Jeremy Hunt’s attempt to explain rising inflation with a stack of empty coffee cups has been mocked online, with viewers poking fun at the “cringe” video. A clip posted on Twitter showing the Chancellor ordering a flat white before explaining why costs are rising was criticised over its punctuation, maths and the failure to mention Brexit.
Viewers also pointed out Hunt failed to mention the huge amounts of money pumped into the economy during the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact of Liz Truss’s economic policies. In the video, Hunt holds up a cup marked £2.56 and says a year ago a coffee cost “around £2.50”, before holding up another with £2.86 on it, which he described as “nearly £3 a cup”.
Factors contributing to inflation, which is “about 10 percent” – the latest figures for December put CPI inflation at 10.5 percent – included the supply chain squeeze after the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and persistently high energy prices. High inflation means “unemployment going up, businesses failing, the pound in your pocket is worth less than it used to be,” Hunt explains.
