Sky News’ Beth Rigby grilled Sir Keir Starmer in a relentless interview, pressing him on tax promises and Downing Street chaos as he repeatedly evaded questions
Sky News presenter Beth Rigby pulled no punches as she grilled Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a live broadcast.
Scrutinising his forthcoming Budget proposals, Rigby challenged the PM over the “turmoil” within Downing Street, persistently pursuing her line of questioning despite his repeated attempts to dodge with identical responses.
Rigby kicked off the interview by asking: “Prime minister, is it important that politicians stick to their word?” prompting Starmer to reply: “Yes it is important that politicians stick to their word. They have to make decisions against difficult backdrops, and we’ve obviously got big decisions to make in the Budget that’s coming in just a few days’ time.”
Rigby then challenged: “So I’ve got your manifesto here. Will you keep your word not to increase taxes on working people? It’s on page 21 in this document.”
Starmer replied: “Well, we’ve made that commitment and obviously we’ll lay out our plans at the Budget, which is just a few days away now, so you’ll be able to see exactly what decisions we’ve made. Now obviously we’ve made those decisions against a very difficult backdrop,” reports the Express.
An unrelenting Rigby continued: “PM, you told me a year ago, days before the 2024 Budget, you said ‘We made an absolute commitment that income tax wouldn’t go up, National Insurance wouldn’t go up, their VAT – as in working people – wouldn’t go up. I said that in the campaign, we’re going to keep those promises’.”
“Will you make that commitment again today?” Starmer merely reiterated his position, declaring: “Well, Beth, we’re going to set this out in just a few days-” but found himself interrupted, as Rigby raged: “You won’t, will you? You said that just a few days before the last Budget. You did make the commitment a few days before the last Budget.”
Further into the discussion, she delivered a scathing blow with the observation: “PM, you promised to end the chaos when you were elected, but since the summer we’ve had Winter Fuel U-turn, welfare U-turn, Rayner’s resignation, Mandelson’s sacking, Andy Burnham’s leadership drama, the Wes Streeting No. 10 showdown… You haven’t ended chaos, you are the chaos!”.
Starmer found himself stuttering in his reply, managing only: “Look, e-e-every minute we aren’t talking about the cost of living is a wasted minute,” whilst an incensed Rigby shot back: “But this is chaos!”.
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