BBC Breakfast presenter Nina Warhurst challenged Conservative MP Mel Stride over his remarks on the government's mini-budget, questioning whether his call for a 'fundamental reset' indicated a lack of faith in the policy.
Appearing on the programme, Stride, who chairs the Treasury Committee, said he wanted to hear that rumours of a reset on tax measures announced in late September were correct, adding that the situation required a fundamental reset due to market confidence issues.
Warhurst pressed him, stating: 'A fundamental reset sounds like you don't have faith in any of the mini budget.' Stride responded by arguing that unfunded tax cuts in a high-inflation, tight labour market were unlikely to spur growth and had led to market uncertainty.
He defended Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, who cut short a US trip to address economic issues, urging calm among Tory backbenchers and saying: 'I think he needs to be given space and the last thing we need at this moment is even more turbulence with the change of personnel.'
The interview came after earlier criticism of BBC Breakfast, when viewers felt presenter Sally Nugent had been too soft on Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg during his appearance on Wednesday, with some accusing the programme of failing to challenge his defence of the economy.
