01:00of every single person and community in this country because whether it's our public services
01:07that don't work the cost of living crisis holding it back or whole regions of our country ignored as
01:14sources of growth in the end it's all about potential and that's why the budget was a moment of personal
01:26pride for me I do not want to see a country where children grow up in poverty I don't think anybody in
01:35this country wants that it is a fundamental British belief that every child should go as far as their talent
01:43will take them and poverty is a barrier to that just think about it think about the skipped meals the cold
01:54bedrooms the school uniform that is too small or worn through and think about a seven-year-old in that
02:03situation a young girl or boy who still has to go to school and face the world's gaze are they ready
02:12to learn to the best of their ability are we giving them a fair and equal opportunity to succeed
02:18I think it's abhorrent the Tories raised child poverty by 900,000 900,000 children that is their worst legacy
02:31bar none it's not just abhorrent it's also counterproductive on Wednesday last week after the budget the
02:42Chancellor and I went to a hospital and we were speaking to the staff who'd gathered there
02:47and we told them that we're lifting the two-child limit and they cheered and they did so and they
02:53said to us that matters because you wouldn't believe how many children come through our doors of our
03:00hospital because of poverty poverty in Britain today so this is a public services issue it can help to lift
03:11the pressure the pressure on the NHS it's an economic issue a sound investment in our long-term potential
03:18and it's a fairness issue and this is what the Tories need to understand about the Britain that they built
03:26three quarters of children growing up in poverty today come from working families
03:33now some of the parents I met downstairs some of the parents I met in rugby were on the road
03:39last Thursday they told me as so many parents do that they're working harder and harder but their
03:47wages struggle to meet their costs and I know what that feels like I remember my family sitting around
03:56the kitchen table worrying about the bills how are we going to pay them all and we as a family couldn't
04:04pay them all and that's why in our case our phone was cut off and that is still the reality of Britain
04:11for far too many people and so yes I am proud I'm proud we scrapped the two-child limit I'm proud we're
04:21lifting over half a million children out of poverty proud we raised the national minimum wage again that
04:28is what a Labour government is for making life better for working families unlocking their potential
04:34and giving our children a fair chance to get on and that is the story of the budget there were necessary
04:44choices of course there were fair choices I would argue tax rises do make life harder for people
04:53I understand that it's obvious and I'm not going to pretend that there aren't alternatives
05:02politics is always about making choices we could have cut public services we could have ignored child
05:12poverty we could have rolled the dice with extra borrowing but I firmly believe that those options
05:20have been tested to destruction I mean we all know the risks of reckless borrowing that is the path
05:28that Liz trust took and you can see the cost in any bill mortgage car loan anything affected by
05:36interest rates but also look at the OBR's analysis of productivity and it's crystal clear to me
05:46that austerity scarred the long-term productive capability of this country so why would we repeat it
05:55that is what we inherited public finances and public services in total crisis growth weak for years
06:05but if you'd said to me 17 months ago on the first day of government that by now we would have cut NHS
06:18waiting times cut immigration cut child poverty by a record amount if you'd said to me that Britain
06:26would now be cutting borrowing faster than any other G7 country without cutting public investment
06:32that our fiscal headroom is up significantly economic growth is beating the forecasts with wages up more
06:41since the election than in a decade of the previous government if you'd said to me because of all that
06:47we can tackle the cost of living for working people freezing rail fares freezing prescription charges
06:54freezing fuel duty slashing child care costs driving down mortgages taking 150 pounds off your
07:02energy bills 300 pounds for poorer households then I would say yes that is a record to be proud of
07:11and I am proud I'm proud the public services
07:15I am proud the public finances and our public services are moving in the right direction
07:30because we confronted reality we took control of our future and Britain is now back on track
07:37and look I am also confident we have now walked through the narrowest part of the tunnel
07:46because while I know it's still hard for lots of people while I know the cost of living crisis
07:53has not gone away in the year ahead you will see the benefits of our approach and not just in the
08:01national statistics but in your communities you will see a country building its future with new homes and
08:10infrastructure 2,000 free breakfast clubs hundreds of school-based nurseries opened by September
08:17you'll see 3,000 neighborhood police officers on your streets by March a new era of security for 11 million
08:25renters starting in May hundreds of thousands of parents taking advantage of our free child care expansion
08:33almost 120 community diagnostic centers open seven days a week by April you will see NHS waiting times
08:42coming down further wages still rising faster than prices immigration still falling
08:49and bit by bit you will see a country that no longer feels the burden of decline
08:57or the sense that things can never get better a Britain with its confidence and its future back
09:05now take our energy policy that's 150 pounds off your energy bill 300 pounds if you're really struggling
09:17now think about what that means to a family worried about whether to put the heating on on a cold day
09:25or worried that if they switch it on for too long they might have to cancel a day out with their kids
09:32it's not just money it's security it's having the freedom to make choices that help your family
09:41or think about our child care investment 30 hours free for every child between nine months and four years old
09:52a massive difference to the cost of living thousands of pounds back in the pockets of working parents
09:59real help getting parents and carers back to work especially for women and that is good for growth
10:08but it's also good for our children's potential now I visit primary schools all the time and
10:17when I'm not getting told off for doing the six seven uh teachers repeatedly say to me this is across the
10:25country that some kids arrive at reception reading books ready to learn while others are still in nappies
10:33I am sick of hearing those stories right across the country think about that inequality that aged just four
10:43baked in for life and likely to last a whole life that's why everything we're doing for children
10:51is a game changer for our potential we're giving every child the best start in life
10:57every single child equal at the starting line of their education and that's what a labour government is for
11:05and look when it comes to economic growth and living standards we're confident we can beat the forecasts
11:22we've already beaten them this year we are in control of our future we've already struck trade deals
11:31they're attracting billions of pounds of investment we're removing barriers to business right across the
11:37economy in planning industrial policy pension reform artificial intelligence capital investment
11:44and right at the heart of the budget we have a package of measures that give the green light for the world's best
11:53entrepreneurs to start scale and list their companies in Britain but we have to be clear at this stage
12:02of our plan the most important things that we can do for growth the most important things that we can do
12:09for business is first to drive inflation down so that interest rates come down further still
12:18and the cost of business investment comes down with it and second to retain market confidence
12:25that allows for real economic stability so that businesses can plan with certainty that is what the country needs
12:34most right now it is what the budget secured and that's why our choices were fair they were necessary
12:43and they were fundamentally good for growth
12:47but I will level with you as the budget showed the path to Britain that is truly built for all
12:58it requires many more decisions that are not cost-free and they're not easy we can all see the challenge
13:07low productivity the result of an economy scarred by austerity by Brexit and by consistently failing
13:17to unlock the nation's potential so we need a productivity revolution and as our plan runs to the end of parliament
13:26I want to set out some of the next steps in our economic renewal so that our progress can be fairly judged
13:35first regulation now exactly a week ago John Fingleton reported on our nuclear industry
13:47he found that pointless gold plating unnecessary red tape well-intentioned but fundamentally misguided
13:56environmental regulations and I quote it's quite a stark quote he said a mindset that favors process
14:04over outcome has all made Britain the most expensive place to build nuclear power
14:11nuclear power now I agree with him in fact I would go further because the truth is we see that story repeated again and again right across our economy
14:25for years Britain did not have a proper industrial strategy for years it cut public investment
14:33for years it did not have a planning framework or frankly a government that would quickly approve new railways new tram lines data centers
14:44laboratories power stations wind farms even whole towns
14:50so guided by a simple truth
14:54that rooting out excessive costs in every corner of our economy is an essential step to cutting the cost of living and creating more dynamic markets for business
15:05we will also clear the path for British business and therefore in addition to accepting the Fingleton recommendations
15:14I'm asking the business secretary to apply these lessons across the entire industrial strategy
15:21second welfare for too long our welfare system has trapped people in poverty
15:32and poverty is always a barrier to potential
15:36that's why we scrapped the two child limit
15:39but we also have to confront the reality
15:42that our welfare state is trapping people
15:45not just in poverty
15:47but out of work
15:49young people in particular
15:52and that is a poverty of ambition
15:55and so while we will invest in apprenticeships
15:59and make sure young people without a job
16:02have a guaranteed offer of training or work
16:06we must also reform the welfare state itself
16:09that is what renewal demands
16:12now
16:13this is not about propping up a broken status quo
16:17nor is it because we want to look somehow politically tough
16:22the Tories played that game
16:25and the welfare bill went up
16:27by £88 billion
16:29and they left children too poor to eat
16:32and wrote young people off
16:34as too ill to work
16:36that was a total failure
16:39so we've asked Alan Milburn
16:42to report on the whole issue of young people
16:45inactivity and work
16:47because we need to remove all the barriers
16:49which hold back the potential of our young people
16:53because if you're ignored early in your career
16:57if you're not given the support you need
17:00to overcome your mental health issues
17:03or you're simply written off
17:05because you're neurodivergent or disabled
17:08then it can trap you
17:10in a cycle of worklessness and dependency
17:13for decades
17:14that costs the country money
17:17is bad for our productivity
17:19and most importantly of all
17:22is a massive waste of potential
17:24and any Labour Party worth a name
17:26cannot ignore that
17:28third
17:31and finally
17:32trade
17:34vital for productivity
17:37essential for growth
17:39crucial
17:40to the cost of living
17:42and let me be crystal clear
17:45there is no credible economic vision for Britain
17:48that does not position us
17:51as an open trading economy
17:54so we must all now confront the reality
17:57that the Brexit deal we have
18:00significantly hurt our economy
18:03and so for economic renewal
18:07we have to keep reducing frictions
18:10we have to keep moving towards
18:12a closer relationship with the EU
18:15and we have to be grown up about that
18:18to accept that this will require trade-offs
18:22that applies to our trading relations
18:25right across the world
18:26and as you've seen already
18:30with this government
18:31there are deals to be done
18:34if you're committed to building relationships
18:37that's what we've done with the US
18:40it's what we've done with India
18:42and it's what we've done with the EU
18:44and we will keep going
18:47we will continue to reject drift
18:50to confront reality
18:52and take control of our future
18:55that is what the budget achieved last week
18:58and we will build on it
19:00a long-term plan for the economic renewal of this country
19:04a Britain that is free from decline
19:07confident about its future
19:09and with the potential of every single person unlocked
19:13truly built for all
19:16thank you very much
19:17thank you
19:18I'm now going to take a number of questions from the media
19:44I've got a list here
19:45it starts with Chris Mason BBC
19:48I see Chris here
19:49thank you Prime Minister
19:54Chris Mason BBC News
19:55as a former lawyer
19:56you'll be familiar with the concept of people offering the truth
19:59the whole truth
20:00and nothing but the truth
20:02isn't the reality that in failing to be candid
20:04about the breadth of what she knew
20:06at her pre-budget news conference
20:08the Chancellor misled us
20:11and if I may
20:11on reform of the welfare system
20:13how fundamental is it to you
20:15that the benefits bill starts to fall
20:18thank you
20:19well look
20:20on the build up to the budget
20:22let me just step through that
20:24in some detail
20:27because there was no BR productivity review
20:30the result of that was
20:33there was £16 billion less
20:35than we might otherwise have had
20:37that's a difficult starting point
20:39for any budget
20:40we had already made commitments
20:42which I think I've expressed
20:43to you and many others
20:45many times over
20:46that we were going to protect our public services
20:49particularly the NHS
20:50to cut borrowing costs
20:52and to bear down on the cost of living
20:55so we had on the one hand
20:56£16 billion less than we might otherwise have had
20:59we had clear commitments
21:00that we'd made
21:01throughout the process
21:02as to what it was we were going to achieve
21:05therefore
21:05against that backdrop
21:07it was inevitable
21:09that we would always have to raise revenue
21:11so there's no misleading there
21:13during the overall process
21:16the numbers improved
21:18and there was a point
21:21at which we thought
21:23myself included
21:24that we might have to
21:26reach for a
21:28manifesto breach of some significance
21:31I didn't want to get to that place
21:34but I recognised we might have to
21:36and as the process then continued
21:38it became clear to me
21:41and others
21:41that we might
21:42be able to do
21:44what we needed to do
21:45with our priorities
21:45without that
21:47manifesto breach
21:48and that's what we did
21:50with the fair
21:51and necessary decisions
21:52that we took
21:53which did
21:54to root back
21:55to where I started
21:56make good on the principles
21:58which was protecting
21:59public services
22:00and the NHS in particular
22:02where record amounts
22:03have gone in
22:04and hence
22:04the waiting times
22:06coming down
22:07which did
22:08help with
22:10borrowing cost
22:10because
22:11I was determined
22:13that we needed to have
22:14bigger headroom
22:15than we had last time
22:16and we more than doubled it
22:18which has been
22:18a very significant
22:19part of the budget
22:21not easy to do
22:22for obvious reasons
22:24and we were able to
22:26and are able to
22:26bear down on the cost of living
22:27hence
22:28the £150
22:29of people's
22:30energy bills
22:31and the measures
22:33we were able to take
22:34in relation to
22:34the two child benefit
22:35so the review put us
22:38in a bad place
22:38to start with
22:39we worked through
22:40our principles
22:41there was a point
22:43at which I thought
22:43we might have to
22:44breach the manifesto
22:45I was always wanting
22:47to know
22:47if there were alternatives
22:48to that
22:49and the point
22:49came when there was
22:51an alternative to that
22:52and that's the route
22:52that we took
22:53thank you very much
22:54on that issue
22:55on welfare
22:56look
22:57there are a number
22:58of aspects
22:59to this
23:00the welfare bill
23:01has gone up
23:02extraordinarily
23:02under the last
23:03government
23:04but there is also
23:07what I would call
23:08a moral mission
23:08I've been particularly
23:10concerned about
23:11young people
23:11best part of a million
23:12young people
23:13who are not in work
23:15and not learning
23:16and over and above
23:19any other issue
23:20I think it's a moral issue
23:21because I know
23:22all the evidence
23:23points to this
23:23that if you're
23:25not earning
23:26or learning
23:26at that age
23:27the likelihood
23:28is it's going
23:28to be that much
23:29more difficult
23:29to get into
23:31earning and learning
23:31later in your life
23:32and therefore
23:33there's a real moral
23:34element to this
23:34as well
23:35thank you very much
23:36Chris
23:36can I go to
23:38Sky
23:38Beth please
23:39thank you very much
23:43Beth Rigby
23:43Sky News
23:44Prime Minister
23:44we found out
23:46from the
23:46Office of Budget
23:47Responsibility
23:48that the Chancellor
23:49with your backing
23:50misled the public
23:52on November 4th
23:53when she warned
23:54about a black hole
23:54in the public
23:55finances
23:56without telling us
23:57the second bit
23:58that higher than
23:59expected tax receipts
24:01meant the economy
24:02was in a much
24:03healthier position
24:04than the Chancellor
24:05publicly suggested
24:07to all of us
24:08and to the country
24:09a Cabinet Minister
24:11has told me
24:11this morning
24:12they do feel misled
24:13how do you
24:15respond to that
24:15as Prime Minister
24:16and can you really
24:18commit to driving
24:19through welfare cuts
24:20given that some
24:22at your top table
24:23don't have confidence
24:24in you
24:25thank you
24:25well thank you
24:26very much Beth
24:27look there was
24:28no misleading
24:29and I simply
24:31don't accept
24:32and I was receiving
24:33the numbers
24:33that being told
24:35that the OBR
24:36productivity review
24:37means you've got
24:37£16 billion
24:38less than you
24:40would otherwise
24:41have had
24:42shows that you've
24:43got an easy
24:44starting point
24:44yes of course
24:45all the other
24:46figures have to be
24:46taken into account
24:47but we started
24:48the process
24:49with significantly
24:50less than we
24:51would otherwise
24:51have had
24:52that productivity
24:54review or review
24:55like that
24:55hasn't been done
24:56I think for 15
24:56years
24:57this is not
24:57an annual exercise
24:58it's an exercise
25:00that was done
25:00this year
25:01I'm not sure
25:02why it wasn't
25:02done at the end
25:03of the last
25:04government
25:04if I'm honest
25:05about it
25:06because that
25:06would have
25:06seemed to me
25:07a sensible
25:07time to have
25:08done it
25:08but it was
25:09done
25:09the net result
25:10was £16 billion
25:11less than you
25:12would otherwise
25:12have got
25:13that meant
25:14if we measured
25:16against our
25:17objectives
25:17which is protecting
25:18public services
25:19doing what we
25:21could on the
25:21headroom
25:22which I really
25:22wanted to do
25:23this time
25:23for reasons
25:24that are well
25:25understood
25:25in terms of
25:26the stability
25:27that it gives
25:27I wanted to
25:28more than
25:28double the
25:29headroom
25:29and to bear
25:31down on the
25:31cost of living
25:32because I know
25:33that for families
25:33and communities
25:34across the country
25:35that is the
25:35single most
25:36important issue
25:36we wanted to
25:37achieve all those
25:38things
25:38starting that
25:39exercise
25:40with £16 billion
25:41less than we
25:42might otherwise
25:42have had
25:43of course
25:43there are other
25:44figures in this
25:44but there's no
25:45pretending
25:46that that's a
25:47good starting
25:48point for a
25:49government
25:49it isn't
25:50and to suggest
25:52that a government
25:52that is saying
25:53that's not a
25:53good starting
25:54point is
25:54misleading
25:54is wrong
25:56in my view
25:56and as I say
25:59there was a
25:59point at which
26:00we did think
26:00we would have
26:01to breach
26:01the manifesto
26:03in order to
26:03achieve what
26:04we wanted
26:04to achieve
26:05later on
26:07it became
26:08possible to do
26:08it without
26:09the manifesto
26:10breach
26:10given the choice
26:11between the
26:11two
26:12I didn't want
26:13to breach
26:13the manifesto
26:14and that's why
26:15we came to
26:15the decisions
26:15that we
26:17did
26:17on the
26:18question about
26:19welfare
26:19I do think
26:20that this is
26:23a moral mission
26:23I don't think
26:24we can simply
26:25leave the
26:26best part of
26:26a million
26:27young people
26:28not earning
26:29or learning
26:29and walk
26:31past it
26:32just as I
26:33fundamentally
26:34believe we've
26:34got to lift
26:35children out
26:35of poverty
26:36that is a
26:37moral and
26:37personal mission
26:38for me
26:39always has
26:39been
26:40so too
26:41I feel
26:41very strongly
26:42about the
26:42million young
26:43people who
26:43we've got a
26:44cohort going
26:45through who
26:46unless we
26:47intervene and
26:48do something
26:48could well
26:49spend the
26:51rest of their
26:51lives in that
26:52kind of
26:52dependency and
26:53I think that's
26:54wrong in
26:54principle and
26:55that's why I
26:55want to deal
26:57with it
26:57thank you
26:58Beth
26:58ITV Robert
26:59Peston
27:00hello Prime
27:02Minister
27:02for my sins
27:04I've reported
27:05on budgets
27:05for 35
27:07years
27:08and truthfully
27:11I have
27:12never seen
27:14preparations for
27:15a budget as
27:16shambolic as
27:17these except
27:18for Liz
27:19Truss's mini
27:20budget and we
27:21all know how
27:22that ended
27:24is this the
27:25Chancellor's fault
27:26or is it
27:27your fault
27:28and just
27:29briefly on
27:30you mentioned
27:31you want to
27:31drive faster
27:32on trade
27:32your current
27:34proposals for
27:35the EU are
27:36not economically
27:37significant
27:37are you going to
27:38drive harder and
27:39faster in getting a
27:40better trade deal
27:41with the EU
27:41well Robert
27:44let me just deal
27:45with the substance
27:47of the budget
27:47because it's really
27:48important that we
27:48focus on that
27:49in my view
27:50we have
27:52protected our
27:54public services
27:55and our NHS
27:56that is hugely
27:58important
27:58our NHS was
27:59on its knees
28:00after 14 years
28:01of the last
28:01government
28:02now we're
28:03bringing waiting
28:03times down
28:04that is not
28:05easy
28:05it requires
28:06record investment
28:07it requires
28:07decisions to be
28:08made
28:08fair and necessary
28:09decisions of
28:10this government
28:10and I'm proud
28:11of that
28:11I'm proud of
28:12that
28:12that is an
28:13outcome of the
28:13budget
28:14we have
28:15over doubled
28:16the headroom
28:17than the headroom
28:19we had before
28:20and every
28:22business
28:23knows
28:24that that
28:25helps with
28:25stability and
28:26certainty
28:26which is what
28:27they're looking
28:27for above all
28:28else
28:28and they know
28:30that that has
28:30an impact on
28:31inflation which
28:31impacts them
28:32so I'm proud
28:33that we've done
28:34that under the
28:34budget
28:34and we've borne
28:36down on the
28:36cost of living
28:37I'm proud that
28:39we've lifted
28:39half a million
28:40children out of
28:40poverty
28:41I think it's
28:42appellant
28:43I think the
28:44idea we've had
28:45for the best
28:46part of 10
28:47years
28:47that if you
28:48have this cap
28:49in place
28:49it would have
28:51any effect
28:51other than
28:52dragging hundreds
28:52of thousands
28:53of children
28:53into poverty
28:54has been tried
28:54and tested
28:55to destruction
28:55the only
28:57effect of it
28:57was to drag
28:59hundreds of
29:00thousands of
29:00children into
29:01poverty
29:01and we're
29:02ending that
29:03under this
29:04budget
29:04and I'm proud
29:05of that
29:05and I'm also
29:06proud of the
29:17fact that we
29:17took the
29:18decision
29:18not just to
29:19freeze rail
29:20fares
29:20freeze prescriptions
29:21but to take
29:22down energy
29:23bills by
29:23£150
29:24now again
29:26in the
29:27hospital
29:27that we
29:28went to
29:29on the
29:29afternoon
29:29of the
29:29budget
29:30when we
29:31told them
29:31that
29:31they broke
29:32out in a
29:32clap
29:32because they
29:34knew what
29:34it would
29:35mean to
29:35them
29:35they knew
29:37what it
29:37would mean
29:37to them
29:38whatever
29:38happens in
29:39the
29:39commons
29:39go and
29:42talk to
29:42staff
29:42in the
29:43NHS
29:43and they
29:44clap
29:45when you
29:45tell them
29:46you'll
29:46bring down
29:46their
29:46energy
29:46bill
29:47so I'm
29:47glad we're
29:48now on the
29:48substance of
29:49the budget
29:50and on the
29:50substance of
29:51the budget
29:51I'd defend it
29:52any day of
29:53the week
29:53they're the
29:53right steps
29:54for our
29:54country
29:55and I'm
29:55proud that
29:56we've taken
29:56them
29:56on trade
29:58Robert
29:58look we do
29:59need to get
30:00closer to the
30:01EU
30:01it is clear
30:02from all of
30:04the analysis
30:04that the deal
30:05that we've got
30:06has hurt our
30:06economy
30:07that's why
30:08we've rebuilt
30:08relations and
30:10reset relations
30:11with the EU
30:11and I'm
30:12proud that
30:12we've done
30:12that
30:13that is why
30:13we're moving
30:14forward
30:14we had the
30:15mandates agreed
30:16for the
30:17SPS
30:17agreement
30:19and that
30:19will drive
30:20down costs
30:20in supermarkets
30:21significantly
30:22particularly
30:22food costs
30:23and the
30:24emission trading
30:25scheme
30:25just in the
30:26last week
30:26or two
30:27so we're
30:27making progress
30:28on that
30:29front
30:30and that
30:31goes in
30:31addition to
30:32the other
30:32trade deals
30:33that we've
30:33done with
30:34countries
30:34of the US
30:35that we did
30:36and I remember
30:37the days when
30:38people were
30:38saying to me
30:38you can't have
30:39a deal with
30:39the US
30:40and a deal
30:40with the EU
30:41and we've
30:41got both
30:42and the deal
30:43we did
30:43with India
30:44which it
30:46had been
30:46in the making
30:47I think
30:47for eight
30:47years
30:48until we
30:48came along
30:49and actually
30:49did the deal
30:50so I'm
30:51proud that
30:51we're making
30:52that progress
30:53thank you
30:53very much
30:54I'll go to
30:54Chris Hope
30:55from GB News
30:56Chris
30:56Chris Hope
30:57GB News
30:58Prime Minister
30:58you wanted
30:59to tread
30:59lightly
30:59on our
31:00lies
31:00before you
31:01were elected
31:02you were
31:02different
31:03from the
31:03Tory party
31:04but aren't
31:04you exactly
31:05the same
31:06from David
31:07Lambie
31:07repeatedly
31:07not being
31:08clear about
31:08an escaped
31:09migrant
31:09in the
31:10House of
31:10Commons
31:10to Rachel
31:11Reeves
31:11talking about
31:11a black hole
31:12that wasn't
31:13actually there
31:13now you want
31:14to cut
31:15benefits
31:16but trust
31:17matters
31:18how can
31:18our viewers
31:19trust anything
31:20you say
31:21well
31:22Chris
31:24I simply
31:26don't
31:27accept
31:27the
31:27starting
31:28proposition
31:28I'm
31:28really
31:28sorry
31:29when I
31:30was told
31:31that we
31:31started
31:32the budget
31:32process
31:33minus 16
31:33billion
31:34pounds
31:34I didn't
31:35cheer
31:35I didn't
31:36think it
31:36was good
31:37I thought
31:38it was
31:38a very
31:38bad
31:39starting
31:39position
31:40I was
31:41curious
31:41as to why
31:42the productivity
31:42review
31:43had been
31:43done this
31:43year
31:43and not
31:44previously
31:44but there
31:45we are
31:45that's
31:45the nature
31:46of the
31:46beast
31:47it's
31:48done
31:48and the
31:49price
31:49is
31:49calculated
31:50and I'm
31:51handed
31:52the tab
31:52minus 16
31:54billion
31:54pounds
31:55not suggesting
31:56the other
31:56figures aren't
31:56there
31:56but it is
31:57not
31:57I won't
31:58accept the
31:58proposition
31:59that somehow
31:59this was a
32:00good starting
32:01point
32:01I'm 16
32:02billion pounds
32:02down
32:03on what I
32:03thought I'd
32:04have
32:04and I know
32:04the impact
32:05that's going
32:05to have
32:05on your
32:06viewers
32:07because I
32:08know for
32:08them that
32:09the cost
32:09of living
32:09is the
32:10single
32:10most
32:10important
32:10issue
32:11I know
32:11for them
32:12they are
32:12going to
32:12be worried
32:13at the
32:13beginning
32:14of the
32:14month
32:15in January
32:15is their
32:17going up
32:17because they
32:17normally get
32:18whacked
32:18with that
32:19pretty early
32:20in January
32:20prescription
32:21charges
32:22matter
32:23to them
32:23and their
32:24energy
32:24bills
32:25matter
32:25to them
32:26and there
32:27are choices
32:27therefore
32:28that can
32:28or can't
32:29be done
32:29if you start
32:30with minus
32:3016
32:31billion
32:31pounds
32:31so I
32:32simply
32:32I know
32:33it will be
32:34put to me
32:34many many
32:34times
32:35I simply
32:36don't accept
32:37the proposition
32:37that somehow
32:38starting your
32:38budget process
32:39minus 16
32:40billion pounds
32:41is a particularly
32:42good starting
32:42point
32:43if that
32:43hadn't have
32:43happened
32:44I'd have
32:44had 16
32:45billion pounds
32:45more
32:46to weigh
32:48in the
32:48options
32:49and the
32:49choices
32:49that we
32:49made
32:50two-thirds
32:51of the
32:51hedge room
32:52is 16
32:53billion pounds
32:54so you can
32:54see the
32:55significance
32:55of that
32:55amount of
32:56money
32:56I think
32:57all I can
32:57do is
32:58explain the
32:58impact
32:59that these
32:59decisions
33:00have on
33:00your viewers
33:01and to
33:01assure them
33:02that I am
33:03well aware
33:04that the
33:04number one
33:04issue for
33:05them is the
33:05cost of
33:05living
33:05and that's
33:06why in
33:07the budget
33:08and all
33:09the other
33:09decisions
33:09I mean
33:10last week
33:10we were
33:11doing free
33:11school meals
33:12free breakfast
33:13clubs
33:14free childcare
33:15all of
33:15these are
33:16good for
33:16children in
33:17their own
33:17right
33:18but they're
33:18also really
33:19important cost
33:20of living
33:20measures as
33:21well and I
33:23think for many
33:23of your
33:23viewers they
33:24will I hope
33:25be pleased to
33:26see things like
33:27those measures
33:27going in the
33:27childcare is a
33:28real game
33:29changer for so
33:30many parents
33:30and carers
33:31across the
33:32whole country
33:32thank you very
33:33much Chris
33:34Aubrey from
33:36the Times
33:37given we
33:42now know
33:43that actually
33:43you had a
33:44budget surplus
33:45of at least
33:45four billion
33:46pounds before
33:47Rachel Reeves
33:48gave her
33:48press conference
33:49which set
33:49hairs running
33:50and fuelled
33:50all this
33:51speculation
33:51isn't it
33:52misleading of
33:53her to
33:53have still
33:54then not
33:55ruled out
33:55an income
33:56tax rise
33:56and only
33:57given us
33:58one side
33:58of the
33:58story
33:59after she'd
33:59been made
34:00aware that
34:00things were
34:00better than
34:01anticipated
34:02and do you
34:03think that
34:04the OBR has
34:04overstepped its
34:05remit by
34:05publishing what
34:06forecasts it
34:07gave to the
34:07Treasury
34:07and when
34:08or actually
34:09do you think
34:09that having
34:09more transparency
34:10like that
34:11is a good
34:11thing
34:11thank you
34:12well Aubrey
34:12I've been
34:13through this
34:13number of
34:14times
34:14but obviously
34:17at the early
34:18stage it's
34:19very important
34:20not to rule
34:20out steps
34:21that it's a
34:22process that
34:23goes on as
34:23you know
34:23for some
34:24weeks until
34:25the final
34:25decisions are
34:26made but
34:28to be told
34:29at the beginning
34:30of the process
34:30you're 16
34:31billion pounds
34:32worse off than
34:33you might
34:33otherwise have
34:33been is a
34:34significantly
34:35difficult
34:35starting point
34:36we could
34:38have made
34:38other
34:38choices
34:38I could
34:39have said
34:39I know
34:39we said
34:41we would
34:41protect the
34:41NHS
34:42but I've
34:42decided now
34:43not to
34:43we're going
34:44to cut the
34:45funding to the
34:45NHS and let
34:46it go back
34:46to where it
34:47was under
34:47the last
34:47government
34:47I wasn't
34:48going to do
34:48that
34:48we could
34:49have said
34:50well I
34:50wanted to
34:50double
34:51more than
34:52double the
34:52headroom
34:53but we're
34:53not going
34:53to do
34:54that
34:54anymore
34:54I was
34:57concerned
34:57about that
34:58and wanted
34:58to make
34:59sure we
34:59had a
34:59significant
35:00headroom
35:00for reasons
35:01that are
35:01obvious to
35:03the markets
35:04and to
35:04business
35:04and we
35:05could have
35:06said we're
35:06not going
35:06to bother
35:06about any
35:07other cost
35:07of living
35:07measures
35:08we know
35:08it's the
35:09number one
35:09concern
35:09to voters
35:10but we're
35:10just not
35:10going to
35:10do it
35:11I fundamentally
35:12disagree with
35:13that and
35:14therefore of
35:14course it was
35:15right that we
35:16flagged that we
35:17started in this
35:17position and my
35:20strong view is it
35:20would have been
35:21wrong to rule
35:21out measures that
35:23would have to be
35:24taken as a
35:24result and in
35:25fact were taken
35:26because the
35:27word tax
35:28rises in the
35:29budget as you
35:30and others
35:30have pointed
35:30out to me a
35:32number of
35:32times in
35:34relation to
35:35publishing the
35:36figures look
35:36that's a
35:36matter for
35:37Richard Hughes
35:39I think to
35:40explain rather
35:41than me
35:41good I've got
35:44Guardian
35:45Jess
35:45hi there
35:49Prime Minister
35:50Jess Elgott
35:51from the
35:51Guardian
35:51you've said
35:53a few times
35:53in this speech
35:54you don't
35:54believe or
35:55will beat
35:55the OBR's
35:56gloomy forecasts
35:58on growth or
35:59living standards
35:59you're clearly
36:00very angry at
36:01the timing of
36:01the productivity
36:02downgrade and
36:04you've given
36:04them figures that
36:05you know you'll
36:05probably never
36:06have to do on
36:07spending cuts
36:08before the next
36:08election
36:08what is the
36:10point of the
36:11OBR if it
36:12clearly doesn't
36:13command your
36:14confidence
36:14well I'm not
36:17angry at the
36:18productivity
36:18review it's a
36:19good thing
36:20that reviews
36:21like that are
36:22done from
36:22time to
36:23time I'm
36:24bemused
36:25myself I feel
36:27that doing it
36:27at the end of
36:28the last
36:28government and
36:28before we
36:29started might
36:29have been a
36:29good point to
36:30do a productivity
36:30review so we
36:32could know
36:33exactly what we
36:35were confronted
36:35with doing it
36:3715-16 months
36:39into a
36:39government you
36:41know it had
36:41to be done
36:42sometime but
36:43picking up the
36:45tab for the
36:45last government's
36:46failure is and
36:48it's been the
36:48nature of the
36:49beast frankly for
36:50the last 16
36:50months but it
36:52was given a
36:52special emphasis
36:54in that exercise
36:55I'm not angry
36:55I'm just bemused
36:57as to why it
36:57wasn't done at
36:58the end of the
36:58government rather
36:58than done now
36:59but you know
36:59but I'm not
37:00saying that these
37:01reviews aren't
37:01important etc
37:04on beating the
37:05forecast look I
37:06am confident
37:06and I'm confident
37:08because the
37:08forecast that was
37:09given to us for
37:102025 for economic
37:11growth was 1%
37:12and it came in
37:13last week at
37:141.5% that's a
37:1550% overreach on
37:17the forecast so I
37:19know these targets
37:20can be beaten and
37:21we are absolutely
37:22out to defy the
37:23forecasts and beat
37:23them just as we've
37:24already done this
37:25year on the OBR I'm
37:27very supportive of
37:28the OBR I'm very
37:30supportive of the
37:31OBR it is in my
37:33view vital for
37:34stability and in
37:38built in our
37:38fiscal rules which
37:39I've said a number
37:40of times are iron
37:41clad so look I'm
37:44not going to suggest
37:45that what happened
37:46last week which was
37:47the entire budget
37:48being published
37:49before the
37:50Chancellor got to
37:51her feet was not
37:53anything other than
37:54a serious error
37:54this was market
37:56sensitive information
37:57it was a massive
38:00discourtesy to
38:01Parliament it's a
38:02serious error
38:03there's an
38:03investigation that's
38:04going on but as
38:06for the OBR itself
38:07I'm very supportive
38:08of the OBR for the
38:10reasons I've set out
38:10vital for stability
38:11vital and integral to
38:13our fiscal rules which
38:15I've said a number of
38:16times are ironclad
38:17thank you very much
38:18Jess I've got Lizzie
38:20from the Mirror
38:21Prime Minister
38:25Lizzie Buckham from
38:26the Daily Mirror
38:26you talked about
38:27looking again at
38:28welfare reform but
38:29you failed to pass
38:31your measures the
38:31last time you tried
38:33can you take your
38:34MPs with you this
38:35time and would you
38:36take the whip off
38:37people if they
38:37oppose cuts to
38:38welfare?
38:38on this issue in
38:41welfare I'm focusing
38:43particularly on young
38:44people I do think
38:45there's a general
38:47consensus there is a
38:48moral mission I mean
38:49there aren't many
38:50people who are
38:51comfortable with nor
38:52should they be the
38:53fact there's nearly a
38:54million young people
38:55who are you know
38:57very stuck with not
39:00earning and not
39:01learning and my worry
39:04as I say is that that
39:05is something that
39:06doesn't isn't a
39:07short-term thing that
39:08happens just for a
39:08number of years and
39:09then it's sort of back
39:10into work back into
39:11learning and everything's
39:12fine my big worry is
39:14that all of the
39:15evidence I've seen
39:16shows that if at that
39:18age that's the
39:19situation the likelihood
39:20is it's going to go on
39:21for decades and that's
39:22going to impact that
39:23cohort I think it's
39:24generally there's a
39:26strong consensus that
39:27we must do something
39:28about that we will do
39:30something about it
39:31I've got Jack from
39:32the Sun
39:33Jack Elson
39:33thank you Prime
39:36Minister and just to
39:37pick up on a point
39:38which Chris made at
39:39the beginning is it
39:40your goal that
39:41welfare spending by the
39:42next election will be
39:43coming down and not
39:45up and then just
39:46secondly your
39:46Chancellor in the
39:47budget and over the
39:48weekend says that she
39:49was asking ordinary
39:50workers to contribute a
39:52little bit more but
39:53what is your message to
39:54people who aren't
39:55contributing at all
39:56certainly in terms of
40:00the welfare but we've
40:03got two reviews going
40:04on as you know the
40:06Sims review and the
40:07Milburn review we need
40:08to let them complete
40:08their course it is a
40:10moral mission but I've
40:12been outspoken a number
40:13of times on the fact
40:14that the last government
40:15lost control of the
40:16welfare spending and
40:18like all things it falls
40:19to us to pick up the
40:20mess that they have
40:21made in relation to
40:23look we are asking
40:24everybody to contribute
40:25a little bit more I do
40:27think it's really
40:27important to appreciate
40:28with the two child
40:29limit that three
40:31quarters of children in
40:32poverty are in working
40:33families it's the
40:35working poor we're
40:36dealing with here that
40:38is families who are
40:38working but can't make
40:40enough money from their
40:41wages in order to pay
40:43their bills and keep
40:44their children out of
40:45poverty I think we
40:46should do something
40:47about that I think it's
40:48the right thing to do
40:49for children I think
40:51it's the right thing to
40:52do for the NHS I was
40:53really struck spontaneously
40:54last week by the
40:57strength of feeling in
40:58the hospital that if
40:59we're able to deal with
41:00child poverty it will
41:01bring the number of
41:01children going into
41:02hospital down and have
41:03a real impact on the
41:04NHS budget and not me
41:07saying it to you this
41:07is what the first
41:09reaction of the staff
41:10in hospital was to that
41:12effect and I genuinely
41:13think it's really
41:14important for the
41:14economy if we want our
41:16economy to grow and we
41:17do we have to ensure
41:19that every single person
41:20can contribute to that
41:21it is really hard if
41:23you're growing up in
41:24poverty to play your
41:25full part economically
41:26towards the growth that
41:28we need in this country
41:29so for all those reasons
41:30I think it's the right
41:31thing to do I've now
41:33got news with Chris
41:36Chris
41:37thank you Prime Minister
41:39good morning Prime
41:40Minister Chris Chandler
41:41news with Chris the
41:43government is lifting the
41:44two-child benefit cap from
41:46next April but with
41:48working families being
41:49told they need to
41:50contribute more and the
41:52two-child benefit cap not
41:53being lifted from next
41:55April what reassurance can
41:57you give families right
41:58now that are struggling
41:59this winter as it
42:00approaches yeah well for
42:02families struggling this
42:03winter I want to give
42:06the reassurance that we're
42:07taking a number of
42:08measures on the cost of
42:09living because I think
42:10for them that's probably
42:11the thing uppermost in
42:12their mind can I make
42:13ends meet can I pay the
42:15bills as I said in my
42:17speech that happened to
42:18me when I was growing up
42:19we didn't have enough
42:20money to pay all of our
42:21bills we had to do what
42:22families are doing now
42:23which is to sit around the
42:25kitchen table and make
42:26the difficult choices to
42:28which bills we wouldn't
42:29pay because we couldn't
42:31afford to do so that's
42:32it was but the old days
42:33of landlines but that's
42:34why we had to have the
42:35phone cut off because we
42:36couldn't pay the bill in
42:37those days that meant the
42:38end of your phone but
42:40those are the decisions
42:41that families are going
42:42through this winter and
42:43that's why what I'd say
42:44through you to them is we
42:46are taking measures in
42:47relation to railfares to
42:49prescriptions energy bills
42:52down by £150 for those
42:56that are struggling most
42:57that's on top of the
42:58£150 that we're already
43:00taking off for so last
43:02winter 3 million families
43:03that needed it most had
43:05their energy bills reduced
43:06by £150 we've extended
43:09that to 6 million of the
43:10poorest families those
43:11struggling most this winter
43:12so for them there's that
43:15additional benefit as well
43:16and for any of those through
43:19you who've got children
43:21who can benefit from free
43:24breakfast clubs from free
43:25school meals the free
43:26childcare which you know
43:28downstairs there's a
43:29nursery where you see
43:30first hand the evidence
43:32of this from nine months
43:33to four years does save a
43:34significant amount of
43:35money does mean that
43:37parents and carers can get
43:38back into work if that's
43:39what they want to do and
43:40earn a little bit more and
43:42it's hugely important for
43:43children because I
43:45fundamentally believe that
43:47children aged four ought to
43:48be at the same point on the
43:50starting line and as I said
43:51in my speech I'm sick of
43:53hearing that children aged
43:54four some of them ready to
43:55learn some of them in
43:56NAPIT it's not a slogan in
43:59a speech it's really
44:00something we should all be
44:02concerned about we're
44:03beginning to end that so
44:04thank you very much Chris
44:05and I've got news ASB
44:08Andrew Andrew
44:10good morning Prime Minister
44:12what guarantees can you give
44:16that your government will be
44:17transparent about fiscal
44:18realities even if the news is
44:20politically inconvenient
44:21well I think firstly Andrew
44:23thank you very much I think by
44:25standing up here walking
44:27through the decisions that we
44:28made hopefully that helps
44:30explain the process and very
44:35much setting out the result of
44:37that substance the content of
44:39the budget and being clear I
44:42think as to what the driving
44:43principles were behind it that
44:45we wanted to protect our public
44:46services our NHS in particular
44:48and most people would say that's
44:49a good thing because they need to
44:51know the NHS is there for them and
44:52their families when they need it
44:54and one of the saddest things under
44:57the last government is when Labour
44:58left power we had the lowest
45:00waiting lists and the highest
45:02confidence in the NHS and that was
45:05really appreciated in the NHS and
45:08by the staff but the last
45:10election we had the highest
45:11waiting lists and the lowest
45:13confidence and you can imagine
45:15the impact that had on the staff
45:16of the NHS were trying to do their
45:18level best and yet the public
45:19confidence is at its lowest
45:21because of the position they've
45:22been left in so we were
45:23determined to turn that around
45:25we're determined to bring down the
45:26cost of borrowing because that
45:28then impacts on interest rates
45:31which then for anybody with a
45:32mortgage or bill or anything where
45:35interest rates make a difference
45:37is hugely important and I wanted
45:41transparently to be clear that the
45:43cost of living is the single most
45:44important thing for most families
45:47and communities across the country
45:48and they will want to know and
45:51through me and you questioning me
45:53can know that we've taken a number
45:55of measures on the cost of living
45:56which will help it doesn't eradicate
45:59the problem but helps but also gives
46:01the sense that we're a government
46:03that does actually understand what a
46:05cost of living crisis feels like
46:06and that's determined to make the
46:08fair and messy decisions to deal with
46:10it thank you all very much indeed
46:12thank you
46:13thank you
46:18you
46:20you
46:22you
46:24you
46:27you
46:29you
46:30you
46:33you
46:35you
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