'Why Won't You Apologise?': Nick Robinson Clashes With Rachel Reeves Over Tax Rises On Working People

Nick Robinson clashed with Rachel Reeves.Nick Robinson clashed with Rachel Reeves after the chancellor went back on her previous promises not to raise taxes on “working people”.The chancellor performed a major U-turn in the Budget by freezing the income tax salary thresholds in a move which will drag more than 1.5 million workers into higher bands.That was despite her ruling out such a move at her first Budget a year ago.She also told business leaders that she would not put up taxes again – then hiked them by another £26 billion on Wednesday.On Radio 4′s Today programme, Robinson asked Reeves: “Why should people believe you this morning given what you said a year ago wasn’t true?”She said: “I think that your listeners over the last year have seen what’s happened in the global economy with higher tariffs, barriers to trade, pressure on defence spending as well as conflicts around the world.“All of that has an impact on the economy.”But the presenter hit back: “You used the phrase again and again and again ‘we won’t increase taxes on working people’. You then repeated it after the election. You just have increased taxes on working people. You didn’t tell people the truth.”Reeves admitted that freezing the income tax thresholds meant “asking working people to contribute a little bit more, but I’ve kept that contribution to a minimum”.Robinson told her: “So far you haven’t apologised for repeatedly promising to do something and you’ve done the opposite. Would you like to take the opportunity now to apologise?“Every day on this programme in the general election, the Institute for Fiscal Studies said these numbers don’t add up, the Resolution Foundation said these numbers don’t add up. Every economist we interviewed said the numbers didn’t add up.“You insisted they did, you insisted that working people would not have to pay more tax. They now are. Why won’t you apologise?”Reeves said: “I have to operate within the forecasts that I’m presented with.“Of course I could have made different decisions, but I believe those were the right decisions so we can reduce NHS waiting lists and so I was able to announce a package of measures to lift kids out of poverty, and get the cost of living down for families. Those were the right choices and I stand by them.”Related...Analysis: Rachel Reeves's £26 Billion Gamble Could Be The Final Nail In Labour's CoffinReeves Scraps The Two-Child Benefit Cap And Delights Campaigners: 'We Won!'What You Need To Know From Rachel Reeves' Budget – After It Was Leaked Early

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