'You're not helping ANYONE!' GB News star slaps down Labour minister over Rachel Reeves bludgeoning small business

But business bosses have warned the hike could spell trouble for owners who cannot afford the hike, in addition to burdening costs as a result of the Iran war.

"I know people are worried about what the crisis in the Middle East means for them," Consumer Protection Minister Kate Dearden told GB News, assuring Britons the policies and evolving situation in Iran would be monitored.

"That's why we've taken action recently to respond to that crisis and why we are working relentlessly day in, day out, across Government and ensuring that we can absolutely support people through this," she added.

Earlier this week, Sir Keir Starmer announced energy bills would drop by around £100 until the end of June to help people with the cost of living.

Several green levies will be thrown out to make way for the cut from April. The scrap will be "constantly reviewed" by Whitehall, Ms Dearden confirmed earlier this morning.

She continued: "This week, our further announcements to help people with that cost of living with not just energy bills, but with the increasing the national minimum and living wages to make sure people do have more money in their pockets going forwards."

But presenter Ellie Costello appeared irked by Ms Dearden's claims on the matter, interrupting: "Forgive me, Kate, but all of this stuff is stuff that you've already introduced, that you've already announced, just repackaged now as looking as though it's support after the Iran war."

She insisted there was "nothing out there that is new and targeted" in reaction to the Iran war persisting in the Middle East.

The host asked: "What is the Government going to offer people who are going to be crippled by this war if it continues?"

In response, the Labour minister cited the Government's "quick action" on providing support to people to afford heating oil.

"We've also announced a crisis and resilience fund, so that's £1billion for local authorities all across the country that they can provide that financial support for people locally, and they know the local circumstances and the support that people need," she added.

"Every single day as this crisis evolves, we are assessing everything we can do across Government to support people. We're absolutely on their side and have their backs."

Nevertheless, fellow GB News star Stephen Dixon remained dissatisified with her answer, claiming the Government's policies looked as though it was "dealing with surface issues".

He explained: "It's things like, as you mentioned, an increase in the minimum wage.

"We understand people on the minimum wage would very much welcome that uplift. And they're struggling and this will help.

"But the problem is you talk to these, particularly SMEs, the small and medium sized businesses who say actually if you put the minimum wage up, they'll have to lay people off.

"They say they might have to shut down the business because of the additional fuel costs, the additional taxes that this Government has levied on them and all the rest of it.

"If you put policies in place which force companies to either hire or fire or close down altogether, you're not helping anybody, actually, are you?"

Ms Dearden went on to say small businesses are the "backbone of our economy and our high streets".

She said: "What we want to make sure that we're working with businesses, understanding their challenges, their concerns, particularly in the current crisis, but how we can support them going forwards, too.

"And of course, a lot of this is around making sure that we do have that resilient and more stable economy going forwards and making sure that we absolutely have sound public finances, because that strong economy benefits working people in terms of making sure that their work pays.

"But for businesses as well, that they have that environment that they can invest, they can grow and further support our local high streets and our economy."

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