Conservative MP Joe Robertson has told Labour MP Oliver Ryan to “take responsibility” for the state of Britain’s economy in a bitter row over Keir Starmer’s latest remarks on possible tax hikes.

Debating the Prime Minister’s refusal to confirm if Britons will be facing further taxes in the upcoming November Budget, Mr Ryan blamed the dwindling economic outlook on the Tories, claiming they “destroyed” the economy.

Asked by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch if the Government would stand by its prior pledges not to increase income tax, National Insurance or VAT (Value Added Tax), Sir Keir Starmer replied: “The Budget is on November 26 and we will lay out our plans.

“But I can tell the House now that we will build a stronger economy, we will cut NHS waiting lists and deliver a better future for our country.”

Pressing Mr Robertson on the Conservatives’ economic record, Mr Ryan jibed: “Do you take any responsibility for the mess that your Government left behind after 14 years?

“We talk about welfare cuts, right, everybody wants to be able to cut welfare, but it all sounds great. But fundamentally, the welfare budget went up by £23billion under your Shadow Chancellor.”

Hitting back at the Labour MP, Mr Robertson stated: “Of course it did, it went up under Covid and under war in Europe. But look, I accept the verdict of the British people in 2024, they swept us out of power, I accept that.

“But goodness me, please take the responsibility given to you by the British people and govern this country, do a good job and stop obsessing with the previous Government. You’re in Government, you should be answering the questions, not asking them.”

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Mr Ryan interjected, stating: “They put you out of power because you made unfunded spending pledges, and that’s what you’ve done this week, £12billion on stamp duty.”

The Tory MP immediately slapped down his argument: “Well, we haven’t done that, we’re not in Government.”

Asked by host Gloria de Piero about how the Tories would plug the £20billion black hole, Mr Robertson said they would set about slashing the welfare bill.

He told GB News: “I would start with cutting the welfare bill. Labour tried to do that in the summer, the backbenchers rebelled, and in the end, they made no savings at all.

“They were also very brutal and ham-fisted, and actually some people who are on benefits, who need to be on benefits, who are rightly on benefits, were set to lose out through an arbitrary cash grab.”

Hitting out at Labour for failing to have a “wholesale plan” on the welfare cuts ahead of being elected into power, the Tory MP concluded: “What should happen is when a new Government comes in, they overhaul the welfare system.

“Because no set of rules are forever, which is exactly what we did in 2010. That’s where Universal Credit Pip came from. Iain Duncan Smith and David Cameron did a huge amount of work, and we’re doing the work in opposition now.

“Unfortunately, this Government did absolutely no work in opposition, so they have no wholesale welfare plan.”