Tom Tugendhat: Labour has tried to ‘nationalise the future’

Tom Tugendhat has said Labour tried to “nationalise the future” in his first commons speech since the appointment of the new shadow cabinet, of which he is not a part.

According to reports, the former security minister was offered a role in Kemi Badenoch’s top team but turned it down. He therefore joins other senior Conservatives such as Andrew Mitchell, Jeremy Hunt and James Cleverly on the backbenches.

Speaking as MPs debated the budget on Tuesday afternoon, Tugendhat rubbished the government’s fiscal measures, especially the proposal to subject independent schools to VAT.

Tugendhat said: “Sadly, what this government has done is try to nationalise the future, to shorten the time horizon and to make us all pay for it.

“And that’s why, Madam Deputy Speaker, that’s why growth is falling, taxes are rising, and the future is made worse again and again under Labour.”

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