Jeremy Hunt Says a £100,000 Salary Isn’t a Big Deal — Critics Call Him Out
In a recent interview with Sky News, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt downplayed the significance of a £100,000 annual pay. He claimed it “doesn’t go as far as you might think” in his home region of south‑west Surrey, where house prices hover around £670,000 and the cost of childcare is climbing.
“I’m just saying that’s something I’d love to be able to look at in the next parliament,” Hunt added, hinting at future plans to address childcare costs for higher earners.
Local Voices — Expectation vs Reality
- Paul Follows (Surrey county councillor): “If you’re a multi‑millionaire funneling £100k-plus into your own campaign, it’s a petty sum. For ordinary residents it’s a massive indicator that the cost‑of‑living crisis still feels distant.”
- Jonathan Ashworth (Shadow paymaster general): “The majority of working people would love to earn that, yet we’re being priced out by 14 years of Tory missteps. It’s absurd for the Chancellor to complain about mortgage costs when the Conservative budget drove them up.”
- Rohit Kohli (The Mortgage Stop): “If Hunt feels sorry for a Surrey debtor at £100k, he’ll surprise‑frown when he hears about nurses, doctors, police, and council staff earning less. What a classic out‑of‑touch jab.”
- Riz Malik (R3 Mortgages): “The government is living in a butter‑cup world of privilege. A six‑figure salary barely matters, though it still holds weight in the mortgage arena.”
What’s the Bottom Line?
The Chancellor’s remarks have sparked a wave of backlash, with many calling his comments out of touch and reflective of a broader disconnect between governing elites and everyday citizens facing living‑cost pressures.
