BBC Breakfast host Jon Kay has slammed Labour minister Jonathan Reynolds over the increase in council tax, energy, and water bills on a day dubbed an ‘awful April’. The Business Secretary appeared on the morning programme and discussed that council tax in England is generally going up by 4.99 per cent, with Wales rising by 4.5 per cent to 9.5 per cent and Scotland by at least 8 per cent. What’s more, TV licence, car tax, and broadband bills are also going up, as well as water bills in England and Wales going up by £10 more per month on average.

Jonathan was grilled live on air as Jon Kay pressed him on “when people will feel better off.” He replied, “They are getting better off,” and added that the Labour government is introducing other measures such as free breakfast clubs and freezing fuel duty.

It comes after the Labour Government claimed that its clean energy plans would save households £300 by 2030.

Many BBC fans who tuned into the interview were less than impressed with the news. One person said, “Must be an April fool! Absolutely laughable. They think they’re helpful and bored of the blame narrative. On top of all the bills increase, there is an NI employer increase, which is seeing waves of redundancies, meaning people are out of work, so definitely not better off!!” [sic]

Another fan also commented, “1st April…Jonny’s back….why should we listen to or believe a word he says? Clearly rattled that US trade talks didn’t work.” A third typed, “An absolute insult to everyone struggling this morning. What a useless minister and what a useless government.”