Autumn Statement 2023 live: Chancellor Jeremy Hunt cuts National Insurance and announces overhaul of benefits
Jeremy Hunt has delivered his Autumn Statement, where he has cut tax for business, abolished national insurance for the self-employed, and reformed benefits so claimants face sanctions if they choose not to work.
The Chancellor also unveiled downgraded forecasts for growth.
Jeremy Hunt will deliver his Autumn Statement today, and does so under huge pressure from Tory MPs to announce tax cuts. The Chancellor is expected to cut National Insurance for 28 million people, as well as reform benefits so claimants face sanctions if they choose not to work.
Captain cabinet
We've just got a cabinet readout, which are summaries sent by the Government explaining what was discussed by ministers.
It reads like a totally normal summary of events, rather than what the Government want to portray.
Here's an excerpt: "The Chancellor said that his statement was one that backs business and rewards workers to get Britain growing. He particularly pointed to tackling the problem of 100,000 people being signed onto benefits with no requirements to look for work because of sickness or disability, saying that it is a waste of potential that is both economically and morally wrong and that the Back to Work plan would support over a million people to find work.
"The Prime Minister concluded Cabinet by saying it was no accident that stability had been restored to the economy and that inflation had halved, it was the result of actions taken by the Government. He said the Government would now turn its focus to the long-term decisions needed to grow the economy further and build a brighter future – with the Autumn Statement delivering on that change".
Going down
Here's the Chancellor walking down some stairs and discussing the Autumn Statement.
That's it, that's what this video is.
Benefit battle
SNP MP Kirsten Oswald says benefit changes will punish the already marginalised, and asks the Prime Minister how many roles the DWP website has that disabled people can do from home.
The Prime Minister says it's not right to pre-empt the speech.
Health service
Sir Keir Starmer mocks the Prime Minister over his newest five pledges, saying "let’s hope he has more success with these than the last ones”.
He says: “The reason he ignored the NHS, not only in his new pledges but just now is because 7.8 million people are currently on the waiting lists.
“That’s half-a-million more than when he pledged to bring them down nearly a year ago.
“And the Prime Minister just claimed that this is all about economic growth… If a labourer or care worker is forced to wait a year for an operation, how are they meant to help grow the economy?”.
Mr Sunak responds by saying he's halved inflation and grown the economy.
Worth remembering, the Prime Minister said the Government were not responsible for inflation rising, but is claiming credit for it falling.
Patience, patients
The Labour leader points out the Prime Minister has failed on his pledge to cut the NHS waiting list.
Rishi Sunak says the waiting list is bad in Wales where Labour are in charge, only to have it pointed out half of those are on waiting lists in England.
Struck out
Asked about waiting lists for mental health patients, the Prime Minister starts talking about strike action and Labour's lack of a plan.
No answer though, obviously.
Striker, I hardly know er!
Strike action fast becoming a theme here. As Sir Keir tries to pin the Prime Minister down on waiting lists, Rishi Sunak keeps accusing him of supporting strikes that cripple hospitals.
Again, Sir Keir did not support the strikes.
Manifesting
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has tweeted in the traditional "posing like you're ready for Government" photo.
Here it is, complete with a confident caption.
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