Politics
Sinead Butler
Oct 03, 2021
Andrew Marr has called out Boris Johnson for “saying something that isn’t true” when discussing wages during an interview.
As the Conservative Party conference kicked off in Manchester today, Marr was in Salford to grill the Prime Minister on a number of topics including women’s safety after the murder of Sarah Everard, the HGV shortage, and increasing taxes.
Another area that was discussed was wages, and Johnson was keen to get the message across that they are increasing.
He told Marr: “What you're also seeing is finally growth in wages, after more than 10 years of flat-lining what you’re seeing is people on low incomes being paid more and by the way, here an example -”
However, Marr interrupted Johnson to challenge him on this point.
“– Can I come directly to that, because you’ve said something that isn’t true I’m afraid, you’ve said something that isn’t true about wages -”
Though Johnson quickly responded and remained insistent that they were.
“- Wages are growing,” he replied.
#Marr: "You've said something that isn't true I'm afraid" #Marr challenges Boris Johnson over ONS figures showing… https://t.co/qYAlyvHfJx— BBC Politics (@BBC Politics) 1633252796
But Marr didn’t stop there and referred to data from the Office of National Statistic.
He said: “The Office of National Statistics, the ONS, your our own body, in the last reporting period – the three months running to July – says that wages are not keeping pace with inflation.
“So in other words, in real terms, over the last three months, wages have gone down, not up.”
As Marr continued talking, Johnson appeared to be shaking his head in disagreement, to which Marr responded: “You’re shaking your head but these are ONS government figures.”
But Johnson refused to relent and replied: “No, wages are finally going up for the low paid and they’re going up faster by the way than they are for those on high incomes and about time too.”
“Well, that’s not what the numbers are showing,” Marr remarked.
“That is what the numbers are showing,” Johnson hit back. “And it’s about time we had that in this country – wages have been totally flatlining for more than a decade and what we would rather do is help people into better paid, better-skilled jobs which is what is happening.”
Johnson then referred to the lifetime skills guarantee, the kickstart schemes, “massive investment” in FE [Futher Education] colleges.
He added: “I’d much rather see that, Andrew, than raising taxes to subsidise low pay.”
Since the exchange was aired, people were quick to criticise the prime minister for not accurately reflecting the situation with wage growth.
Deputy Labour leader, Angela Rayner reiterated Marr’s point about how the ONS figures contradict Johnson’s claim.
Boris Johnson said that wages are rising. That is a lie, real wages are falling. The average worker is over £1,000… https://t.co/lxbFYH19Xv— Angela Rayner (@Angela Rayner) 1633254623
Labour MP for Tottenham David Lammy described Johnson’s claim as “an insult to families facing petrol shortages, rising prices and falling wages this winter.”
What an insult to families facing petrol shortages, rising prices and falling wages this winter. Instead of excus… https://t.co/vQawv5j9dZ— David Lammy (@David Lammy) 1633264591
Alistair Campbell praised Marr for calling out Johnson’s claim, tweeting: “This should happen every time it happens.”
This should happen every time it happens. Which is pretty much every time he speaks https://t.co/Bb4D1P6csn— ALASTAIR CAMPBELL (@ALASTAIR CAMPBELL) 1633262384
Daily Mirror’s Online Political Editor Dan Bloom also shared “a key chart” from the ONS, showing that it was wages dipping last year that caused a “bounce back.”
He also added a key quote from ONS who said: “It would clearly be misleading to use such large and distorted annual growth rates as an indicator of the health of the UK economy.”
Key chart from the ONS - wages dipped down last year, so consequently bouncing back now, despite what Boris Johnson… https://t.co/UxPnYCTMDU— Dan Bloom (@Dan Bloom) 1633254852
Meanwhile, there were plenty of other people who praised Marr’s interview while also criticising Johnson’s response.
Hallelujah!, finally @BBCOne calling out @BorisJohnson as the liar he is and he still has the arrogance to deny hi… https://t.co/Trrz29yeri— Nick Pritchard (@Nick Pritchard) 1633262925
Finally someone holding this government to account. Thanks #marr https://t.co/ae8zxmDGj6— Alex Wiseman (@Alex Wiseman) 1633261050
“You’ve said something that isn’t true, you’ve said something that isn’t true about wages…” Good. At last #Marr is… https://t.co/wazVUNnmbj— Dr Mike Galsworthy (@Dr Mike Galsworthy) 1633254947
It's very disturbing that we have a Prime Minister that can flat out lie even in the face of actual data and statis… https://t.co/mKkXUJJ0pp— Casey Rain (aka S-Endz) (@Casey Rain (aka S-Endz)) 1633266340
'That isn't true..' We need more of this type of no nonsense intervention. https://t.co/xXtY9AWK6Z— Greg Wright (@Greg Wright) 1633267452
Look at him just flat out ignore the statistics provided by his own governing body, choosing instead to insist with… https://t.co/xs3C4nh2eR— Joe Crispin (@Joe Crispin) 1633261968
He has just ignored the facts from the ONS. He only believes what he wants to believe. He is living in a Brexit fa… https://t.co/xvNBVaWnLC— Garry Pickles (@Garry Pickles) 1633257108
How Boris Johnson “gaslights”, the nation & some of you believe it! Well done #Marr for calling out the ONS “actual… https://t.co/BChkH5hbSn— AlisonHewitt (@AlisonHewitt) 1633258862
BBC Newsnight’s Policy Editor Lewis Goodall described how “success of Conservative self-renewal in office means that the third Conservative Prime Minister in a row can tacitly criticise the economic model/performance of his own party over a decade and it barely causes a ripple.”
This is in reference to Johnson, who said wages have been flat-lining for “more than 10 years” which is the same length of time that the Conservatives have been in power for.
Much to unpack here. Perhaps most striking is the extent of success of Conservative self-renewal in office means th… https://t.co/8cz6QqXZir— Lewis Goodall (@Lewis Goodall) 1633266309
While others were also quick to point out this observation too.
There are two big issues in this clip. 1. Boris Johnson lies about wages rising, and persists with the lie even af… https://t.co/RNZsjPeLTd— Edwin Hayward 🦄 🗡 (@Edwin Hayward 🦄 🗡) 1633264209
Who does Boris Johnson think has been in power for the last 10 years, overseeing the decline in the value of wages? https://t.co/Lr5ykJoSFz— Steve 'Toshk' (@Steve 'Toshk') 1633262903
@BBCPolitics Who was in charge the last ten years? 🤔— Andy Newtown (@Andy Newtown) 1633252891
@BBCPolitics Wages have flatlined for a decade, if only there'd been a Tory government for a decade........ What?......... Ah 🤦— Haggy Haggath (@Haggy Haggath) 1633256719
At no point does he mention that those ten years of flat lining wages have come under successive conservative gover… https://t.co/UVRg5fYA1g— John (@John) 1633266064
10 years of poor wages, hmm. Wonder who have been in power for those 10 years 🤔🤔 https://t.co/sA3QiSCUge— Jacob Murphy (@Jacob Murphy) 1633266172
Alao love how he says wages have been totally flatlining for over a decade as if they haven't been in power during… https://t.co/UWBwqcBbX3— Grace (@Grace) 1633259590
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