Tory MP Richard Holden wasn’t holding back when he clashed with Labour’s Lucy Powell on Politics Live—and he made sure to be rude while doing it.
The Tensions Begin
It all kicked off when Powell, the Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East, blamed the economic mess on Liz Truss’ disastrous mini-budget, which she argued pushed the cost of living through the roof. Holden, not one to shy away from controversy, wasn’t having it.
He quickly shot back, accusing Powell of ignoring the real cause: the pandemic. As he spoke, it became clear his patience was wearing thin.
Holden’s Rude Response
“If you genuinely believe it has nothing to do with Covid, you’re out of your mind,” Holden said, clearly frustrated. There was no attempt at being diplomatic—just a rude dismissal of Powell’s point.
Powell didn’t take kindly to the jibe and fired back, asking, “So when Liz Truss crashed the economy, it was Covid?” The back-and-forth grew more heated by the second.
Rising Tensions
Holden kept going, insisting that the pandemic was the sole driver of inflation and mortgage rate hikes, not the government’s actions. “Inflation went up around the world, in every single country, because of Covid,” he said, speaking over Powell.
But Powell wasn’t ready to let that slide. She asked, “Did Covid put up inflation to 11%? Did Covid put up mortgage rates to 5%?” Holden’s temper flared.
Holden’s Explosive Outburst
At this point, Holden was visibly losing control. “If Lucy genuinely doesn’t believe that, genuinely believes that other factors were bigger, then I think she’s insane,” he spat. The insult hung in the air as the tension reached its peak.
Powell Stays Calm
In contrast, Powell remained composed, turning the conversation back to her own experiences. She mentioned her own mortgage rate increase, which had jumped from 1.9% to 5% following the mini-budget. Holden tried to interrupt, but Powell had had enough.
“Richard, just shut up,” she told him firmly, refusing to let him dominate the discussion any longer.
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