Therese Coffey TV and Radio Interviews: Key Moments

The Health Secretary’s phone went dead during a Radio 4 interview but, as she pointed out, it wasn’t Dr Dre’s ‘Still DRE’ as it was in an LBC interview last year.

Here’s what Coffey had to say on his media rounds.

Benefits

The Deputy Prime Minister was reported on social media as saying “poor people are richer than you think” on Radio 4.

In response about school meals (see below) Coffey said that people on Universal Credit may be earning more than the general public would expect, but the above phrase is not a direct quote.

In the same interview, she was asked whether the government would have to increase benefits in line with inflation.

Here’s what she said: “Our principles are well laid out. We had already spent money to support people with a low cost of living, particularly focused on the lowest incomes in society.

“As the Prime Minister has consistently said, we will help the vulnerable.

Nurses

The Health Secretary was questioned by Sky News about the possibility of a strike by NHS nurses.

Trevor Phillips, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, says he and his members have been unable to hold talks with Coffey and the government.

RCN members are being voted for strike action, but the Deputy Prime Minister has warned against expecting an increased offer.

Coffey said: “I understand the vote is now open, we have followed the recommendations of the independent pay review body on this matter.

“This was higher than many other pay rises that other public sector employees receive.

“I dare say, with respect to the independent pay review body, I don’t expect we will be making any further changes.”

Asked if that would make strike action inevitable, she called it “a decision for nurses”.

Smoking

Pixabay

On Tuesday morning, the Guardian reported that the government would abandon plans to publish an action plan to tackle smoking later this year.

The stated target is a smoke-free UK by 2030 to reduce the number of smoking-related deaths.

However, according to the newspaper, Coffey, who has received hospitality from the tobacco industry in the past, will pull out of the planned announcement and the health secretary has struggled to give a clear answer in his media appearances.

She told Sky News: “I’m not aware of any targets being rejected. My focus at the moment is ABCD (Ambulances, Backlog, Care, Doctors and Dentists).”

The health minister, who is a smoker and has voted against anti-smoking legislation in the past, was questioned further on LBC.

Nick Ferrari: Why did you vote against the ban on smoking in cars with children?

Health Minister Therese Coffey: Probably because I didn’t think it was right to tell parents how to deal with the situation.@NickFerrariLBC pic.twitter.com/QI1shwjvy0

— LBC (@LBC) October 11, 2022

She said: “I’m a government minister, so if that’s the government’s policy today, then that’s what I agree with. I have no personal views on such matters.”

Asked why she voted against legislation to ban smoking in cars with children, she said: “Probably because I didn’t think it was right to tell parents to deal with the situation.”

Economy

The Bank of England has warned of a “significant risk” to the UK’s financial stability after it was forced to buy more government bonds.

The central bank increased the number of bonds it buys on Monday as part of a scheme that ends on Friday.

Read more: The Bank of England warns of a “significant risk” to the UK economy

This sent government borrowing costs soaring and markets tumbling, and the bank was again forced to step in, announcing it would buy a larger pool of bonds to “restore normal market conditions”.

Asked on BBC Breakfast if she could reassure people that their pensions are safe, Coffey said: “I am absolutely confident that pensions are safe.

“The Bank of England is independent and doing its part and trying to bring some stability, which it has done.

“I’m not aware of the details of exactly what happened this morning, the short message I got from the Treasury is that it’s technical financial stability.

“But we’ve seen quite a complex pension market over the last decade, changes in some of its obligations and how it deals with that. But it is important that we leave the Bank of England, of course, working in partnership with the Chancellor and the Treasury, to develop whatever proposals are needed.

“The chancellor is confident that by the end of this month we will be able to share a medium-term financial plan.

The Deputy Prime Minister was then asked if a return to austerity was imminent after the IFS warned that huge spending cuts would be needed.

She replied: “I’m very aware that we’ve spent a lot of taxpayers’ money supporting people during Covid, there are still challenges in the global supply chain and indeed with Putin’s invasion of Ukraine the volatility of the energy market has really hit households hard and businesses.

“That’s why this government acted so comprehensively.

Housing

The health secretary had a heated exchange with Kay Burley on Sky News when asked about reports that affordable housing targets had been dropped.

“You’re just throwing comments at me Kay”

Things got testy when we asked the Deputy Prime Minister @theresecoffey for her comments on a reported change in housing policy.#caberly wx pic.twitter.com/3blc8VMamM

— Kay Burley (@KayBurley) October 11, 2022

Here’s the full exchange:

KB: “You talk about abandoning affordable housing goals, why are you doing that?”

TC: “I don’t know any of that.”

KB: “So that’s not true?”

TC: “I’m not aware…”

KB: “Isn’t it true that ministers have apparently drawn up plans to exempt builders from having to build affordable housing, to remove environmental protections and to allow people to build extensions without permission?” That’s according to Simon Clarke. So that’s not right?’

TC: “I’m not familiar with that policy, but if you want to ask Simon Clarke about the policies…”

KB: “Well, you are the Deputy Prime Minister, with all due respect.

TC: “Um, well, you’re just hitting me with comments, Kay. I’m not aware of uh…”

KB: “So this isn’t something that was discussed at the cabinet table?”

TC: “I don’t know about specific things like that, no.

Food at school

Coffey came under fire on social media for her response to a question about school meals on BBC Radio 4.

Chef Jamie Oliver, who also appeared on the programme, called for the threshold to be moved when families qualify.

Currently, children of parents who are on Universal Credit and have an annual income of no more than £7,400 or receive another benefit such as Jobseeker’s Allowance are entitled to free school meals in England.

Coffey responded, “I know this has been suggested in the past. I am aware from my previous role as Work and Pensions Secretary that people can earn over £40k and still be on Universal Credit.

“This is a matter for the Secretary of State for Education, who has responsibility for this policy area.

“I’m just noting that people on Universal Credit, given that it’s a dynamic in-work and out-of-work benefit, can actually earn a significant amount of money, which I think other taxpayers might be surprised to learn someone on £35- 40,000 will suddenly become eligible for free school meals.

“But I’m not aware of any policy change that the Department of Education intends to make.”

Coffey suggested that people on Universal Credit might be making more money than “other taxpayers” realise, but she did not use the phrase “poor people are richer than you think”.