Dashboard/Kemi Badenoch/ITV News interview with Robert Peston: Reform voters, the triple lock and the Green Party
Interview · 6 Oct 2026
ITV News interview with Robert Peston: Reform voters, the triple lock and the Green Party
Video: YouTube: ITV News (official channel). Retrieved 7 Oct 2026.
No BS Index for this transcript
Only 13 rated questions; a transcript needs 15 for a number. Claims that held up: 74% of 17 checked (Bluff 13.2 of 50). Its claims still count towards the overall score.
Answers questions · observed, not scored
77%
13 questions rated. Fewer than 15, so this does not enter the index. Answered = 1, Partly answered and Declined openly = ½, Dodged = 0.
Answered 7Partly answered 6Declined openly 0Dodged 0
Robert Peston
Can we say good to see you? As you know, I get confused very easily. Um you say you want to win back reform voters and if I'm sure you're aware the average income in Clacton Farage's seat is around 40,000. Your policy of um ending the withdrawal of child care support, that helps uh homes with incomes of a penny less than 200,000 lbs. What you're about to do tomorrow on inheritance tax, that'll benefit 1 in 20 people with assets of more than a a million.
What's in it for reform voters?
Partly answeredAsked what Conservative policies on childcare and inheritance tax offer Reform voters on lower incomes. Says the inheritance tax policy has not been announced and the interviewer is guessing; the question about Reform voters is taken up only after the follow-up. (Premise challenged.)Our model rated this
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Robert Peston
the broader point of of people on lower incomes, what are you doing for them?
Partly answeredAsked what the party is doing for people on lower incomes. Says there is something for everybody and describes a simpler system without the £100,000 childcare cliff edge, but names no measure aimed at lower earners.Our model rated this
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Robert Peston
But my point is slightly different. I mean, from what I can see, what you're trying to do is win back richer southern households who are currently either voting Lib Dem or Labour or thinking of doing so. There's no shame in trying to woo those voters, is there?
Partly answeredAsked whether the party is really trying to win back richer southern households. Says the aim is to grow the economy and rejects judging policy in electoral terms, without saying who the policies are meant to win over. (Premise challenged.)Our model rated this
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Robert Peston
But the problem with ignoring I mean, your advisers are telling you the electoral calculus says unless voters think that you are the main opposition and they currently see Reform as the main opposition, you're not going to you're not going to claw back.
AnsweredAsked about advice that voters see Reform as the main opposition. Says the opposite is happening and gives reasons: polling, government U-turns, and Reform having no defence spokesman.Our model rated this
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Robert Peston
but on that, you have basically said the priority is to win back the Tory reputation for economic
AnsweredAsked whether the priority is to win back a reputation for economic competence. Says yes.Our model rated this
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Robert Peston
But you keep announcing these really pretty expensive spending commitments, whether it's the new missile protection system a billion a year, whether it is the exempt or halving national insurance for 21 to 24-year-olds, couple of billion. You're not even publishing your savings plan till tomorrow. It all feels a bit dodgy if I'm Well honest.
Partly answeredAsked how new spending commitments are paid for when the savings plan is not yet published. Says the plans have been set out, including the missile defence plan, without giving the funding source in the answer.Our model rated this
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Robert Peston
So I'm going to have to wait for tomorrow to see the details.
AnsweredAsked whether he must wait until tomorrow for the details. Says more will come, but the missile defence system and the route to 3% on defence have already been set out.Our model rated this
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Robert Peston
But what if you were serious about controlling the public finances, you would do what your current shadow foreign secretary said you should do about a year ago, which is reform the triple lock.
AnsweredAsked why not reform the triple lock, as a senior colleague once proposed. Says there are arguments on both sides, the triple lock is party policy, and the party is choosing to focus on people who can work but do not.Our model rated this
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Robert Peston
Now, I've got to change the subject just in a couple of ways. Um your shadow home minister, Blake Stevenson, has said there are no-go zones in Luton, which is the kind of rhetoric from the far right that the police say is just wrong.
Partly answeredAsked about a shadow minister's claim of no-go zones in Luton, which police reject. Says she does not know the context and praises the MP, without saying whether the claim is right.Our model rated this
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Robert Peston
And Jenrick said something very similar when he was a member of the Tory party. He said there's a problem here, isn't
Partly answeredAsked whether this is the same rhetoric as Robert Jenrick's. Says she stands by the MP and that he will have a reason, then turns to Jenrick having left; does not say whether no-go zones exist.Our model rated this
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Robert Peston
On Man City, surely the Prime Minister is right that alienating an important security and economic partner like Abu Dhabi, the owners of Man City, would be bad for this country.
AnsweredAsked whether the Prime Minister is right that alienating Abu Dhabi would harm the country. Says the UAE are allies and good relations matter, but rules must be followed and breaches need consequences.Our model rated this
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Robert Peston
Couple of other things. Um you'll understand why I'm asking you this. Are you a proud Zionist?
AnsweredAsked whether she is a proud Zionist. Says she is not sure what the label means, but if it means supporting Israel's right to exist and self-determination, yes, and she backs a two-state solution.Our model rated this
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Robert Peston
would you say to the Green Party that says that since you support the existing state of Israel, you're a racist?
AnsweredAsked what she would say to the Green Party, which calls supporters of Israel racist. Says many in the party are antisemites and its position is shameful.Our model rated this
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1 further exchange(s) not rated: procedural or ceremonial questions (a tribute, thanks or condolence that asks for nothing), or questions the speaker did not take.