Fiona Bruce asks if audience feels confident after Autumn Statement
Heard the phrase “you could hear a pin drop”?
Well that was the kind of reaction from the BBC Question Time audience tonight when they were asked if anyone felt “optimistic” about yesterday’s Autumn Statement delivered by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.
In a much-needed pre-Christmas giveaway, the Chancellor slashed National Insurance and -business taxes while increasing benefits and the minimum wage to help struggling families.
Mr Hunt used his crunch Autumn Statement to give 27 million workers a major helping hand by cutting NI from 12% to 10%, starting in January.
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The QT audience looked unimpressed (Image: BBC)
But his attempts to leave Britons feeling better off and looking ahead to a stronger economy fell flat - at least according to those in the QT audience.
Bruce said: “Now look.
“In the interest of balance - I’ll say this periodically because I haven’t heard a single voice in favour of what they heard yesterday. Maybe there isn’t one.
“But let me see if there is anyone.
“Does anyone here feel more optimistic about about the coming years following yesterday’s statement?”
She asked the rows of people who had turned out to watch the show in tonight’s host town of Stevenage, Hertfordshire.
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And their response will be excruciating viewing for the Treasury, with just one audience member sticking up their hand.
“Yes you sir,” said Bruce. “So hang on, how many hands have I got up here? One? Okay.”
Chuckles from the audience ensued as Bruce tried her best to keep a straight face.
“Good for you - don’t be intimidated!” she added.
The measures announced will save a worker on a salary of ￡35,000 more than ￡450 a year - ￡520 for the average nurse and ￡630 for the typical police officer.
But the announcement definitely hasn’t impressed everyone, including a prominent Brexiteer.
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John Longworth, a former Brexit Party MEP and now chairman of the Independent Business Network of family businesses, warned that Mr Hunt failed to make up for a "wasted year" in his Autumn Statement but conceded it does have measures that will start to help the economy.
Mr Longworth said: "The Chancellor has taken baby steps in the right direction, but let’s not get too excited.
"Having wasted a year to justify the politics of power, at last, the Chancellor has come clean that tax cuts promote business and growth and has acknowledged the importance of growth to prosperity and public spending.”
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