John Baron MP highlights strong economy at PMQs

MP underlines pandemic support schemes

At Prime Minister’s Questions today, John Baron MP asked,

“Mr Speaker, my constituents and I send my best wishes to King Charles and the Royal Family.”

“Despite the popular narrative, our economy is doing well – with an unemployment rate below the EU average, strong inward investment and record employment. Taxes are higher than Conservatives would like, but does the Prime Minister agree that a key reason is the over £400 billion we rightly spent on covid support, including one of the most generous furlough schemes to ensure no-one got left behind, and that it is our instinct and intention to lower taxes unlike the parties opposite?”

The Prime Minister responded that John was right, and the strong economy is the reason such generous pandemic and energy support schemes were possible. Labour would put the economy at risk with at least £28 billion in tax rises.

John said afterwards,

“The Government can be proud of its record during the pandemic at supporting individuals and businesses throughout these difficult times, and through the rapid commissioning and rolling-out of the vaccines. However, these measures all came at a huge cost, and are a key reason why taxes are higher now than we would like.”

“Voters know that Conservatives instinctively want to lower taxes as soon as possible, whereas Labour and opposition parties all want taxes to remain high or get even higher. January’s 2p cut in National Insurance shows the Conservative direction of travel, and I look forward to further measures in the forthcoming budget.”