# Emma Reynolds criticised for excluding employers from working people category

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/labour-minister-faces-fury-after-insisting-employers-are-not-working-people-in-awkward-interview/
- Published: 2026-11-01T12:25:12+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-01T12:32:31+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16256477/Treasury-minister-Labour-employers-not-working-people-interview.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- Emma Reynolds said employers are distinct from employees.
- She defended tax rises on landlords and savers.
- A pie-shop owner says he will miss business-rates relief.

## Summary

Treasury minister Emma Reynolds faced criticism after saying employers are not “working people” during an interview about Labour’s tax policies. The exchange came as she defended Budget tax increases on landlords and savers and was challenged over whether they conflicted with the party’s manifesto commitments.

Presenter Camilla Tominey cited a small-business owner facing higher costs from employer National Insurance, minimum-wage rises and inflation, and argued that employers can also be workers. Reynolds said she was distinguishing employers from employees, defended the tax rises as targeted and fair, and pointed to business-rates relief for many small firms. Conservative politicians criticised her remarks; pie-shop owner Paul Bowen has said he will not qualify for the relief because he runs two shops.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.