Conduct of the Chancellor of the Exchequer

Debate between Shaun Davies and Mel Stride

Wednesday 10th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Mel Stride]

My right hon. Friend is right. To be more accurate, we can see it even from Pluto. He is also so right about the loss of jobs in hospitality; about 90,000 jobs have been destroyed, many of them the first opportunity to get on to the career ladder that young people would otherwise have had. That is as a direct consequence of the increase in national insurance. It was not just an increase in the rate; it was a reduction in the threshold at which that tax cuts in. That disproportionately affects those on lower income, in particular women, part-time workers and, yes, young people.

[Shaun Davies (Telford) (Lab)]

Will the right hon. Gentleman give way?