Penny Mordaunt: Cheese-induced fever dreams fuel Labour’s budget argument

The House of Commons erupted in laughter as Penny Mordaunt said Labour’s claims about Jeremy Hunt’s ambition to abolish national insurance were fueled by dreams “after eating a lot of cheese”.

Opposition MPs urged the leader of the House of Commons to explain whether the “unfunded commitment of £46bn” could be paid for by raising taxes on pensioners, cutting the NHS or increasing government debt.

Ms Mordaunt said: “I suspect that the events recalled by the honorable gentleman were in fact a dream, perhaps after eating a large amount of cheese.”