Eamonn Holmes and Labour minister Darren Jones locked horns on GB News.
Eamonn Holmes was forced to step in as he clashed with Labour minister Darren Jones on GB News. The Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister appeared on the programme on the same day Rachel Reeves is set to unveil her plans in the Autumn Budget. Kicking the interview off, Eamonn asked how Jones is viewing the Budget and what is he hoping it will do. Before answering the question directly, the Labour MP insisted he would not be able to reveal what the Chancellor has put in the Budget.
Interjecting, a frustrated Eamonn said: “No I didn’t ask you that.” As the politician attempted to continue, Eamonn abruptly cut him off. “Can I stop you there, Darren?” Eamonn fumed. “I’m fed up of leaked stories coming from your end about what is in the Budget and the Chancellor going on and releasing a YouTube video last night telling us more and more.”
Eamonn Holmes and Darren Jones clashed on GB News (Image: GB News)
He raged: “All this business, ‘You can’t speculate as if we asked you.’ I didn’t ask you, number one. Number two is you’re telling us anyway. It’s been leaked, leaked, leaked, leaked, leaked.”
Jones acknowledged that there have been “a couple of leaks” which have been “totally unacceptable and not very helpful”, but claimed there has been plenty of speculation from the media and commentators.
Eamonn’s co-host Ellie Costello highlighted Labour’s declining popularity, with Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves the most unpopular Prime Minister and Chancellor on record.
The presenter mentioned rumours that Labour MPs want to “oust them both”, leading her to question whether Jones has full confidence in the duo on Budget day.
“Yes, I do,” the politician laughed before insisting the pair are fully committed to implementing change.
Darren Jones was grilled the day of Rachel Reeves’ Budget (Image: Getty)
Eamonn turned the conversation to the rise in price of sugary drinks like packaged coffees.
Items like these will be hit with a sugar tax for the first time in a bid to tackle obesity, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said.
“I can understand why you want to relieve things but why then feel the need to increase the price of everything as well?” he asked.
When Jones attempted to claim this is predominantly a health measure, Eamonn snapped back: “It’s not a health measure! It’s not a health measure! You’re taxing processed, packed bottles in supermarkets but you’re not taxing the same sort of drinks that are available in cafes with this massive sugar content, and so how can you pretend it’s a health measure?”
Jones responded: “It’s because we know that chronic diseases are massive challenges for people and for the NHS and the economy so it’s one measure alongside other measures to make sure that food manufacturers are producing their produce in as healthy a way as possible.”
