Gogglebox stars blast government’s ‘ridiculous’ mini budget and accuse Tories of only ‘helping the rich’: ‘The economy is flatlining’-Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro

They are not impressed, not one bit (Picture: Channel 4/Getty)

If you ever had doubts over the Gogglebox stars’ views on the government’s new mini budget, well, they’ve set that record well and truly straight.

When tuning in for chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng announcement, the stars of the Channel 4 show were hopeful, after learning that he would be introducing ‘the biggest tax cut since the 1970s.’

However, their optimism soon faded, as his vow to slash income tax, stamp duty, national insurance, and corporation tax only sounded good ‘on paper.’

Upon learning that the Conservative government would be scrapping the cap on bankers’ bonuses, Lee and best friend Jenny branded the Tories’ actions ‘ridiculous.’

‘They can earn billions now. Don’t they earn enough money?’, Lee asked.

And the sofa stars only became more angry, as it was revealed that there would be a tax cut for those earning over £150,000 a year.

Pete and Sophie were raging over the proposals to cut the tax of those earning £150k (Picture: Channel 4)

The TV stars said the economy is ‘flatlining’ under Liz Truss (Picture: Channel 4)

‘Why are the ones earning over £150 grand benefitting the most when they’ve got the most?’, asked Blackpool lass Sophie.

‘You see! He’s benefitting all the rich, again,’ an outraged Jenny declared, before a sarcastic Stephen quipped: ‘Do you know what? I’m so happy for anyone who’s on over £150k a year. I’m really happy for them, that they’ll pay less tax.’

The outrage didn’t cease there, as the chancellor went on to explain how, for the lowest earners, there would be a cut in the basic rate of tax but for those on universal credit, they were told to seek more and better-paid work, or risk their benefits being reduced.

Lee branded the mini budget ‘ridiculous’ (Picture: Channel 4)

Even Giles and Mary weren’t impressed with the Tory party (Picture: Channel 4)

‘Yeah, ’cause it’s just that easy, isn’t it? It’s just so easy, go and find more and better-paid work’, said siblings Sophie and Pete, with an eye roll.

Meanwhile, Tremaine, Twaine, and Tristan were in disbelief: ‘Literally, if you need help from the government, if you don’t try and help yourself more, they’re taking the help away.’

As the TV stars then learnt that cutting the basic rate of income tax to 19% would save 31million people £14 a month, they questioned how this was going to help them pay their electric bills amid the cost of living crisis.

They went on to note the ‘massive difference’ in how those earning over £200k a year can save over £200 a month.

They questioned whether the chancellor’s mini budget was actually helping the ‘average person’ at all (Picture: Reuters)

The sofa stars want to ‘bury their heads in the sand’ until the next election (Picture: Tayfun Salci/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)

‘I thought this mini budget was coming about because of the cost of living crisis, which is affecting the average person. This budget doesn’t look like it’s supporting the average person at all.’

As the pound fell to an all-time low, even Giles and Mary, who have been vocal about their support for the Tory party in the past, questioned whether the new cabinet was actually aiding with ‘all our economic problems.’

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‘Kwasi and Liz have been in the job three weeks now, and the economy is flatlining,’ Pete said.

‘If this is only after two weeks of Liz Truss, what are we gonna be like in two years when it’s general election?’, asked Izzy, as sister Ellie said she wants to ‘go live in the woods’ and ‘bury our heads in the sand.’

Gogglebox continues Friday at 9pm on Channel 4.

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