Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has refused to say he stands by Labour’s manifesto pledge not to increase income tax, national insurance or VAT.
Asked by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch during Prime Minister’s Questions if that commitment will be honoured in next month’s budget, he said plans for the economy will be laid out then – on 26 November.
“But I can tell the House now that we will build a stronger economy. We will cut NHS waiting lists and deliver a better future for our country,” he said.
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Ms Badenoch said it was a “fascinating answer” as he gave a different one when asked the same question at PMQs on 9 July.
Then, she asked: “In its manifesto last year, Labour promised not to increase income tax, not to increase national insurance and not to increase VAT. Does the prime minister still stand by his promises?”
At the time, Sir Keir responded with a one-word answer: “Yes.”
Asked on Wednesday what had changed in the past four months, Sir Keir repeated that no prime minister or chancellor “will ever set out their plans” ahead of a budget.
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He went on to attack the Tories’ record on the economy during their 14 years in government.
Referring to reports the UK’s official forecaster, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), is set to downgrade the UK’s productivity performance, Sir Keir said: “This is a judgement on their record in office. Those figures are now coming through and they confirm that the Tories did even more damage to the economy than we previously thought.
“We will turn that around. We’ve already delivered the fastest growth in the G7 in the first half of this year. Five interest rate cuts in a row. Trade deals with the US, EU and India. They broke the economy. We’re fixing it.”
He also said there would be “no return to austerity… no return to the instability of their mad borrowing spree, and we’ll end the unfairness and low growth that squeezed living standards for working people”.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves needs to fill a black hole that could be as high as £40bn when she sets out her budget.
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After the prime minister failed to say at PMQs that he stands by his manifesto promise not to raise income tax, national insurance, or VAT, his spokesman was challenged about it by reporters.
Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman said: “You have the prime minister’s words in the House.”
He reiterated the government is committed to building 1.5 million new homes, getting young people into work, and reforming the planning system.
“The chancellor has been clear that we need to ensure we have the money to fund our public services and bring growth to businesses,” he said.
“As we set out in the plan for change, we are committed to growing the economy.”
