Chancellor accused of ‘being philanthropic with other people’s money’

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been accused of “being philanthropic with other people’s money”.

In a Treasury select committee hearing on the cost of living crisis this afternoon, Sunak hit back at criticism of the government’s universal energy rebate scheme.

Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh asked how much money the scheme would award Sunak, who was recently named on the Sunday Times Rich List.

He said he would be donating any rebate money awarded to him to charity.

McDonagh quoted Thatcher’s line that there is “no such thing” as government money, and that Sunak was simply being charitable with other people’s.