GB News political correspondent Katherine Forster asked Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride to "apologise for the past 14 years" of the Conservative Party’s economic record during a question following his speech on the economy.
In a heated grilling, Forster said: "You've apologised for what happened under Liz Truss, but you've also admitted that, to use your words, the economy has been languishing in the slow lane since the financial crisis.
"Now the Conservatives were in office for 14 of those 17 years, so shouldn't you actually be apologising for your economic record across that whole period?"
The pointed question came after Stride delivered a major speech acknowledging the party's loss of public trust on economic matters, particularly following the autumn 2022 mini-budget crisis.
Katherine Forster asked "shouldn't you be apologising for all 14 years"
GB NEWS
Mel Stride responded to the GB News correspondent: "I think I made it clear in my remarks that governments of both colours, and I specifically reference the Conservative Party in that respect, have failed to get to grips with the underlying challenges that I have set out, and at great cost.
"And so I think you could argue that there are things, particularly in the latter period of our time in office.
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"For example, if you have a worldwide pandemic that shrinks the size of the UK economy by over 10 per cent overnight, you've got to give people a bit of slack to handle that.
"Similarly, the Ukraine, Russia war and the import of inflation through higher energy costs was a major problem, with inflation spiking over 10 per cent at the end of 2022.
"So I think there are things along the way that have been, at the very least, distraction-free and, to be fair, probably of a fundamental kind of challenge.
"But look, no, I'm not resigning from putting my hand up and saying we needed to have done better across that period in addressing the kind of fundamental things that I've set out."
In his speech, Stride said "never again" will the Tory party make promises they can't afford, calling the mini-budget a "mistake" and adding his party needs to show "contrition".
He stated: "The credibility of the UK's economic framework was undermined by spending billions on subsidising energy bills, and tax cuts, with no proper plan for how this would be paid for."
"Back then mistakes were recognised and stability restored within weeks, with the full backing of my party. But the damage to our credibility is not so easily undone. That will take time. And it also requires contrition.
Mel Stride said "never again" will the Tory party make promises they can't afford
GB NEWS
"So let me be clear: never again will the Conservative Party undermine fiscal credibility by making promises we cannot afford.
"And as Kemi says: we will always start with a credible, fully funded plan."
He added: "The public want to know that their government will act responsibly. And they want to know it will deliver a prosperous future for our economy and for them and their family."
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