At Treasury questions in the House of Commons, James highlighted the policy reversals on winter fuel payments and welfare cuts will leave unfunded spending plans. He called on the Chancellor to confirm that she would not extend the freeze on income tax thresholds when they are due to end in 2028.
James Wild MP said:
"First, it was a humiliating reversal of the Chancellor’s winter fuel cuts. Now, welfare cuts that she rushed to meet her fiscal rules have been shredded, leaving unfunded spending to pay for. In October, the Chancellor said that extending the freeze in income tax thresholds “would hurt working people. It would take more money out of their payslips”. Does she stand by the commitment to end that freeze from 2028—yes or no?"
In response, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP, said:
“It was the hon. Member’s Government, when they were on this side of the House, who froze those allowances, taking more money out of the pockets of working people. Despite that, they left a £22 billion black hole in the public finances. I will take no lessons from Conservative party, which has opposed everything that is needed to invest in our public services. We are in the mess we are in because of the damage that it caused.”
