Security Minister Dan Jarvis has refused to confirm whether Britons will truly be “£500 better off” following Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s Spring Statement, claiming that she has “had to make difficult decisions”.
GB News host Camilla Tominey grilled Jarvis in a scathing attack, claiming that it is a “lie” by the Chancellor, as bills are set to increase household costs by £1,000 in the next year.
Water bills will rise by an average of 26 per cent, adding £123 to annual costs for homes across England and Wales. Energy bills will increase by 6.4 per cent as Ofgem raises the price cap, adding around £111 to yearly costs.
Council tax will also rise by five per cent in most English areas, adding approximately £109 to a typical band D property.
Putting the question to Jarvis on GB News, Camilla asked the Labour Minister: “How on earth is it credible to suggest that the British public will be £500 better off after her Budget and Spring Statement? It is an untruth?”
Jarvis stood firm on Labour’s policy, responding: “I know as an constituency MP that we are still living through the legacy of the cost of living crisis and times are very tough for lots of people.
“But that is precisely why the Government is making tough choices – that is why we are reforming welfare, because let’s be honest about it, significant amounts of money that has been invested into welfare without the reforms that need to go with it.
“We are confident that over the course of this parliament, that will result in economic growth, which will allow us to more effectively invest in public services.”
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Camilla pressed Jarvis again on the Chancellor’s Spring Statement, stressing that Reeves’s claim that Britons will be £500 better off is a “lie”, and Labour should “not be lying in Spring Statements”.
Jarvis dodged the grilling again, stating: “She isn’t, and I think that is an unfair and unreasonable criticism, the Chancellor is doing a good job under very difficult circumstances.
“Yes, she’s had to make some difficult choices, yes there have been some criticisms around those choices, but in large part, this is clearing up the mess that we inherited. And that is what this Government will continue to do.”
Growing frustrated with Jarvis, Camilla declared she would ask Jarvis “one more time” whether he can confirm if Britons will be £500 better off, following the Chancellor’s claim in her Spring Statement.
When asked again if the claim is true, Jarvis responded: “I completely back what the Chancellor has said, she will look at this in the round, she will look at the costs that people will have to cover.
“She absolutely acknowledges the difficult circumstances that we are operating under, and that is why the Government is taking tough choices to fix the foundations of our economy, so we’ve got the resources available there to invest in our public services.”