Are you a working person? Labour ministers try to explain who will protected in the Budget

Labour actually mentioned the term working people 21 times in their manifesto, so you would think the party would have a pretty good idea what it means.

But voters have been left confused about who exactly counts as a working person after Cabinet ministers put forward a number of definitions.

Here are some of the explanations given by members of the government:

Prime Minister Keir Starmer

The PM said people who get additional income from assets such as shares or property, "wouldn't come within my definition" of a working person.

He insisted everyone knows what the phrase means but also suggested it was somebody who "goes out and earns their living, usually paid in a sort of monthly cheque" but without the ability to "write a cheque to get out of difficulties".

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner

Ms Rayner was asked in the Commons if she could tell the public who counts and replied: ""The definition of working people are people that the Tory Party have failed for the last 14 years."

Treasury Minister James Murray

The junior minister faced being drummed out of a radio studio after repeatedly failing to give a clear explanation.

Mr Murray said a "working person is someone who goes out to work" but refused to say if that included landlords.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson

The Cabinet Minister could not answer if a small business owner earning £13,000 a year is a "working person". But asked if she would count given her £160,000 salary, Ms Phillipson suggested the answer was yes.

"My income derives from my job, and I'll pay whatever taxes are required of me," she said:

Cabinet minister Pat McFadden

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster made an attempt at clearing it all up on Monday, suggesting it was "somebody to whom the promises we made in our manifesto apply" but added that "income levels and job descriptions is not the right way to look at".

He said some landlord might fall into the definition and some will not.

Care Minister Stephen Kinnock

Mr Kinnock refused to say if anyone earning £100,000 could be classed as "working persons".

Asked for a definition, he replied: "The Chancellor will make that absolutely clear on Oct 30."