Chancellor says £100,000 not a huge salary in Surrey

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has sparked controversy by stating that a £100,000 salary isn't significant for residents in his Surrey constituency due to high mortgages.

Labour and Surrey council members criticize him for being out of touch, especially in light of many surviving on less than the region's average income of £44,000.

Amid rising mortgage costs post the Conservative government's mishandled budget, Hunt's remarks seem aloof to the hardships faced by families.

While free childcare is available for earners below £100,000, and Hunt has proposed changes to the child benefit eligibility, raising the threshold from £50,000 to £60,000 with partial benefits up to £80,000, his comments have prompted backlash and highlighted the disparity with the UK's median salary of £34,963. Hunt has yet to respond.