Question
At the weekend the Chancellor said that the Budget would provide breathing space for families and working people, so will he tell the House today whether he agrees with his Minister, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, who thinks that employers are not working people?
Answer
Of course they are. That is why, in the Budget, I protected income that is earned. I protected income that is earned through dividends which are reinvested in business. I promised a “breathing space” Budget, and that is what I have delivered: help with the cost of living pressures and help with the cost of business pressures, with 70,000 high street businesses taken out of business rates altogether to lift our local areas, including the right hon. Lady’s constituency. Just as I am asking banks to assist with the cost of this help for households through the winter, I am asking gambling operators, big online sellers and vape shops to pay a bit more to help our high streets, and I hope the right hon. Lady will back that.
Verdict: GREEN (82/100)
The question asked whether employers are working people, and the reply answers this directly with "Of course they are". The rest of the reply is largely unrelated material about protecting earned income and dividends, along with some requests, which does not add to the answer. The core question is answered clearly, so the asker would most likely have what they need on this point.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether the Chancellor agrees with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury that employers are not working people. | Addressed | Direct | The reply opens with "Of course they are", a clear and unambiguous answer that employers are working people, which is the agreement the item asks about. The following statements about protecting earned income and dividends reinforce that position, though the rest of the reply is largely unrelated boasting and requests. |