Commons Sense

House of Commons · General Debate

Conduct of the Chancellor of the Exchequer 2025-12-10

10 December 2025 · 43 other contributors

Opened by Mel Stride Con Central Devon

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

At a glance

Mel Stride raised concerns about conduct of the chancellor of the exchequer 2025-12-10 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • Sir Mel Stride moved a substantive motion calling on the Chancellor to apologise for misleading the country regarding public finances and breaking promises.
  • Minister James Murray defended the Labour Budget, citing its effectiveness in reducing living costs, NHS waiting times, and government borrowing.
  • The Minister highlighted specific measures such as freezing rail fares, extending bus fare caps, and increasing pensions as part of the Budget's initiatives.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Mel Stride Con Central Devon

The right hon. Member for Central Devon (Sir Mel Stride) moved a substantive motion calling on the Chancellor to apologise for misleading the country about public finances, rolling the pitch for raising taxes, breaking promises and increasing welfare spending. He cited polls showing record low approval ratings for the Chancellor and highlighted issues such as unemployment at five-year highs, inflation rates above target, and borrowing costs reaching 27-year high levels.

Other contributors (43)
  • Gareth Snell Lab Co-op Stoke-on-Trent Central

    The hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent Central criticised the motion and called on the shadow Chancellor to apologise for policies under previous Conservative Governments, including the 15% spike in interest rates during the Liz Truss mini-Budget.

  • Graham Stuart Con Beverley and Holderness

    The right hon. Member for Beverley and Holderness agreed with Sir Mel Stride, emphasising that the issue of trust was most corrosive for the Government, highlighting job losses in hospitality and reductions in teacher numbers.

  • Shaun Davies Lab Telford

    The hon. Member for Telford thanked Sir Mel Stride for the debate but argued that it was a moment to celebrate their Chancellor who had taken steps such as removing the rape clause and giving justice to miners.

  • Natalie Fleet Lab Bolsover

    The hon. Member for Bolsover welcomed the debate, thanking Sir Mel Stride for giving way on issues affecting women and celebrating actions taken by their Chancellor.

  • Josh Fenton-Glynn Lab Calder Valley

    The hon. Member for Calder Valley questioned whether work was a route out of poverty under previous Conservative Governments, citing data showing two-thirds of children growing up in poverty have parents who are in work.

  • Dave Doogan SNP Angus and Perthshire Glens

    The hon. Member for Angus and Perthshire Glens criticised the Chancellor's lack of experience in industry or commerce, highlighting the impact on family farms due to changes in inheritance tax.

  • Sorcha Eastwood Alliance Lagan Valley

    The hon. Member highlights the need for a different approach in Northern Ireland with respect to funding and local growth, criticises the Government's refusal to understand these differences, and calls for a Government that listens to constituents' needs.

  • The hon. Member questions Sir Mel Stride on his support for the triple lock and challenges him by pointing out that under Labour, pensioner poverty was higher due to Conservative policies inherited from their predecessors.

  • The hon. Member criticises Sir Mel Stride for tripling the debt service while in office and urges him to apologise for mortgaging the future of children as a result of Conservative policies.

  • Jonathan Davies Lab Mid Derbyshire

    The hon. Member acknowledges the pressure that covid put on the economy but highlights steps being taken by Labour to reduce the deficit and borrowing.

  • The right hon. Member questions how best to describe the repeated failure of the Chancellor to keep her promises, suggesting synonyms for falsehood or untruth.

  • Mark Pritchard Con The Wrekin

    My right hon. Friend criticises Labour's borrowing as a career recovery loan benefiting only two individuals—the Chancellor and Prime Minister—and argues that these loans are politically motivated rather than economically necessary.

  • Luke Evans Con Waveney

    Dr Evans highlights the impact of budget cuts on health services, specifically mentioning staff redundancies in integrated care boards and how funding is being reprofiled into later years. He supports Stride's argument about the impracticality of back-loaded tax increases.

  • David Burton-Sampson Con Southend West

    Burton-Sampson questions whether Labour can realistically implement future tax rises and highlights that the Chancellor created a significantly larger fiscal headroom compared to previous budgets, indicating responsibility in her approach despite criticism.

  • Desmond Swayne Con New Forest West

    Swayne discusses political challenges faced by the Government due to their inability to reduce benefits bill growth. He criticises Labour's policy changes and the impact on pensioners who withdrew funds from their pensions based on uncertain budget briefings.

  • Andrew Murrison Con South West Wiltshire

    Murrison supports Stride’s argument by citing a specific example of how uncertainty in pre-Budget briefings led to pension fund withdrawals and economic impacts on businesses and consumers, reinforcing the need for fiscal responsibility.

  • Energy bills are currently almost £600 higher than Labour promised they would be at the election. Ofgem has come in with an additional £108 for infrastructure charges, making energy bills go up again in January and April.

  • Supports the Budget measures that take £150 off energy bills and provide extra £150 to households on lowest income. The Budget delivers for working people by investing in NHS, defence, roads, railways, and every region of the UK.

  • Chancellor's actions are a breach of Labour manifesto commitment not to raise income tax thresholds. Chancellor froze income tax thresholds but claimed it was not in breach of manifesto, which is rank dishonesty.

  • Chancellor did not mention the upgrade to public finances that was twice as much (£32 billion) as the downgrade (£16 billion). Chancellor knew about this at the time but omitted it, giving an inaccurate reflection of the state of public finances.

  • Murrison Con

    Asks if Minister truly believes that the Treasury and Chancellor discharged their duty of candour in dealings. Government's Public Office (Accountability) Bill is important, but actions over past couple of months suggest otherwise.

  • Antonia Bance Lab Tipton and Wednesbury

    Proud of the 45% fall in people waiting more than a year for their operation in Black Country hospital trusts due to decisions made by Chancellor in last Budget that have enabled this.

  • Chris Vince Lab/Co-op Harlow

    Investment in NHS is not just an investment in buildings but also in people. People waiting years for NHS appointments affects the economy and their pockets, making it a serious drag on our economy inherited from previous Government.

  • Sean Woodcock Lab Banbury

    Critics the Government for £11 billion of taxpayers' money lost in covid fraud. Claims that an apology is due from them.

  • Paul Holmes Con Hamble Valley

    Questions whether taxes went up as planned and if the manifesto was fully costed, suggesting the Chancellor misled the country before the election and during the Budget.

  • Louie French Con Old Bexley and Sidcup

    Inquires about who gave authority for a press briefing on incorrect information, questioning the seriousness of the premature publication of the Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

  • Asks if the recommendation to remove EFO publishing from the locally managed website has been implemented, suggesting immediate action is required.

  • Daisy Cooper LD St Albans

    Critiques the process of Budget preparation as being a mess with leaks and flip-flopping. Suggests Sweden's system for Budget publication should be emulated, promoting transparency and democratic accountability.

  • Steff Aquarone Con North Norfolk

    Asked about funding for dental training places in his constituency and criticised the government for accusing opposition parties of opposing tax rises without proposing alternatives, despite Liberal Democrats setting out multiple ways to raise taxes.

  • Dave Doogan Lab/Co-op Angus and Perthshire Glens

    Expressed frustration with the Treasury Bench's chuntering about agreeing with Labour on taxes. Mentioned that this Government has taken £66 billion out of the real economy, which will negatively impact growth.

  • 表达了对预算对企业影响的关注,特别是商业税。她提到去年的预算中,就业税将筹集100亿英镑,并且支持政府提高远程游戏税。认为经济增长是关键,而不是通过征税来实现繁荣。呼吁部长们重新考虑零售、酒店和休闲企业的乘数效应。

  • Graham Stuart Con Beverley and Holderness

    批评就业税是一个特别错误的税收政策,认为它对实体经济造成了250亿至260亿英镑的影响,并没有产生相应的收入。支持部长们需要更深入地思考与欧洲合作促进经济增长的方式。

  • Chris Vince Lab/Co-op Harlow

    感谢首席财政大臣和影子财政大臣的演讲,但对反对党的动议感到失望,认为它针对的是一个人而不是角色。强调他对人民生活的积极影响,并支持预算中取消两胎上限的规定。他认为这是个好预算是因为没有增加大多数哈罗居民的税收负担。

  • Harriett Baldwin Con West Worcestershire

    提到她在预算演讲后的讲话中提到了与预算相关的不当行为,认为现在开始了解这些不当行为的具体情况。她还提及OBR已经发表了关于错误的完整分析,导致了在财政大臣发表声明前发布了预算。

  • Jeevun Sandher Lab Loughborough

    Dr Sandher argued that the debate should focus more on the challenges of affordability, climate change, and military preparedness rather than procedural issues. He discussed the Chancellor's budget addressing these crises and mentioned the impact of past hard decisions made during his time in Somaliland.

  • Graham Stuart Con Beverley and Holderness

    Mr Stuart criticised the Chancellor for deceiving the public about tax receipts, which were £16 billion higher than expected. He highlighted the economic consequences of such deception on trust and borrowing costs.

  • James Wild Con North West Norfolk

    Mr Wild emphasised that the debate is about honesty, trust, and confidence regarding the Chancellor's conduct. He argued that misleading narratives damaged workers, savers, pensioners, and investors by causing uncertainty in economic decision-making.

  • Luke Murphy Lab Dulwich

    Asks James Wild about the consistency of the Chancellor's narrative with OBR reports.

  • Dan Tomlinson Con Derby North

    Defends the Government, stating that Opposition Members are focused on process rather than policy. Emphasises that the Budget will cut costs of living and invest in NHS while raising pay for the lowest earners.

  • Shaun Davies Lab Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney

    Supports Dan Tomlinson's argument, highlighting how the Conservative party would plunge 4,600 children in his constituency back into poverty if they were to implement their policies.

  • Rachel Hopkins Lab Luton South and South Bedfordshire

    Questions Dan Tomlinson about the shadow Chancellor's previous statements on the Government's mini-Budget, suggesting that he is focusing on process due to poor policy judgment.

  • Asked whether the Treasury accepts that hundreds of thousands of people drew down their pensions due to incorrect briefing around the Budget, an irrevocable decision.

  • Scott Arthur Lab Edinburgh South West

    Criticised the Opposition for fueling speculation with clickbait headlines which was damaging. He sought clarity from the Minister on this issue.

Government Response

Minister James Murray defends the Budget by emphasising its effectiveness in reducing living costs, NHS waiting times, and government borrowing. He does not elaborate on specific policy details or funding announcements but affirms the positive outcomes of the budget. Defends the Labour Budget, highlighting measures such as freezing rail fares, extending bus fare caps, increasing pensions, raising minimum wages, fuel duty cuts, and helping children in poverty. Emphasises cutting national debt and borrowing. Defends the Chancellor and the Budget, criticising Opposition Members for focusing on process rather than policy. Emphasises that the Government's Budget will raise pay for those earning least, cut costs of living, and invest in NHS. The Government has made decisions to ensure fiscal stability and reduce borrowing in every year of the forecast, more than doubling headroom to £21.7 billion compared to the previous Government's inability to control public finances.

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