Chancellor contradicts Treasury minister over employers as working people

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 4 Nov, 11:21 · Archive

Chancellor John Healey publicly disagreed with his Treasury minister Emma Reynolds over whether employers count as working people.

Emma Reynolds, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, told GB News on Sunday that employers are not 'working people' because 'they are companies'. She made the comments while being questioned about the Budget's increases in tax on landlords and savers, arguing there was a difference between employers and employees.

When Chancellor John Healey was asked about Reynolds' remarks in the House of Commons on Tuesday, he publicly distanced himself from them. 'Of course they are,' he said, when asked whether employers are working people. Healey said he had 'protected income that is earned' in his Budget, including by preventing a further tax increase on dividends, and described it as a 'breathing space Budget'.

Reynolds then reversed her position that evening, telling the Commons: 'Of course, the brilliant men and women across the country who run small businesses are working people.' She thanked them for their contribution to local economies and high streets, listing 'the bakeries, the cafes, the restaurants, the beauticians, the hairdressers and the local pub and so many more'.

How it is being reported

• Treasury minister Emma Reynolds humiliatingly backs off claim that employers 'are not working people' after outcryEmma Reynolds said she wanted to 'correct the record' following a barrage of criticism over the jibe in an interview at the weekend.Daily Mail · 4 Nov, 11:00
• Healey corrects Treasury colleague as he confirms employers are ‘working people’John Healey has distanced himself from remarks made by his colleague, the Treasury minister Emma Reynolds, as he confirmed employers did count as working people. Over the weekend, Reynolds told broadcasters that she did not believe employers counted as “working people” under the Labour manifesto’s definition as “they are companies”. She added that there was [...]City AM · 3 Nov, 16:03
• Chancellor slaps down his Treasury minister who claimed employers are 'not working people' - as John Healey insists his Budget offers 'breathing space' for firmsMr Healey contradicted comments made by Emma Reynolds, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, as he sought to extinguish a furious row.Daily Mail · 3 Nov, 13:23

In this story: John Healey · Emma Reynolds · GB News · Labour

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