Oral Answers to Questions

Munira Wilson Excerpts

Tuesday 27th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Rachel Reeves]

I thank my hon. Friend for bringing this matter to the House’s attention. I cannot comment on individual cases of covid fraud and tax, but that person would not be the first member of Reform who took a fraudulent covid loan—[Interruption.] The hon. Member for Boston and Skegness (Richard Tice) is here just in time. I am not sure whether he is still the shadow, shadow, shadow Chancellor or not.

[Munira Wilson (Twickenham) (LD)]

T6. Given that the Chancellor has just confirmed that today’s U-turn will support only our hard-pressed local pubs, what message does she have for independent restaurants and coffee shops, such as Bones in Twickenham, that are struggling to survive, let alone grow?

[The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Dan Tomlinson)]

When the Liberal Democrats had the chance, what did they do? They put up VAT on hospitality businesses. Now they are coming up with ideas, without the plans to pay for them. They want to increase borrowing over and over again, rather than ensure that we support businesses in a fair and sustainable way over the years to come.