Angela Rayner joined BBC Breakfast presenter Jon Kay where the politician was grilled about the upcoming Autumn Budget under Andy Burnham’s Labour government.
Angela Rayner swerves Jon Kay’s question about capital gains tax
Angela Rayner diverted BBC Breakfast presenter Jon Kay’s question leaving the host speechless. The housing secretary refused to go into detail about the upcoming Autumn Budget. It comes after the Chancellor John Healey has dismissed calls from some Labour MPs to increase Capital Gains Tax (CGT). Cabinet ministers Wes Streeting and Louise Haigh both previously voiced support for raising CGT before Andy Burnham became prime minister in July. Ahead of next week’s Budget, as first reported by the Times, Healey is minded not to increase CGT – which is imposed on the profit people make when they sell an asset that has increased in value, such as shares in a company or properties which are not primary residences. The move followed warnings that it could end up costing the government money if wealthy people leave the country or defer selling off assets.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, Jon questioned: “We’ve got the budget coming up very soon and I know there has been a debate in Cabinet among you and your colleagues about whether one option is to put up Capital Gains Tax (CGT). The type of tax people pay on shares and second homes. But we are hearing from the Treasury that is not going to happen. Is that a win for the rich?”
Angela replied: “I’m not going to speculate on what’s in the budget and you won’t have long to wait now because the budget is coming very soon.” She insisted the measures the government have taken so far is about “bringing down energy bills and giving people breathing space”.
Angela Rayner leaves BBC Breakfast host speechless as she refuses to answer simple question (Image: BBC)
She added, “It’s about capping bus fares. The announcement we’ve made in my department around ending rough sleeping before Christmas making sure people have an option in. Investing in homes. We’ve done £10bn of investment which we announced recently to get those houses built. We know we need to build infrastructure and we need to make sure we get our economy on track.
We’re in a good position considering what’s going on globally. There’s always more to do but the Chancellor will set that out in the budget.”
Jon attempted to ask Ms Rayner again when she didn’t directly answer his initial question. He asked, “Of course he will, but Treasury sources have told BBC overnight that there will be no Capital Gains Tax increase in the budget. We know some of your colleagues have been campaigning to go up in a way of taxing wealth in the same way that we currently tax work.
He added, “Just in principle, would you have liked to have seen Capital Gains Tax go up?”
Angela replied: “Well again, I’m not speculating on the budget.”
Angela Rayner refused to answer Jon Kay’s simple question (Image: BBC)
Jon interjected: “I’m not asking you too.” To which Angela repeated herself for a second time.
“I’m not going to speculate on the budget,” she reiterated. “And I’m not going to deviate from what the chancellor is doing.”
Angela went on to address the government’s current economic plan including supporting people by freezing fuel duty, capped bus fares, dealing with VAT and supporting high street businesses.