Stephen Williams: Johnson plucking figures out of thin air
Originally published by UK Liberal Democrats
Based on the average UK salary, £25,900, Johnson's National Insurance rate of 20% would cost businesses an annual extra of £1398.60 per employee.
Responding to Johnson's comments, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Treasury Committee, Stephen Williams said:
"For Alan Johnson, the man who Labour wants to run Britain's economy to be plucking the rate of employers' National Insurance contributions out of thin air is utterly incredible.
"His Christmas reading of his economic primer clearly hasn't gone very well.
"Britain is facing the highest debt levels in peacetime history, yet we have a Labour party that's completely clueless on basic economics. Jobs will not be created by the fantasy economics conjured up on Alan Johnson's abacus.
"Continuing to advocate a jobs tax when he appears not to understand its basic facts smacks of economic illiteracy and incompetence. Instead of being a powerful asset to Ed Miliband, Alan Johnson is fast becoming an embarrassment.
"Labour left the country in an economic shambles. They have made no apology, they have no regrets and with a self-proclaimed novice at their economic helm, it's little wonder they still offer no alternative."