Ed Davey compares Tories to robbers ‘asking for a loan to buy a getaway car’ before fall budget

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has likened Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt to bank robbers ‘asking us for a loan to buy their getaway car’ ahead of this month’s budget.

The Prime Minister and Chancellor are continuing to work on their plans for the November 17 autumn statement as they seek to plug an estimated £50 billion gap in public finances.

The British have been told to brace themselves for government spending cuts and even tax increases as Mr Sunak and Mr Hunt target fiscal tightening following the recent financial turmoil.

In a series of lashes at the Tories while delivering a keynote speech today, Sir Ed lashed out at the “chaos” that “conservative clowns” had wrought on the country, claiming they had “close to bankrupting Britain”.

In the wake of former Prime Minister Liz Truss’s disastrous mini-budget, the Lib Dem leader stressed a “conservative property penalty” on skyrocketing mortgage costs.

He also called for a new £3bn ‘mortgage protection fund’ – paid for by the reversal of 2016 bank tax cuts – to help families now facing a crippling rise in their loan repayments.

Under the Lib Dem proposal, homeowners who see their repayments rise by more than 10 per cent of their income could apply for grants of up to £300 a month to help cover costs.

In a series of swipes at the Tories while delivering a keynote speech today, Sir Ed lashed out at the ‘chaos’ that ‘conservative clowns’ had wrought on the country

Sir Ed, pictured before his speech with Lib Dem chief Wendy Chamberlain, called for a new £3bn ‘mortgage protection fund’

Sir Ed’s speech came after he was forced to cancel his party’s conference in Brighton in September following the Queen’s death.

Noting that his speech had subsequently been delayed for 47 days, Sir Ed told an audience in London this afternoon that the delay was the equivalent of ‘about one Liz Truss’ – in a joke about the former prime minister’s historically short stint in issue 10 .

Sir Ed claimed that the Tories “wanted to blame their chaos on everyone” after Mrs Truss’s disastrous tenure and the collapse of the financial markets.

‘The BBC, the civil service, the ‘wokerati’ – whoever they are,’ he said.

“They have blamed the Bank of England, British companies and even British workers.

“But it won’t wash. We all know who is responsible. The blame for this chaos lies entirely with the Conservative Party.’

Sir Ed highlighted a ‘mortgage crisis’ across Britain as interest rates continue to rise and families’ monthly payments rise by hundreds of pounds.

He added that the Tories “can never again claim to be the party that balances the books.”

And ahead of the autumn statement on 17 November, Sir Ed said: ‘The Conservatives are the party of chaos. And what worries millions of people now is what happens next.

“After causing so much chaos, the Conservatives want the rest of us to pay to clean up their mess.

“They are already talking about more unfair tax increases. Even more discounts on pensions and benefits. More budget cuts in schools. The police. Even our NS. All to fill the hole they created themselves.

“It’s like they robbed our bank and now they’re asking us for a loan to buy their getaway car!”

‘Well, we say ‘No’. Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt – Instead of inflicting more pain on struggling families and retirees, it’s time to help.”

Sir Ed demanded a ‘real windfall tax’ on the profits of fossil fuel giants, as well as higher taxes on banks.

“Use those extra billions to really help people with energy bills. To protect pensions and benefits against inflation,” he added.

‘To protect schools, hospitals and municipalities from cutbacks. And to help homeowners struggling to pay that conservative property penalty.”