Kemi Badenoch has fired a sharp warning to the Labour government, insisting that slashing public spending is a better route than piling yet more taxes on hardworking Britons.
The Tory politician’s remarks came after Chancellor Rachel Reeves effectively signalled that another wave of tax increases is on the horizon.
Badenoch Criticises Labour’s Budget Approach
Speaking at an event in central London, Mrs Badenoch accused the government of quietly abandoning efforts to rein in the soaring welfare bill.
“The Chancellor’s speech was one long waffle bomb, a laundry list of excuses,” she said, adding that Reeves blamed everyone else for her own policy choices and failures.
She pointedly highlighted that Labour’s budget decisions have directly contributed to the challenging job market faced by recent graduates, arguing that the party has no real plan to get Britain working again.
“Only the Conservatives are committed to getting on top of spending,” Badenoch insisted.
Graduate Jobs and Tax Concerns
The Tory leader also drew attention to a sharp fall in graduate employment since Labour took office, noting that opportunities have dropped by a third.
She slammed “insane rates of marginal tax” and warned that Britain has stopped working efficiently because it has stopped making sense to work for too many people.
“They talk about working people while making life harder and harder for people who actually work,” she said.
“And worst of all, they pretend that what they’re doing is necessary.
The reality is, they’ve given up on controlling spending and raising taxes responsibly.”
A Call for Fiscal Responsibility
Badenoch argued that asking the government to live within its means is not austerity—it’s respect for taxpayers.
She condemned Reeves for deflecting blame amid rising unemployment and said the Chancellor should look at her own decisions rather than pointing fingers.
“This is a Chancellor whose back is against the wall.
She doesn’t know what she’s doing. We need to get Britain working again,” Badenoch said.
She added that Reeves should take a leaf out of the Conservative plan to fix the economy.
Reeves Hints at a Major Tax Package
The comments follow a speech by Ms Reeves in Downing Street, where she prepared the ground for a so-called “manifesto-smashing” Budget.
The Chancellor stressed rising costs and international economic pressures but blamed long-term factors, including Brexit and Tory austerity, for the country’s economic challenges.
She ominously warned that everyone will have to contribute to stabilising the nation’s finances, hinting at potential increases in income tax, council tax, and measures targeting higher earners.
“These are important choices that will shape the future of our country for years to come,” she said.
Markets React to Budget Uncertainty
Ms Reeves’ speech effectively confirmed that Brits may face a severe financial squeeze, with the public finance shortfall estimated between £20 billion and £50 billion.
Markets reacted nervously, with the FTSE 100 falling, although government debt interest rates eased slightly.
With both sides trading barbs over fiscal responsibility, the upcoming Budget on November 26 is shaping up to be a defining moment for Britain’s economic future