‘SWITCH GOVERNMENT AND YOU’LL BE £2K POORER’

JEREMY Hunt has warned Labour “liars” will help themselves to “your family’s wallets” in a raid that will leave households £2,000 worse off.

The Chancellor yesterday claimed there was a £38.5billion black hole at the heart of Labour’s spending promises that will force up taxes.

In a stinging attack, he also hit out at the party’s alleged attempts to “scare pensioners” ahead of the General Election.

At a speech in central London, Mr Hunt said: “Sir Keir Starmer’s first step will not be the motherhood and apple pie we heard…but to help himself to you and your family’s wallets.”

Labour has repeatedly accused the Government of putting the state pension under threat so it can find £46billion to axe

National Insurance.

But Mr Hunt insists the move to scrap NI will happen only when the economy allows it.

The Chancellor said: “I don’t make any bones about it. It is fake news and it is an absolute disgrace to try and win this election by scaring pensioners about a policy that is a lie.”

He insisted that while the Tories have cut National Insurance for workers, they have also increased the state pension. Pointing out that new growth figures suggest that inflation will be shown to have fallen again next week, he went on: “People can see Conservative Governments have done the right thing to create growth so families will be more prosperous going forward.”

It came as Mr Hunt released a dossier exposing Labour’s spending plans, claiming the analysis he has done is based on the most cautious figures.

The document estimates Labour’s spending promises will cost £59billion over the next four years – while plans to raise revenue would collect only £20billion over the same period, leaving a £10billion annual blackhole. Mr Hunt said that means Sir Keir will have to raise taxes equivalent to £2,094 per working household.

Labour said: “All of Labour’s policies are fully costed and fully funded. Unlike the Conservatives who crashed the economy, Labour will never play fast and loose with the public finances.

“Jeremy Hunt would be better spent getting Rishi Sunak to confirm the date of the election, rather than putting out any more of these dodgy dossiers.”