Tories and Labour clash over 'fake news' £1.2 trillion spending claim
10 November 2019, 17:29
Conservative and Labour politicians have been emboriled in a row over claims by the Chancellor that Labour would spend £1.2 trillion and "bankrupt the UK".
Chancellor Sajid Javid claimed today that a Labour government would plunge" the UK into economic crisis, citing analysis by the party's Conservative Research Department.
The Conservative politician oversaw the 36-page dossier which says the opposition would spend an additional £650 million a day if they win the election in December.
The document calculates estimates based on Labour's 2017 manifesto committments plus their plans for renationalisation.
Critics have hit back at the claims, including Labour’s shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, who described the them as an "incompetent mish-mash" of false figures.
Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell would leave our country staring down the barrel of bankruptcy - and we know from last time what that means:
— CCHQ Press Office (@CCHQPress) November 10, 2019
👩💻👨🔧❌ job losses
💷⬆️ tax hikes
📈 our deficit spiralling out of control
Don't let Labour do it again, #voteConservative pic.twitter.com/y4gdFF3Y75
He told reporters: “This ludicrous piece of Tory fake news is an incompetent mish-mash of debunked estimates and bad maths cooked up because they know Labour’s plans for real change are popular.
“Labour will tax the rich to pay for things everyone needs and deserves, like decent housing, healthcare and support for our children.
"We will also use the power of the state to invest to grow our economy, create good jobs in every region and nation and tackle the climate emergency.
“The Conservatives will be able to read all about these plans – and how much they actually cost – when we publish our fully costed manifesto.”
