Labour have accused the prime minister of misleading the House
Boris Johnson has dismissed Labour attacks suggesting he “mislead the House” during this week’s Prime Minister’s Questions.
Shadow Chancellor Angela Rayner, who was deputising for covid-positive Sir Keir Starmer, reminded the prime minister of a comment he made in October 2021 where he claimed people’s fears about inflation were “unfounded”.
Speaking to Sky‘s Beth Rigby last year, Johnson had attempted to quash any fears surrounding inflation. “I am very encouraged by the growth we’re seeing”, he said. “People have been worried about inflation for a very long time, and those fears have been unfounded.
“I am looking at robust economic growth”
When reminded by Labour’s deputy leader of his comments, the prime minister claimed he “never said any such thing”.
Boris Johnson claimed he didn't say fears about inflation were unfounded.
He did, and here's proof the Prime Minister lied to the House. #PMQs pic.twitter.com/n4PQfkFr2Q
— PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE_UK) January 5, 2022
Deputy Labour leader Rayner later offered Johnson the opportunity to correct the record and admit he had said fears about inflation were “unfounded”, after he had denied saying it.
Speaking after PMQs, Rayner said: “Nobody wants to mislead the house and I’m sure the Prime Minister wouldn’t want to do that either.
“Earlier I quoted the Prime Minister when he said fears about inflation were unfounded, he said he didn’t say that and yet the Sky journalist Beth Rigby has now put the clip on social media.
“So, I’m just wondering whether the Prime Minister would like to correct the record?”
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle offered the opportunity – but the Prime Minister declined.
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