Piers Morgan has delivered a pointed critique of Prime Minister Keir Starmer following his controversial remarks on planned tax hikes. The situation unfolded as the Prime Minister faced off with Sky News' Beth Rigby, where he was challenged for suggesting that asset owners don't match his vision of the working person.
In an interview conducted at a Commonwealth summit in Samoa for Sky News, Starmer said that individuals who derive income from assets, such as property or stocks, should not be categorised as 'working people'. His definition, he said, centres on "The sort of working people who go out and work hard and maybe save a bit of money but don't have the wherewithal to write a cheque to get out of difficulties. That's who I have in my mind."
Presented with the scenario of someone who works and also receives income from assets like property shares, Mr Starmer dismissed them from his definition of a working person, reports the Express.
Morgan wasted no time in addressing these comments, taking to Twitter to express his bewilderment: "What? Last time I checked, I'm a working person.."
Piers met with an incensed reply from a social media user, who lashed out saying: "Of course you would think that. Have you ever worked an actual day in your life? Have you ever had jobs that were actually physically demanding?
"Likely not. If so, good for you. Their definition is likely tied to people who actually work. Not people who share their opinions then whine about how hard it is to write a paper. They are likely looking at the actual definition of real work. Not just having a job. Huge difference."
In a robust response, the television personality fired back: "Yes Ryan, I have. In fact one of my first jobs was shovelling compost into bags in a stinking field during a long hot summer. That qualify?".
There's speculation brewing over who might fall outside Starmer's definition of "working people", a distinction that could signal looming tax increases in the forthcoming Budget. There are reports that capital gains tax, inheritance tax, and fuel duty may be subjects of the hikes.
On Friday morning, Treasury minister James Murray underscored to Sky News the importance of concentrating on the sources of individuals' income amid discussions regarding the "working people" designation, noting that "a working person is someone who goes out to work and who gets their income from work".
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When pressed on whether a working person might also derive earnings from investments like stocks or property, Mr Murray further clarified: "We're talking about where people get their money from, and so working people get their money from going out to work.
"And it's that money that we're talking about in terms of those commitments we made around income tax, around national insurance.
"That's what's important to focus on, where people are getting their money from, getting their money from going out to work."
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