hoyle: oliver dowden. mr. dowden: i think the right honorable lady for that answer. our commonwealth family is brought together by historical and cultural ties, much like the pair of us. [laughter] but i will resist the temptation to replicate that, but as we look to the commonwealth's future, we now have the opportunity to deepen our economic relationship. will she therefore assure the house that the prime minister will use the summit to continue the work of the last government and building deeper economic ties with our commonwealth friends and allies? mr. hoyle: deputy prime minister? ms. rayner: we talk about economics. the architect of the 2024 general election campaign for the tories -- it appears he fought so hard to protect. he leaves behind a tory party and utter denial, heads in the sand, refusing to accept their rejection by the british public. their proposals include scrapping the minimum wage, halting maternity pay. mr. speaker, this labour government is ready to end the scales. mr. speaker, they don't like to hear it, but this labour government was elect

. >> oliver dowden. >> oliver dowden. >> well, she mentions her policy.it's a £5 billion hit to the british economy and that's her own assessment . your own assessment, assessment. your own assessment, mr speaker, i think that following these answers, there will be millions of working people now even more worried about the tax rises coming their way in next week's budget . but way in next week's budget. but as this is our last exchange across the dispatch box, i would like i'd like. >> to do more. i, i'd like to turn to somebody i hope we can all agree is a hard working person. >> his majesty the king will. will she join me in sending him? best wishes ahead of the commonwealth summit in samoa? in particular, will she confirm that this government recognises the unique role played by the commonwealth? and will she commit to deepening this relationship so that under his majesty's leadership , we build majesty's leadership, we build upon possibly the greatest legacy of the late queen? >> deputy prime minister , i will >> deputy prime minister, i will miss our

oliver dowden. thank you mr speaker- — opposition. oliver dowden. mr speaker- can _ opposition. oliver dowden. thank you mr speaker. can i _ opposition. oliver dowden. thank you mr speaker. can i join _ opposition. oliver dowden. thank you mr speaker. can i join the _ opposition. oliver dowden. thank you mr speaker. can i join the deputy - mr speaker. can ijoin the deputy prime _ mr speaker. can ijoin the deputy prime minister in paying tribute to the bravery of sir chris hoy. he is an inspiration to us all and i echo our comments about the train, crash what _ our comments about the train, crash what ls _ our comments about the train, crash what is the — our comments about the train, crash what. is the deputy prime minister's defirfltion— what. is the deputy prime minister's definition of working people? well, first of all let _ definition of working people? well, first of all let me _ definition of working people? well, first of all let me welcome - definition of working people? -ii first of all let me welcome the honourable gentleman to his new pla

certainly, and that all hinges on the definition that oliver dowden was slowly trying to tease out ofrayner because number ten have been reluctant to say any more about who they mean by it. that is their safeguard against being drawn into budget speculation. we know that labour has pledged not to raise income tax, vat or national insurance, but we are now told that that promise only applies to employees national insurance, and so oliver dowden was trying to paint a sort of picture, if you like, that lots of small businesses would be potentially clobbered by a move to raise national insurance for employers as well.- raise national insurance for employers as well. raise national insurance for emlo ers as well. ~ . , employers as well. what else were we heafina employers as well. what else were we hearing budget — employers as well. what else were we hearing budget related, _ employers as well. what else were we hearing budget related, and _ employers as well. what else were we hearing budget related, and we - employers as well. what else were we hearing budget related, and we are i heari