‘Bring It On’: Labour’s Emily Thornberry Laughs Off Tory Budget And Tax Cut Electioneering

Senior Labour politician Emily Thornberry said her party was ready to “get rid” of the Conservative government on Sky News Thursday, after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced an earlier than anticipated budget that many believe is a starting gun for any early General Election.

“I mean, it’s the worst kept secret in Parliament, isn’t it, that we’re likely to be heading for a May Budget for a May election,” Thornberry smiled as she told Sky News host Wilfred Frost. “And this budget date seems to confirm that.”

“Is Labour’s response ‘bring it on’? Or would you rather have more time to prepare?” the host asked.

“For heaven’s sake, the whole country’s response is ‘bring it on’, isn’t it?” the Labour MP responded. “I mean, the country is desperate for an election. I mean, we really got to get rid of this lot and we want to have an opportunity to do so. That’s what people tell me.”

Hunt is anticipated to unveil a comprehensive set of tax reductions just months after a November budget announcement, in what might be a major fiscal announcement. By choosing an early March date for this reveal, commentators suspect the intention is to maximise the time available for voters to experience the advantages of these cuts before heading to the polls.

Prompted by Frost further about whether the budget was a panicked electioneering strategy designed to draw Labour into confusion and mess with it’s manifesto, Thornberry was unphased.

“I have to say that reading some of this briefing that’s been going on over the last few days kind of says it all. You know, it’s all about, ‘oh, we’re going to set a trap for Labour… We’re going to do this…’ That they’re going to have this tax cut and that tax cut. And what will Labour do in response?” she said.

Thornberry continued: “There was a time when governments governed and actually made the right decision for the sake of the country, and their first response was not what’s best for the Tory Party.”

Again, mocking the adhoc policy making of the fractured Conservatives she said: “‘What red meat can we give to our back benches to stop them rebelling? Or what way can we embarrass the Labor Party?’ Frankly, it’s about time that we had a government that was prepared to govern, that was going to make difficult decisions, but was going to make those decisions on behalf of the country and look after all of us and get this country going in the right direction.”