Tory Frontbencher Schooled On Sky News Over Embarrassing Factual Blunder
Alex Burghart, the shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, was forced to answer after the Tories bizarrely released a warning to pensioners that Labour were introducing a retirement tax.
The press release said the Conservatives were 'sounding the alarm over Labour's retirement tax which is now just 614 days away from coming into effect'.
But, as Frost pointed out, the government has not actually announced this policy yet.
He said: 'I feel like you've invented a talking point here. The headline of your press release today, that you've just released, you've framed it as fact, as if it has already happened.'
Burghart tried repeatedly to cut in, but Frost pushed back: 'Excuse me, forgive me Mr Burghart. You can come back in a moment, we will give you time to respond.'
Frost then pointed out the press release then reveals chancellor Rachel Reeves is only 'widely expected' to extend the income tax thresholds.
'We don't even have a date for the autumn Budget yet,' Frost noted, while the Tory MP continually interrupted him until the presenter said: 'I'll give you a chance to answer in a second!'
Burghart sulkily replied: 'Well alright if you don't want me to speak, I won't speak.'
He sat there shaking his head while Frost continued: 'You've manufactured a talking point which you framed in your first answer as having already happened, with a hypothetical thing the government might do – and even if they do it, it won't come into effect until 614 days!'
Burghart claimed that he was 'perfectly entitled' to tell pensioners that, unless the chancellor changes course, she will be bringing them into income tax for the first time.
He said the prime minister has not ruled it out, and claimed that means he is likely considering changing such tax thresholds.
Frost replied: 'Right! So, it is not definitively happening. That, by the way, was a non-answer from the prime minister, not a definitive answer from the chancellor.'
But Burghart insisted there was nothing wrong with raising the alarm over an issue like this.
'That is exactly what oppositions are supposed to do, I don't know why you find it so hard to understand that,' the Tory MP replied.
'It's hypothetical, I think you're proving that yourself,' Frost said.
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