The Labour Party has been accused of spreading "fake news" by Jeremy Hunt, who claimed Sir Keir Starmer is trying to win the election by "scaring pensioners about a policy that is not true”.
Giving a speech today, the Chancellor branded proposals by Labour a "myth". But when asked whether he was accusing them of lying, he said: “Calling them a myth is about as rude as I get, but frankly it is a lie.
"I don’t make any bones about it. It is fake news and it is an absolute disgrace to try and win this election by scaring pensioners about a policy that is not true."
Hunt said that while the Tories have cut national insurance, which pensioners do not pay, they have also increased the state pension.
The Labour Party has been accused of spreading "fake news" by Jeremy Hunt
PA
Asked whether Britain’s economic woes are now in the rear view mirror, the Chancellor said: “The truth is that I do think we have turned a corner.”
He added that it would take time for that “to feed through to how people feel”.
“In a general election, people are very smart about making the choice that is the right choice for their family going forward.
"People can see that Conservative governments have done the right thing to create growth that means families will be more prosperous going forward.”
But Labour described Hunt's attack as "desperate".
A party spokesperson said: "This is another desperate attempt by the Tories to deflect from their £46 billion unfunded tax plan that could lead to higher borrowing, higher taxes on pensioners or the end of the state pension as we know it.
Giving a speech today, the Chancellor branded proposals by Labour a "myth"
PA
"All of Labour’s policies are fully costed and fully funded. Unlike the Conservatives who crashed the economy, Labour will never play fast and loose with the public finances.
"Jeremy Hunt would be better spent getting Rishi Sunak to confirm the date of the election, rather than putting out any more of these dodgy dossiers."
Hunt had earlier suggested he will seek to cut taxes further in the autumn, but only if he can do so responsibly.
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The Chancellor said: “If we can afford to go further responsibly to reduce the double tax on work this autumn that is what I will do.
“Because over time we make no apology for wanting to keep cutting the double tax on work until it is gone, but only when we can do so without increasing borrowing and without cutting funding for public services or pensions.”