Jeremy Corbyn accused of lying over claim Labour could save households £7,000 a year without raising taxes
JEREMY Corbyn was last night accused of lying over his claims he could save average households nearly £7,000 a year without having to put up taxes.
Labour said their plans to renationalise chunks of the economy while cutting the cost of childcare and rail travel will leave hard-pressed Brits £6,716 better off.
But their promises swiftly turned to dust as experts scrutinised the figures and accused Labour of using their dodgy numbers to peddle “lies” — and warned taxes would inevitably go up.
Launching their dodgy dossier in Birmingham, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell claimed the Tories had cost the average family £5,949 since 2010 in rising bills and falling wages.
He said this was down to £1,924 more going on rent, £1,916 extra per child on childcare and a further £1,740 on two rail season tickets.
Labour also include a string of utility bill figures to contribute to their supposed savings.
The numbers are based on the assumption that an “average household” has two parents who commute to work via train, get no help with childcare and are poor enough to get free school meals for their kids.
'NAKED DECEIT'
But the Centre for Policy Studies think-tank called the figures “naked deceit”. And independent charity Full Fact said: “Labour’s figures do not reflect an average family or the costs of price inflation over time.”
Treasury Minister Rishi Sunak added: “It defies belief that Corbyn’s Labour are claiming they would reduce living costs at the same time as standing on a manifesto containing tax rises which would hit ordinary hardworking people across the country.”
Labour claim Brits have had to fork out an extra £68 since 2010 on dual-fuel energy bills, while they can save them £559. But the small print admits most of this cash, £417, comes from making homes more energy efficient and Labour say that programme will not be finished until 2030.
On water, Labour say the Tories have cost families £75 a year and they will save them £113. But critics say their plan to renationalise water will end in higher prices.
Corbyn & Co also say the average home has forked out an extra £204 over the last decade for broadband and vow to save them £364 by making it free. But the bills only rose by £161 and the proposed saving — again — will only come in 2030.
Labour’s plans to slash rail ticket prices to save homes £1,097 were also mocked as just ten per cent of Brits commute to work, meaning most won’t see a penny of the cash.
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And its childcare claims fail to include the £6billion a year the Government pays out.
Mr McDonnell insisted the figures were “objectively assessed”.
But Tory vice chairman Paul Scully said: “It’s clear Corbyn just can’t be straight with people.”
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