Conservative MP defends the indefensible again

Not content with being wheeled out to defend the indefensible during ‘partygate’, Sutton & Cheam's Conservative MP appeared on BBC Question Time last Thursday night to defend the Government’s chaotic mini-budget.

Asked “is Liz Truss and her chancellor peddling fantasy economics, as stated by Rishi Sunak during the leadership campaign?” Scully replied “No, absolutely not…” to audience laughter. Fiona Bruce said “Paul, just take a moment to hear the response you got.”

This was a repeat experience for Scully, who was told by Fiona Bruce on Question Time last November that “people are laughing when you say that.” He was claiming the Tories were the real victims in partygate.

The previous Friday, Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng announced a wave of unfunded tax cuts, including abolition of the 45% income tax rate for those earning over £150,000, leading to turmoil in the financial markets.

Fellow QT panellist and former Blue Peter presenter Richard Bacon said it was "absurd" the Tories were cutting tax for the richest people in society. "Liz Truss has done more damage to the British economy than Brexit, the war in Ukraine, or the pandemic. And she's done it since Friday."

The Monday following Scully’s excruciating appearance on Question Time saw Truss and Kwarteng reverse the abolition of the 45% income tax rate, compounding Scully’s embarrassment.

It seems blind loyalty to Johnson and now Truss is more important to Scully than any sense of integrity or self-respect.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said:

“They’re now going to slash taxes, mostly for businesses and the better off, as far as we can see.

"You have families struggling across the whole country. You have small businesses going to the wall, or not knowing if they can survive.

"But apparently the biggest concern of the Conservatives is bankers, banks and oil and gas companies.”