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A top Tory has lectured the BBC for using the word 'austerity' before immediately getting the Tories' austerity policy wrong in a nightmare interview.

Andrea Leadsom , the Leader of the House of Commons, suffered a live radio brain-fade as she tried to justify why the Queen's Speech did not end cuts to public services.

The minister admitted the public have "undoubtedly suffered" from austerity and are "sick and tired" and "exhausted" of it.

Yet she also lectured the BBC's World At One show on its use of language, saying she was "disappointed" to hear the A-word used because of its connotations.

"I'm so disappointed that the BBC always takes up the words of austerity.

(Image: Chris J Ratcliffe) (Image: PA)

"Because of course the other side of that picture is we are trying to ensure we're a country that lives within its means.

"You call it austerity. Another word for it would be 'getting back into a position.'"

Ms Leadsom, who stood for the Tory leadership last year, was challenged by host Martha Kearney about the Tories' pledge to wipe out the deficit.

It was originally 2015 and has now been pushed back to the mid-2020s.

Yet Ms Leadsom wrongly said the deadline was "the end of the parliament" - 2022 at the latest.

"We have set a date of the end of the parliament to be able to achieve that balancing of the books," she said.

"But of course it is very difficult . We absolutely recognise, what people have been saying on the doorsteps for the last few weeks is that they are just exhausted by the steps taken to live within our means."

Host Ms Kearney cut in and queried the cut-off date.

Only after being corrected did Ms Leadsom say: "The end... the... By 2025, exactly, yes, so, so in fact, we do have a date, and it is..."

Acidly, Ms Kearney replied: "I can understand you being confused about it."

Despite not ending austerity, the Tories have repeatedly admitted public frustration with cuts hurt them in the general election.

(Image: SWNS)

Chancellor Philip Hammond and Theresa May's chief of staff both admitted there was a frustration with belt-tightening on the doorstep.

Ms Leadsom said: "People have undoubtedly suffered. People are sick and tired of the measures to try and get to live back within our means."

But she added: "Labour and certainly the SNP just say 'let's spend money, never mind what happens in the future.'"