BBC Breakfast host Jon Kay takes swipe at Jeremy Hunt in 'car crash' interview

BBC Breakfast host Jon Kay interviewed Jeremy Hunt on Wednesday, May 22, but viewers were left branding the segment a "car crash". The Chancellor of the Exchequer, 57, appeared on the BBC One morning show via video link from a supermarket in North West London and was quizzed by presenter Jon about inflation falling to 2.3% per cent.

Jon pointed out that in a report yesterday, the International Monetary Fund warned that the UK economy could not afford more tax cuts this year. He said: "They’re saying the economy can’t stand it, that you don’t have enough money. Will you bear that in mind in the months ahead?".

Jeremy Hunt was then asked if he was “Kwasi Kwarteng 2.0” as he dropped his clearest hint yet that more tax cuts are on the way before the general election.

Hunt said the government had “a respectful disagreement” with the IMF on tax cuts. Hunt said: "We look around the world and we see that the fastest growing economies in North America and Asia are the ones that tend to have lower taxes."

The chancellor was then compared to his predecessor, who was forced to quit in the wake of the disastrous mini-budget in 2022, as he refused to rule out more reductions in National Insurance on BBC Breakfast this morning. Kay hit back: “So you’re going to cut taxes, aren’t you? You’re going to ignore their warnings and do it before the election."

He added: "Two minutes ago, you told us that Kwasi Kwarteng and Liz Truss made mistakes with the economy, and now you are saying that you’re very prepared by the sounds of it to cut taxes against all the warnings from the IMF. Are you potentially Kwasi Kwarteng 2.0?"

Hunt replied: "No, and I made it very clear that every time we’ve cut taxes it’s because we can afford to do it and we’ve done it without increasing borrowing, and that was the mistake that Kwasi made."

bbc breakfast host jon kay takes swipe at jeremy hunt in 'car crash' interview

Jon Kay interviews Jeremy Hunt on BBC Breakfast on Wednesday, May 22

While the two debated tax cuts, BBC Breakfast viewers wasted no time in taking to social media to react to the BBC Breakfast interview, with one person writing: "Dear Jon Kay. Calling Jeremy Hunt, Kwasi Kwarteng 2.0. How could you ?#BBCBreakfast #GMB", followed by laughing face emojis.

A second stated: "On #BBCBreakfast this morning…After Jeremy Hunt says mistakes were made in the 2022 mini-budget, but plans to defy the IMF and make the same mistakes… Jon Kay asks him 'Aren’t you just Kwasi Kwarteng 2.0?', Well played sir!."

A third simply wrote: "Parody", while another chimed in with: "And Jeremy Hunt has just had a Tory Car crash interview-Another one who is gloating about the inflation figures when they are still not below 2%! #BBCBreakfast #GMB #kayburley #ToriesOut685 #GeneralElectionNow #EnoughIsEnough."

"BBC Breakfast presenter gave #JeremyHunt a bit of a grilling this morning! Thought I’d turned on a different channel.", added another viewer. While another said: "Where is Jeremy Hunt standing? He's obviously gone to his aides and said, "find me somewhere where prices are really cheap for when I talk about inflation, that'll win over the plebs."

BBC Breakfast airs from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer.

OTHER NEWS

21 minutes ago

Tomorrow’s stars blocked by A-listers, warns Shakespeare In Love producer

23 minutes ago

Fears for mum and two-year-old son missing in Melbourne

26 minutes ago

Instead of Branthwaite: Dyche must ditch Everton star to ease FFP woes

26 minutes ago

Kenyan teenage sensation Wanyonyi becomes third-fastest man in 800m as he qualifies for Olympics

26 minutes ago

David Cameron blasts Nigel Farage's 'dog whistle' rhetoric

26 minutes ago

Pope meets comedians including Rock and O'Brien

26 minutes ago

Florida teacher may lose license over anti-confederacy mask

26 minutes ago

On 'Bridgerton,' Francesca's Wedding Dress Was A Sheer Delight

27 minutes ago

Body camera video shows Joliet police officer help snapping turtle cross street safely

28 minutes ago

Warm up with $5.90 noodles and lip-tingling dishes at this hot Chinatown spot

28 minutes ago

When was the last time Scotland qualified for the Euros?

28 minutes ago

Report: Oilers open extension negotiations with veteran winger

28 minutes ago

Stocks slip as markets eye cautious Fed

28 minutes ago

Germany hero shares concern over Kai Havertz 'problem' ahead of Euro 2024 opener

28 minutes ago

How a ‘Committed Partisan Warrior’ Came to Rethink the Political Wars

28 minutes ago

Russian nuclear submarine spotted off UK coast sparks emergency meeting amid defence fears

28 minutes ago

Will taxes go up after the election? Why Labour is on the defensive over its plans

28 minutes ago

Undercover RCMP officer gives testimony as Coutts blockade trial continues

28 minutes ago

Tiki-taka no more: Spain’s remarkable ball possession streak ends at Euro 2024 against Croatia

28 minutes ago

Dwayne Johnson shows off his buff physique in a tiny pair of shorts on set of his film The Smashing Machine after rupturing the bursa sac in his elbow

28 minutes ago

Terrifying moment WWE superstar Damian Priest lands on his NECK after getting his foot caught in the ropes while attempting move at Clash at the Castle

31 minutes ago

I’m lucky to be here: Gordon Ramsay has ‘really bad’ cycling accident

31 minutes ago

Chris Billam-Smith defends world title after defeating Richard Riakporhe on points

32 minutes ago

Reese Witherspoon's impression of Nicole Kidman at an award gala is spot-on

33 minutes ago

2 men killed in Nova Scotia in separate crashes, one riding dirt bike: RCMP

33 minutes ago

‘One Day’ Star Ambika Mod On Her Crazy Year, How Comedy Has Helped Her Career & Details Of Her Upcoming ‘Playdate’

33 minutes ago

Why Cadillac says its latest resurrection will work

33 minutes ago

Sweet moment Kate strokes Charlotte's hair and guides her forward

36 minutes ago

What large car should you buy in 2024?

36 minutes ago

Cash can't crash: why physical money is here to stay

36 minutes ago

Why Ferrari wants to leave the past in the past

36 minutes ago

Master of his domain: Jerry Seinfeld reminds Perth he’s still a comedy crowd-pleaser

37 minutes ago

Major development after popular surfer Guy Haymes was found with serious head wounds in his Manly apartment

38 minutes ago

Roosters survive JWH absence as star prop sin binned

38 minutes ago

Oilers looking to avoid Stanley Cup final sweep against well-drilled Panthers

38 minutes ago

Biden departs Italy and heads to Hollywood following G7 Summit

38 minutes ago

Rachel Morin murder: Illegal immigrant from El Salvador charged in rape, killing of Maryland mom-of-5

38 minutes ago

Video: Huge breakthrough in murder of Maryland mom Rachel Morin as cops finally arrest ILLEGAL migrant seen in haunting doorbell footage TEN MONTHS after her body was found naked and beaten on a remote hiking trail

38 minutes ago

Bear Grylls says he is proud of 15-year tenure as chief scout as he steps down after Russell Brand baptism

38 minutes ago

Kidnapped, abused, humiliated – the Ukrainian children stolen by Russia