Question
Does the Minister understand just how devastating the effects of his Government’s spending, taxing and borrowing policies are for my constituents in Romford? Does he recall that the last time we had a Prime Minister who understood that we need low taxes, a smaller state and lower borrowing was in 1990? Then the national debt was 21% of GDP; now it is heading for 100%. Will he please reduce the size of the state, cut taxes for hard-working people and start to live within our means?33% point-scoring
Answer
This Government are bringing down borrowing. That is why the IMF has said that the UK saw the biggest reduction in the G20’s deficit levels this year. It has said that the UK stands out for having a borrowing reduction plan, with borrowing falling every year across this forecast. The hon. Member was of course a member of a Government who saw debt levels go through the roof over the past 14 years. This is a Government getting on with reducing our borrowing so that we can bring debt down in the longer term. The only numbers that Reform Members talk about is how many millions of pounds their boss can take from crypto-billionaires around the world. We will deal with the public finances. Stop taking money from the crypto-billionaires!38% point-scoring 12% vibes
Verdict: RED (18/100)
The reply mainly addresses the question about living within means, by stating that government borrowing is falling in every year of the forecast and that the government is committed to the public finances. It does not answer whether the Minister understands the effects on local constituents, whether the Government accepts that debt is heading towards 100% of GDP, whether it will reduce the size of the state, or whether it will cut taxes for hard-working people. It also does not engage with the 1990 Prime Minister's view that was cited, and instead makes a point about the previous government's debt record. Most of the question went unanswered, so the asker would likely need to raise these points again.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Does the Minister understand the effects of the Government's spending, taxing and borrowing policies on constituents in Romford? | Not Addressed | Generic | The item asks whether the Minister understands the effects of the policies on Romford constituents, and the reply never mentions constituents or local effects. It only restates that borrowing is falling and attacks Reform's record. |
| Does the Minister recall the last time a Prime Minister held the view that low taxes, a smaller state and lower borrowing were needed, which the questioner places in 1990? | Not Addressed | Generic | The item asks whether the Minister recalls a 1990 Prime Minister's view on low taxes, a smaller state and lower borrowing. The reply only makes a point-scoring jab at the previous government's debt record and does not engage with the 1990 view. |
| Does the Government accept that national debt, which the questioner states was 21% of GDP in 1990, is heading towards 100% of GDP? | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The item asks whether the Government accepts that national debt is heading towards 100% of GDP. The reply substitutes the borrowing trajectory (falling every year across the forecast) and a general aim to bring debt down, but never accepts or rejects the 100% trajectory claim. |
| Will the Government reduce the size of the state? | Not Addressed | Generic | The item asks whether the Government will reduce the size of the state, and the reply does not say whether it will. Its only related statement is a point-scoring remark about the previous government's debt levels. |
| Will the Government cut taxes for hard-working people? | Not Addressed | Generic | The item asks whether the Government will cut taxes for hard-working people, and nothing in the reply addresses tax cuts or taxation at all. |
| Will the Government start to live within its means? | Addressed | Direct | Living within its means is substantively answered by the reply's account that the Government is reducing borrowing, with borrowing falling every year across the forecast, so that debt comes down in the longer term, and its commitment to deal with the public finances. |