Moment Tory MP left speechless on Question Time after query about tax hikes

On Mar 7, 2024

A Tory MP was left struggling for phrases on BBC Question Time final night time after Fiona Bruce requested him concerning the enhance in tax burden following the finances.

The awkward change in Cardiff got here after visitor panellist Welsh secretary David TC Davies claimed that the 2p reduce in National Insurance introduced this week would “make a difference” to households throughout the UK.

On Thursday night time’s version of the long-running question-and-answer present, Fiona Bruce picked out this remark and requested: “When you say everyone who pays National Insurance will be better off, according to the Institute of Fiscal Studies, only people earning between £26,000 and £60,000 will be better off?”

Fiona Bruce quizzed David TC Davies on tax increases

Fiona Bruce quizzed David TC Davies on tax will increase

He replied: “Anyone paying National Insurance will be paying less National Insurance”, however Fiona identified: “Yes, but they’ll be paying more tax overall. That’s according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies unless you disagree with that?”

The Conservative MP appeared to easily return to his earlier level concerning the discount within the National Insurance price, earlier than including: “I’ll have to look at the figures”. Fiona Bruce completed the dialogue by remarking: “Plenty of people have, and that’s the conclusion they’ve come to”.

The Tory MP had claimed the 2p National Insurance cut would 'make a difference' to households across the UK

The Tory MP had claimed the 2p National Insurance reduce would ‘make a distinction’ to households throughout the UK

The thinktank had mentioned of their finances response that the reduce in National Insurance contributions from 10% to eight% would give again solely “a portion of the money that is being taken away through other income tax” and different adjustments, corresponding to multi-year freezes to tax thresholds whereas inflation continues to be excessive.

Paul Johnson, Director of the Institute of Fiscal Studies, mentioned: “The big picture on tax remains much the same. Come the election, tax revenues will be 3.9% of national income, or around £100 billion, higher than at the time of the last election. This remains a parliament of record tax rises.

“While the OBR got a little more positive in its projections, the picture of living standards also remains dismal. On average, households will be worse off at the time of the next election than they were at the last, following nugatory real earnings growth.

Other topics discussed on Thursday night’s Question Time included the findings of the Angiolini Inquiry into PC murderer Wayne Couzens and the ongoing scandal over Government spending on PPE during the Covid pandemic.