Rachel Reeves’s uncle has branded his niece’s Budget a “disgrace” in a bruising broadside on the divisive financial measures.
Terry Smith, 73, called it the “worst Budget I’ve ever heard” in the withering verdict.
Mr Smith, a retired construction boss, is the brother of the Chancellor’s primary school teacher mum, Sally.
His criticism, following on from a long list of detractors, is perhaps the most devastating yet of Ms Reeve’s new tax-hiking Budget.
The 73-year-old predicted the measures would “cost the working class billions of pounds and leave the country worse off”.
“It’s the worst Budget I’ve ever heard, and I’m 73, so I have been around for quite a few,” he despaired.
Mr Smith slammed the Budget as one constructed to “help people who don’t really want to work”.
“I know people in Manchester with three or four children who are just going to have more as the state will reward them.
Rachel Reeves’s uncle has savaged her budget
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“If they can have another child and get more money, that’s exactly what they’ll do,” he predicted.
Despite possibly sparking a major family row, the former builder did spare a kind thought for his embattled niece.
The 73-year-old was full of praise for Ms Reeves becoming the first female Chancellor, built on her academic career studying philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford.
“Rachel is my niece and is a lovely person, but the government is totally out of their depth,” he told The Sun
Mr Smith branded his niece’s new financial measures as a ‘disgrace’
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In his most withering remark, Mr Smith admitted: “I don’t think she had the qualifications or the experience to be Chancellor.”
Earlier this month, Mr Smith hit out at Ms Reeve’s ahead of the publication of the Budget where he revealed other members of the Chancellor’s family had expressed criticism.
“My son is a headmaster and he’s also against all this,” he revealed.
“He has a property that he rents out, and now he’s going to get caned – he’s worked hard, he’s invested money,” the 73-year-old explained to the Daily Mail.
At the time, both relatives fumed about predictions over tax hikes, which were soon realised.
He questioned: “Everything has been about tax, hasn’t it?”
Where the Chancellor’s cousin stands on the financial measures after Wednesday remains to be seen.