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National
Dan O'Donoghue

Boris Johnson accused of 'treating taxpayers as an ATM machine'

Boris Johnson's Government has been accused of using British taxpayers as an "ATM machine for their mates and lifestyle".

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the Prime Minister had overseen a "pandemic of waste and fraud" during his time in Number 10.

The accusation came as another senior Tory MP submitted a letter of no confidence in Mr Johnson over the Downing Street parties being investigated by police.

Former minister Tobias Ellwood said it was “just horrible” for Tory MPs to have to defend the situation to the public.

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Responding to questions over the investigation in the Commons, Mr Johnson would only say that: "The process must go on."

Sir Keir, speaking at prime minister question's, pressed the Prime Minister over cost of living concerns as Tory backbenchers continued to voice opposition to the forthcoming National Insurance hike.

He compared Mr Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak to fictional outlaws Thelma and Louise – saying they are about to “drive the country off the cliff and into the abyss of low growth and high tax”.

Mr Johnson suggested Sir Keir and Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner were Wacky Races cartoon duo Dick Dastardly and Muttley, and defended his Government’s economic record.

The 1.25 percentage point National Insurance increase from April is expected to raise £12 billion a year for health and social care services but breaks Mr Johnson’s 2019 election manifesto pledge not to raise taxes.

Sir Keir said working people are “always asked to pay more” as he noted the Prime Minister ordered Tory MPs to oppose a proposed windfall tax on North Sea oil and gas producers, adding: “As a result, the country is missing out on over £1 billion he could have used to cut taxes on energy bills for working people.”

He asked: “Why are the Chancellor and the Prime Minister protecting oil companies and bank profits while putting taxes up on working people?”

Mr Johnson replied: “This is all about dealing with the consequences of the biggest pandemic this country has seen, with an unprecedented economic crisis in which the state had to come forward and look after the people of this country to the tune of £408 billion. Everyone can see the fiscal impacts of that.”

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