I completely disagree! Sunak hits back at Kuenssberg in fiery clash

Rishi Sunak clashes with Laura Kuenssberg over inflation

Rishi Sunak clashed with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg this morning in a grilling on the day the Tory conference kicks off.

The Prime Minister faced questions on topics including the war on taxes, the war on motorists and net zero.

But the pair repeatedly spoke over each other during the testy interview.

At one point, Mr Sunak took issue with the BBC host saying inflation is not a tax as she asked him about slashing taxes.

He said: “When it comes to taxes, I’m a Conservative of course I want to cut taxes. The best tax that I can deliver for the British people right now is to halve inflation.”

Ms Kuenssberg said: “Well inflation isn’t a tax, it’s a feature in the economy…”

Mr Sunak interrupted: “Laura, actually, if I could please, if I could please because it’s really important, because you just said something that I completely disagree with.”

He went on: “Inflation is a tax, you just said it isn’t, inflation is a tax, it’s a tax that impacts the poorest people the most. And that is why the best tax cut that I can deliver is to halve inflation.”

Speaking over Mr Sunak, Ms Kuenssberg said: “Inflation is technically not a tax but let’s not have an economics debate.”

Elsewhere, the BBC presenter repeatedly asked the PM if councils will still be able to implement 20mph zones for drivers if they have local consent.

He said: “What this is about is making sure that the statutory guidance that goes to local councils from Government is clear about making sure that councils – which are obviously in charge of what’s happening in their local areas – are doing things with the support and consent of their local communities, taking into account the needs of their communities, and not imposing things on them without their consent and say so.

“What they should be allowed to do in all cases is act in accordance with the Government guidance.”

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The pair also clashed over net zero with the PM arguing it was not right to say net zero targets had changed.

He said: “Laura you’re saying things that are just not true, saying we’ll chuck net zero targets, that’s just not true. We’re committed to our net zero target.”

Ms Kuenssberg replied: “I said you’ve shifted it…”

Mr Sunak said: “We haven’t shifted them, they remain exactly the same, how we get there is always a matter of government policy. The targets are the same, it’s wrong to suggest the targets have been changed, they haven’t. It’s wrong to suggest they’ve been watered down, they haven’t. There are over 100 different policies to help us get to net zero.”

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