Starmer’s right-hand man Darren Jones was on the Today Programme to defend Reeves and his boss after the OBR’s damning letter revealed there was no “black hole” at all. Reeves already knew there was a £4.2 billion surplus before her “tax rises are coming” sermon…
Jones dodged the question of when he learned the black hole didn’t exist, instead insisting that that there was a “funding gap”:
“There was a funding gap and there always was through that budget process. And as I say, as I’ve already answered to the first part of your question, numbers were shared between Number 11 and Number 10.”
Meanwhile, a furious Cabinet minister has told The Times that the Cabinet were never once briefed on “the reality” of the forecasts with other ministers fuming they might have advised against the slow-motion car crash if they had known. The Tories are expecting a response this week from the Financial Conduct Authority to Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride’s demand for a “full investigation into potential market abuse.” All eyes on OBR boss Richard Hughes, who’s up in front of the Treasury Committee at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Reeves in the danger zone…
