UK

'You're Not Bringing The Tax 

Burden  Down': 

Trevor Phillips Rejects Tory Minister's Economy Claims

By Kevin Schofield
26/11/2023 

Laura Trott was interviewed by Trevor Phillips on Sky News

A Sky News presenter clashed with a senior Tory minister after she claimed the government is cutting the tax burden.

Laura Trott made the claim on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips just days after the Autumn Statement.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said he was bringing in “the biggest package of tax cuts since the 1980s” as he reduced National Insurance and business taxes.

But it later emerged that the overall tax burden is set to hit a post-war high by the end of the 2020s.

Despite that, Trott said: “We’ve got to pay back our Covid debts and we’ve had to take difficult decisions in order to do that.

“But as a result of those decisions, inflation is now down, we have turned a corner and that is why we can take steps to bring the tax burden down.”

A clearly-exasperated Phillips said: “But you’re not bringing the tax burden down. Let’s have a look at what you’re actually doing.”

Pointing to a graph showing the tax burden continuing to rise, he said: “Look at this. You know this graph better than anybody, you’re the chief secretary to the Treasury. We are now at the highest tax burden since 1948 - that’s before I was born and dinosaurs roamed the earth then.

“I mean honestly, you are increasing taxes not cutting them.”

Trott replied: “What we did at the Autumn Statement this week is the biggest tax-cutting measures since the 1980s. They brought the burden down by 0.7 [% of GDP].

“But we know what we’ve had to pay back our Covid debts, that is something that the Labour Party opposed, but we are now taking action to bring down the tax burden.”

Tory Minister’s lies about ‘bringing down the tax burden’ exposed live on-air

A Tory Minister getting caught-out in 4k, you say? 

This exchange between Laura Trott and Trevor Phillips 

is a must-watch.

 by Tom Head
2023-11-26 

Now THIS is good journalism: Laura Trott was left reeling during her appearance on Sky News this morning, after the Chief Secretary to the Treasury was caught-out in comical fashion by Trevor Phillips.

ALSO READ: Richard Tice accused of ‘harking back to the 1940s’ during BBC appearance
How high is the UK tax burden? The numbers don’t look good for the Tories…

The Tories have claimed that their Autumn Statement will bring tax cuts for millions of British citizens. In reality, the tax burden continues to rise under their stewardship. Most people aren’t buying the spin that accompanies these figures – with no-one more skeptical than Phillips.

The esteemed news anchor and broadcaster engaged with Laura Trott on the topic of inflation. She claimed that the Tories were responsible for reducing price rises, despite inflation rates largely being determined by external factors.

Nonetheless, Trott continued in bullish fashion, and said that the government had managed to ‘turn the corner’ on the economy. It was another statement that Trevor Phillips wasn’t ready to accept – and he had the receipts ready to show.
Laura Trott left squirming during awkward Sky News appearance

A look of fear and confusion was present on Trott’s face, after Sky News brought up a graph that showed the UK’s tax burden over the last 80 years. The current figure is at its highest level since 1948 – a point that was stressed comprehensively by the host:

“You’re not bringing the tax burden down. Look at this graph, you’ll know it better than anyone… we are at the highest tax burden since 1948. That’s before I was born, and when dinosaurs ruled the earth. Honestly, you’re increasing taxes, not cutting them.” | Trevor Phillips

You can watch the full exchange here – just a warning, though: It is very awkward:

 

 

'Just Be Straight With People': Laura Kuennsberg Roasts Tory Minister Over Tax Claims
Laura Trott insisted the amount that average earners pay has come down since 2010.
By Kevin Schofield
26/11/2023 


Laura Trott was grilled on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg
BBC

A Tory minister was urged to “just be straight with people” after she claimed the government was cutting the overall tax burden.

Laura Trott was grilled on BBC 1′s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg this morning.

The chief secretary to the Treasury repeated Conservative claims that her party is reducing the amount people are being taxed - despite clear evidence to the contrary.

At last week’s Autumn Statement, chancellor Jeremy Hunt said he was bringing in “the biggest package of tax cuts since the 1980s” as he reduced National Insurance and business taxes.

But it later emerged that the overall tax burden is still set to hit a post-war high by the end of the 2020s.

Kuenssberg told Trott: “It’s very important that you are clear about the overall picture here.

″The overall picture for our viewers is that the tax burden is going up and up and up and up.”

But the minister said: “That’s actually not true. For people on average wages, their taxes would have been cut by about £1,000 on average since 2010.

“For some of the highest earners, we have asked them to take on more of the burden.”

Kuenssberg replied: “You know, and our viewers will have seen and heard on many occasions, taxes are going to reach a post-war high.

“The overall tax burden is going up. Shouldn’t you just be straight with people?”

Trott said: “I am being straight. If you are on an average income, because of the tax changes that we’ve made, your tax burden will have gone down quite significantly.”

Kuenssberg hit back: “You are going to bring some taxes down, but the overall tax burden is going up - I want people to understand that clearly