Replacement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateAlistair Carmichael
Main Page: Alistair Carmichael (Liberal Democrat - Orkney and Shetland)Department Debates - View all Alistair Carmichael's debates with the Leader of the House
(1 year, 10 months ago)
Commons ChamberThe hon. Lady will want to hear from the Chancellor, because she will be able to ask him the precise questions that are of interest to her constituents. This Government have always protected people against the cost of living, and we have always protected the most vulnerable in our society. We will continue to do that.
The Leader of the House and her colleagues do not have a monopoly on understanding what it is to take difficult decisions in the national interest. In 2010, my colleagues and I entered Government and took many difficult decisions for which we paid a political price. We did that because it was in the national interest. We did it on the advice of the Bank of England, and we set up the Office for Budget Responsibility. The Prime Minister was also part of that Government. At what point did she think it was no longer necessary to listen to the Bank of England and the OBR?
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for raising the issues we faced in 2010. People will remember the note outlining that there was no money left. What is less well understood is the scorched earth policy accompanying it, which tied the incoming Government into all kinds of contractual difficulties to make their job so much harder. That is why those on the Opposition Benches should never be allowed near Government. The Chancellor will be along shortly to answer questions about the OBR.