Conservative leadership contender Kemi Badenoch has launched a scathing attack on Labour’s recent Budget, claiming it will “destroy jobs” and lead to lower wages.
Speaking on GB News, Badenoch criticised the government’s economic plans, describing them as “terrible” for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
The former minister argued that the Budget’s approach to employers’ National Insurance contributions would have devastating consequences for the job market and workers’ pay packets.
Badenoch specifically highlighted concerns about the Budget’s impact on employers’ National Insurance contributions.
She stated on GB News: “What they have done on employers’ NI is going to destroy jobs. It is going to lower wages. People will not see pay rises.”
The former minister claimed that employment, disposable income, and salaries would all be lower under Labour than they were under the Conservatives.
Kemi Badenoch joined Stephen Dixon and Ellie Costello on GB News
GB NEWS
She cited the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), saying it had “basically said that Labour have chosen tax over growth.”
Badenoch added that “75 per cent of employers’ NI is going to be passed on in lower wages.”
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Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled her first Budget, raising taxes to a historic high and increasing borrowing. The plan includes £40 billion a year in extra taxes, with funds allocated to schools, hospitals, transport and housing.
Key points from the autumn budget include a major increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions. The rate will rise by 1.2 percentage points to 15 per cent, while the threshold at which employers start making contributions will fall from £9,100 to £5,000.
Rachel Reeves has delivered the BudgetPA
The national living wage will increase by 6.7 per cent to £12.21 per hour, and the minimum wage for 18-20-year-olds will rise by 16.3 per cent to £10 an hour.
Badenoch issued a stark warning about voting for parties other than the Conservatives.
She stated, “Voting anything other than Conservative gives you Labour. You vote Liberal Democrat, you get Labour. You vote Reform, you get Labour.”
The leadership contender also expressed her views on Labour’s current leadership. She claimed, “This is not Tony Blair’s Labour. This is Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour with Keir Starmer fronting it.”
Badenoch argued that many voters who expected a “benign Labour Party” would be surprised, saying the party is “coming after their pensions. It’s coming after their income. It’s coming after their businesses.”
