GEORGE Osborne has called Rachel Reeves a “mini-me” over her recent statement to the Commons, where she announced a swathe of cuts to plug a £22 billion black hole in public finances.
Osborne– who was chancellor under David Cameron’s government and was instrumental in bringing about austerity – said that the cuts announced by Reeves on Monday were “almost identical in structure and form” to those he made in 2010, when he announced £6.2bn worth of cuts.
Osborne made the comments whilst speaking on the Political Currency podcast on Thursday, which he co-hosts alongside former shadow chancellor Ed Balls.
Speaking on the podcast, Osborne said: “I’m going to tell you Ed, it all felt a bit familiar, it all felt a bit deja vu.
“In fact, it felt like a bit ‘mini-me’, it was a bit like a George Osborne statement from 14 years ago.
“I don’t think there was anything she announced that I would have violently disagreed with or not done myself.
“In fact, it was almost identical in structure and form to what I did in the first couple of months that I was Chancellor of the Exchequer.
“So, you know, ‘Continuity Osborne.”
Sharing a clip from the podcast on social media, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said: “No comment.”
No comment. pic.twitter.com/sQLj4ZUFZc
— Stephen Flynn MP (@StephenFlynnSNP) August 2, 2024
Meanwhile, the SNP’s Chris Law said: “Scotland welcome to the new Tory austerity of Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Read my lips...”
Law's comments are in response to remarks made by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar during the General Election campaign, when he said during a televised Scottish leaders debate: "Read my lips. No austerity under Labour."
