Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Esther McVey and Rachel Reeves(3 weeks ago)
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Esther McVey (Tatton) (Con)
I am sure that the Chancellor subscribes to the basic principle that if the cost of something is put up, we will see less of it. That is why Governments have, over many years, put taxes on things like smoking. Does she accept that the principle also applies to employing people—that the more expensive the Government make employing people, with their jobs tax increasing NICs for employers, the less we will see of that?
Rachel Reeves
The Conservative party is a good example of that. The cost of the Conservative party went up, and its number of MPs shrank.
UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue
Debate between Esther McVey and Rachel Reeves(4 months, 3 weeks ago)
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Rachel Reeves
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. There have been movements in international markets in the past week or so, and they have been global in nature. In the UK, we must do what we can, which is why I have reiterated today my commitment to the fiscal rules that I set out in the Budget in October. I reiterate that growth is the No. 1 mission of this Government: growth built on stability, which will come through securing the public finances; through investment, including through the national wealth fund and GB Energy; and through reform—of our planning system to make it easier to build in Britain, getting people back to work, and of our pension system. This Government are cracking on after 14 years of failure from the Conservative party.
Esther McVey (Tatton) (Con)
Did the Communist party of China tell the Chancellor that she was doing a good job or a bad job of running the UK economy when she was there?
Rachel Reeves
I was not seeking assurance from any foreign Government on the performance of this Government. What I was seeking—I achieved this in China—were tangible outputs for British businesses trading overseas, helping to create more good jobs that pay decent wages here in Britain. The Conservative party absolutely failed to do that in 14 years.