Replacement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer

Caroline Lucas Excerpts

Monday 17th October 2022 Commons Chamber

[Penny Mordaunt]

I can give my hon. Friend that assurance. The Chancellor’s statement today is incredibly important, and people will want to hear about the package that we are bringing forward to help on energy prices and the other measures to help with the cost of living.

[Caroline Lucas (Brighton, Pavilion) (Green)]

We have just seen the back of one Tory Prime Minister for trampling over standards in public life, only for him to be replaced by another who in just 40 days has herself failed to meet at least three of the Nolan principles. I would love to ask the Prime Minister herself about this, but given that she is not here, I shall ask that Leader of the House: is it leadership to sack your Chancellor for doing exactly what he was asked to do; is it objectivity to refuse to allow the OBR experts to assess the so-called mini-Budget; and does she agree that the first test of accountability is to actually show up?

[Penny Mordaunt]

I would suggest to the hon. Lady that it is leadership to take tough decisions in the national interest, even though they may be personally and politically difficult to take.