Kemi: Reeves 'lied' about Budget black hole to justify her tax rises

RACHEL Reeves was accused of telling “lies” about Budget tax rises by falsely claiming the official spending watchdog had warned of a black hole in the public finances.

- BY JONATHAN WALKER Whitehall Editor

The Chancellor suggested in the run-up to Wednesday's Budget that forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility confirmed tax rises were needed.

But when the OBR data was published this week, it showed tax revenues were already increasing because of inflation.

The OBR has also confirmed it shared its findings with Ms Reeves weeks ago.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: "Yet more evidence, as if we needed it, that the Chancellor must be sacked.

"For months, Reeves has lied to the public to justify record tax hikes to pay for more welfare. Her Budget wasn't about stability.

"It was about politics: bribing Labour MPs to save her own skin. Shameful."