GET A BETTER JOB OR WORK MORE HOURS
Another day, another out-out-touch Tory spouting glib nonsense to hard-up families
A TORY minister was branded “out of touch” and “tone deaf” yesterday after suggesting hard-up families battling the cost-of-living crisis should work harder.
Home Office Minister Rachel Maclean claimed people struggling with household budgets should take on more hours.
“I think what we need to focus on now is over the long-term,” she told Sky News. “We do have these shortterm pressures on us that we’re all aware of ... but over the long-term, we need to have a plan to grow the economy and make sure that people are able to protect themselves better, whether that is by taking on more hours or moving to a betterpaid job.
“These are long-term actions but that is what we are focused on as a Government.”
Maclean, 56, said she was not “suggesting for one moment” such an option would work for everyone.
The MP for Redditch, added: “It may be right for some people, they may be able to access additional hours, but, of course, it is not going to work for people who are already in three jobs.”
Critics blasted her intervention, which comes amid the worst cost-of-living squeeze in half a century.
Soaring food prices and fuel costs partly caused by the bounceback from the coronavirus pandemic and war in Ukraine have piled extra pressure on household budgets, while interest rate rises have hiked the cost of mortgage repayments.
The energy price cap rocketed by 54 per cent last month – costing families an extra £693 a year and taking average annual bills to £1971. Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury Tulip Siddiq said: “This Tory Government could not be more out of touch or out of ideas.
“As energy bills rise by record amounts for millions of families, comments like this are ridiculous.”
Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy branded Maclean’s comments “tone deaf ”.
Trades Union Congress General Secretary Frances O’Grady said it was “a bit rich for ministers to tell people to find better-paid work”. She added: “Working people don’t need lectures, they need help.
“Millions are working flat out but are still struggling to cover the basics.”
Prospect union general secretary Mike Clancy said: “Once again, we see that ministers are completely out of touch with the cost-of-living crisis facing workers across the country.
“Taking more hours or getting a better paid job is not an option for many.”
The latest Tory gaffe comes after backbench MP Lee Anderson last week claimed hungry people going to food banks “cannot cook properly” and “cannot budget”.
Earlier this month, Environment Secretary George Eustice told hard-up households to buy value brands to save cash.
However, No10 defended Maclean.
Boris Johnson’s spokesman said:
“The minister was clear in what s he said – people’s individual circumstances will vary.
“That’s why we have a range of measures available to people.”
Maclean later claimed she had been “misrepresented”, insisting her comments were “about a longer term plan and options for some people” rather than “short term answers”.