Andrea Leadsom appeared not to know where money comes from – only 4 replies you need

John Plunkett. Updated November 18th, 2019

Away from everything else that’s going on right now, we’ve had a check and yes, there is still an election happening.

Which brings us to one-time Tory leader wannabe Andrea Leadsom who was on Radio 4 today talking to the Today programme’s Nick Robinson. We only mention this because she appeared to struggle with the concept of money.

You know, money. Brass. Hard cash. The folding stuff.

It began when Robinson quizzed her about Tory plans for business rates and local council spending.

As @BorisJohnson addresses #CBI2019 – the conference of British business leaders, @Conservatives have promised to cut business rates – but how?@andrealeadsom tells @bbcnickrobinson "you're assuming that… money comes from somewhere" #r4today | https://t.co/KrCI8Y5hSb pic.twitter.com/yXR61djvJj

— BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) November 18, 2019

Nick Robinson: ‘So, it’s quite simple, isn’t it? Council spending goes up or council spending has to go down or you have to put up the taxes of the rest of us if you are actually going to reduce business rates.’

Andrea Leadsom: ‘Well, those aren’t the options that are necessarily open …’

NR: ‘Sure but you say that some businesses will pay more so that those high street businesses will pay less.’

AL: ‘You’re assuming that money comes from somewhere. What I’m trying to explain to you is that since our headline reduction in the rate of corporation tax the HMRC’s tax intake has actually increased by something like 45 per cent.’

And it’s this bit that caught people’s attention.

“You’re assuming that money comes from somewhere.”

There was no shortage of comment online but these 4 replies are pretty much all you need.

When I asked @andrealeadsom how the Conservatives would pay to cut business rates she replied "You're assuming that money comes from somewhere." Well, yes …

— Nick Robinson (@bbcnickrobinson) November 18, 2019

Nick Robinson: “Where will the money come from to cut business rates?”
Andrea Leadsom: “You're assuming that money has to come from somewhere”

A bold move in her bid to take the title of ‘Thickest Moron In Cabinet’ from Liz Truss.#r4today

— Parody Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson_MP) November 18, 2019

"You're assuming that money comes from somewhere," says Andrea Leadsom on #r4today. Surely only a matter of time before she gets invited to do the Reith Lectures.

— 945 Bastards (@john3ners) November 18, 2019

Andrea Leadsom is one of the chief exhibits in my case for the argument that an unintended consequence of Brexit has been the elevation of the crushingly sub-mediocre to positions of power and influence.

— James Crisp (@JamesCrisp6) November 18, 2019

H/T Indy100