The Labour government’s “ideological” Budget was “designed to milk the private sector”, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has claimed.

Quizzing Sir Keir Starmer during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) today, the Conservative leader accused the Labour leader of “having nothing to offer but platitudes”. 

She said: “Their ideological Budget was designed to milk the private sector and hope nobody would notice

“Now his cabinet ministers are all queuing up for public sector bailouts from his tax mess.”

But Starmer insisted: “What did they deliver in 14 years? Low growth, a stagnant economy, a disastrous mini-Budget, a £22bn black hole.

“And now she wants to give me advice on running the economy! I don’t want to be rude, but no thank you very much.”

Badenoch’s comments came as the government faces increasing pressure to revisit its hikes to employer national insurance contributions (NIC) and the minimum wage.