PMQs: Tories and Labour slammed for £20 billion public service cuts

Liz Saville Roberts MP criticises Westminster parties after IFS said spending plans would require cuts of up to £20 billion

In today’s PMQs (Wednesday 13 March), Plaid Cymru Westminster leader, Liz Saville Roberts MP, slammed planned £20 billion cuts at a time of declining life expectancy.

Last week, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said that Jeremy Hunt and Rachel Reeves are joined in a “conspiracy of silence” over tens of billions of pounds in tough tax and spending choices, with the next government likely to inherit the toughest outlook for the public finances in 80 years.

The IFS suggest that current plans already imply investment spending being cut as a share of national income by £20 billion a year in today’s terms by 2028–29.

Labour leader Keir Starmer refused to answer whether he would “tax more, borrow more, or become the austerity Prime Minister” when asked by Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Monday.

Liz Saville Roberts MP pointed to the fact that the National Theatre production ‘Nye’ closes by celebrating a transformational increase in life expectancy since the founding of the NHS. She pointed to UCL data showing that life expectancy is declining since 2010 due to austerity policies.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Liz Saville Roberts MP said:

“The National Theatre production ‘Nye’ starring Michael Sheen finishes by celebrating a transformational increase in life expectancy since the founding of the NHS.

“But UCL findings indicate that austerity policies between 2010 and 2019 are responsible for a three-year set back in life expectancy progress.

“Does he – or the Leader of the Opposition for that matter – think public services can withstand an extra 20 billion pounds of cuts?”

The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak responded by saying he was “surprised” that Ms Saville Roberts was raising the NHS due to Plaid Cymru “propping up” the Welsh Government. However, health has not formed any part of Plaid Cymru’s agreement with the Government in Cardiff.

Speaking after the session, Liz Saville Roberts added:

“Welsh public services cannot withstand another round of painful austerity. People deserve honesty from the two main parties about their spending plans ahead of the election – as they are currently attempting to hide planned £20 billion of cuts from the public.

“Plaid Cymru will stand firmly against harmful public sector cuts and hold Westminster governments of any hue to account.”