A Labour MP’s claim that Chancellor Rachel Reeves is “focused on putting more money in people’s pockets” was forensically questioned during an intense GB News grilling.

Speaking to GB News hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ellie Costello, Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray stressed that Budgets “always include a reflection of the position on taxation and spending”.

Ahead of her visit to Washington DC, the Chancellor acknowledged she was looking at potential tax rises and spending cuts to fill a black hole in her Budget, which she said was partly due to the lingering impact of Brexit.

Ms Reeves said “of course, we’re looking at tax and spending” as she prepares for her November 26 statement.

Asked by Ellie if Britons are facing a “nightmare before Christmas” with Labour’s upcoming statement, Mr Murray told GB News: “I know that people across the country are struggling to make ends meet, and for us as a Government, that’s why it’s so important we do everything we can to bring down inflation and to put more money in people’s pockets.

“The concept that a Budget includes measures in relation to tax and spending is not new, Budgets always reflect on taxation and spending. But what Budgets under us also focus on is growth, and we know that getting greater economic growth in this country is a way to make people better off

“And that’s why we’re so focused on speeding up these planning decisions, getting shovels in the ground, getting infrastructure and homes built because we know that will make people in every part of the UK have more money in their pockets.”

Ellie interjected Mr Murray, stating: “By taxing them more?!”

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Echoing Ellie’s statement, Eamonn told the Labour minister: “It doesn’t look as if we’re going to have more money in our pockets come Rachel Reeves’ Budget in November.

“It doesn’t look good from what she’s been saying this morning, and you talked about cuts and taxes, it looks like she might have to get involved in both?”

Mr Murray responded: “One of my jobs as Chief Secretary to the Treasury is to make sure we keep a tight grip on public spending, that we keep making sure we’re making efficiencies, that we’re cutting waste, that we’re making sure we’re spending taxpayers’ money wisely and getting value for money for taxpayers. That’s one of the things that drives me in this job.

“I’ve written to Cabinet colleagues about that to make clear how important that must be to us every day as a Government, because we need to make sure we’re spending taxpayers’ money wisely. And that’s a real priority for me and for the rest of the Government.”

Highlighting the “grim picture” being painted by the Chancellor ahead of the Budget, Ellie pressed Mr Murray on whether he will admit the “economic mess is the Government’s fault”.

He argued: “Well, it’s also true that the IMF (International Monetary Fund) have upgraded our growth forecasts this year. We had the fastest growing economy in the G7 in the first half of this year, but look, we’re really clear, there’s a lot more we need to do.

“We’re really clear, there’s long term reasons why our country is in a difficult position. But we’re also clear we want to go further and faster to get the economy growing and to bring it back again to the planning changes I was talking about earlier.

“Getting Britain building is a sure way to boost economic growth, and to make people in every part of the country be better off.”