Claim 712b9855Checked 21 Jul 2026
TrueOn the truth scale
“The Chancellor set out those savings two weeks ago.”
—Keir StarmerLabourThe Prime Minister·Engagements·03 Jun 2026Factual · historical current chronological
Reasoning & Evidence21 Jul 2026
The evidence clearly supports the claim. The speech was delivered on 3 June 2026. Multiple official government sources confirm that the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, made a Ministerial Statement on 21 May 2026 announcing the "Great British Summer Savings" scheme, which includes a temporary reduction in VAT from 20% to 5% on children's meals in restaurants (among other things) for the period 25 June to 1 September 2026. The HM Revenue and Customs Brief 5 (2026) explicitly states: "In a Ministerial Statement made by the Chancellor on 21 May 2026, the government announced the introduction of a temporary reduced rate of VAT (5%) for supplies of children's meals and tickets to certain attractions."
From 21 May 2026 to 3 June 2026 is 13 days — approximately two weeks. The phrase "two weeks ago" is a reasonable and common approximation for an event 13 days prior. The Chancellor did indeed set out the VAT savings on children's meals, and the timing described as "two weeks ago" is accurate.
Sources: HM Revenue and Customs Brief 5 (2026), GOV.UK, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/revenue-and-customs-brief-5-2026-temporary-reduced-rate-of-vat-for-childrens-meals-tickets-and-family-attractions/temporary-reduced-rate-of-vat-for-childrens-meals-tickets-and-family-attractions ; "Great British Summer Savings 2026: Family activities VAT relief fact sheet," HM Treasury, GOV.UK, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/great-british-summer-savings-2026-family-activities-vat-relief-fact-sheet ; "Great British Summer Savings: VAT slashed to save families money on days out," HM Treasury, GOV.UK, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/great-british-summer-savings-vat-slashed-to-save-families-money-on-days-out
From speech
I thank the hon. Member for the question. I recognise the challenges that she identifies. That is why we are permanently lowering business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses. Every pub will get 15% off its new business rates bill, and bills will be frozen in real terms for a further two years. In relation to VAT, she will see that we are offering support by cutting VAT on children’s meals in restaurants—particularly over the summer period—with those savings set out two weeks ago by the Chancellor.
Sources opened
| [1] | gov.uk |
| [2] | gov.uk |
| [3] | gov.uk |
| [4] | gov.uk |
| [5] | bbc.co.uk |
| [6] | gov.uk |
| [7] | icaew.com |