Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has launched an extraordinary attack on Rachel Reeves, labelling her the "country's worst ever Chancellor" following what she described as the most chaotic Budget in living memory.
Scathing Commons condemnation
In a barnstorming performance before a cheering Tory backbench, Ms Badenoch tore into what she called the "complete shambles" of leaks and policy U-turns that have characterised Ms Reeves' tenure. The Conservative leader didn't hold back in her assessment of Labour's economic plans, describing them as a "smorgasbord of misery" that disproportionately targets hard-working Britons.
Ms Badenoch told the Commons that the Chancellor's speech represented an "exercise in self-delusion" and stated bluntly: "If she had any decency she would resign." Her comments came amid growing Conservative anger over the direction of Labour's economic policy.
Tax burden reaches post-war high
The Tory leader highlighted alarming figures from the Office for Budget Responsibility showing that the tax-to-GDP ratio is set to increase to 38.3% by 2030-31 - what would represent a post-war high. She detailed the extensive range of levies being increased under Labour's plans, mentioning specifically: "Taxes on workers, taxes on savers, taxes on pensions, taxes on investors, taxes on homes, holidays, cars, I think even milkshakes."
Ms Badenoch argued that the government had "lost what little credibility they have left" and that "no one will ever trust her again" following what she characterised as a betrayal of manifesto promises on income tax.
Welfare spending explosion
Perhaps the most explosive claim came regarding welfare expenditure, with Ms Badenoch revealing that spending on sickness and disability benefits is projected to reach £109 billion by 2030-31. This would push total welfare spending beyond the £400 billion mark, leading her to dub it a "Budget for Benefit Street".
In a biting quip, she suggested: "The Labour Party should be renamed the Welfare Party" and summarised the Budget as "Labour hiking taxes to pay for welfare".
The Conservative leader contrasted the treatment of different groups in society, noting: "People who work hard and save hard to buy their homes get taxed more, while those who don't work, who in some cases refuse to work, get their accommodation paid for by taxpayers."
Rebuttal of sexism claims
Ms Badenoch also addressed claims that criticism of the Chancellor's performance might be motivated by gender bias, stating unequivocally: "People out there aren't complaining because she's female, they're complaining because she is utterly incompetent."
She emphasised that "real equality means being held to the same standard as everyone else" and being "judged on results" rather than receiving special treatment.
Conservative alternative vision
Outlining what she described as a missed opportunity, Ms Badenoch claimed the Chancellor could have saved £47 billion including £23 billion from welfare reforms. She proposed applying the "golden economic rule" of allocating half of savings to deficit reduction and using the remainder for tax cuts.
Her alternative measures included:
- Abolishing stamp duty on homes to stimulate the housing market
- Scrapping business rates on shops to revive High Streets
- Introducing a cheap power plan for greater savings
Ms Badenoch concluded with a rallying cry for traditional Conservative values, stating the party should be "on the side of people who get up and go to work" and those "taking a risk to start a company". She pledged that only the Conservatives would "bring down energy costs, cut spending, cut tax, back business and get Britain working again".
