Economy and Jobs

Debate between Kirsty Blackman and Victoria Atkins

Thursday 29th June 2017 Commons Chamber

[Kirsty Blackman]

Absolutely. I think we will see increasing problems with that, and I shall come on to that later.

During the election campaign, the UK Government seemed unclear about the causes of poverty, so let me enlighten them: poverty is caused by people not having enough money.

[Victoria Atkins (Louth and Horncastle) (Con)]

If the hon. Lady is against consumer debt, which we all agree we are worried about, why is she so comfortable with public sector debt?

[Kirsty Blackman]

They are totally different things, and I am surprised that I have even been asked that question. The level of consumer debt is a massive problem for the economy, because people are going to be hit when this bubble bursts—that is what we saw happen in 2008.