Jeremy Hunt attacks Ed Davey for missing a PMQs to look after his disabled son

06 March 2024 , 13:42

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The Chancellor of the Exchequer has given his spring budget today (Image: PRU/AFP via Getty Images)

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has attacked Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey for missing a Prime Minister Questions, oblivious to the fact he is looking after his disabled son.

Daisy Cooper, Lib Dems MP for St Albans, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "The chancellor has just attacked Ed for missing a PMQs at the beginning of the year to look after his disabled son. An utter disgrace." Sir Ed has been a carer for most of his life - first for his mother, who died when he was a teenager, then for his grandmother and his disabled son, John, who has an undiagnosed neurological condition. Upon becoming party leader in 2020, the politician vowed to be "the voice of carers."

Dave Lawrence wrote on X: "That and fat shaming Starmer highlights the little that this Government have to attack on - personal not policy." It's not the Chancellor's first poorly-timed joke of the day as he was earlier slammed for an insensitive jibe towards Sir Keir Starmer.

In the House of Commons, Hunt brought up comments by Labour peer Peter Mandelson who said Keir Starmer could "shed a few pounds." Hunt waded in today and said: "If he [Starmer] wants to join me on my marathon training he's most welcome." X, formerly Twitter users, were quick to slam him. ITV's Tom Bradby wrote: "Jeremy Hunt spending rather too much time in the Budget addressing the opposition benches and not the public. And that was a contender for worst Budget Day joke in history; a fattist jibe against Keir Starmer that was clearly pre-scripted."

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey (PA)

In a previous interview with the Mirror, Davey said: "It's been the biggest challenge of my life [being a carer]. And thanks to my amazing wife we've coped and John is doing amazingly well and is a source of inspiration for me. I know what it's like to be a carer, every day. I deal with massaging him with his care needs. I look at how other parents, my constituents, and the caring challenges they face, I just feel we don't support them enough."

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Starmer has branded the Chancellor's budget "the last desperate act of a party that has failed". Speaking in the Commons, the Labour leader said: "There we have it, the last desperate act of a party that has failed. Britain is in recession, the national credit card maxed out, and despite the measures today, the highest tax burden for 70 years. The first Parliament since records began to see living standards fall, confirmed by this budget today. That is their record, and it is still their record, give with one hand and take even more with the other, and nothing they do between now and the election will change that."

Rachel Hagan