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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has told the BBC it is not his “plan” to have any more tax rises before the next election – but says he could not rule them out in the event of “unforeseen” circumstances. The prime minister was speaking to BBC Breakfast shortly after setting out six pledges, including a promise to put more money in the pockets of working people.
Sir Keir said he knew some decisions were “not always popular” but voters could judge him at the next general election on whether they feel their living standards have improved. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch dismissed the PM’s new pledges as a sign that Labour had not been “ready for government”.
In addition to improving living standards, the other “milestones” announced by Sir Keir in a speech on Thursday included building 1.5 million new homes in England, ending hospital backlogs and increasing the proportion of children who are “ready to learn” when starting school to 75%. Labour has dismissed suggestions the new pledges are a reset following their first few months in government.
The chancellor announced a near-£70bn increase in public spending in her first Budget in October, of which more than half will come from higher taxes, with businesses set to bear the brunt of the rises. Employers will see an increase in National Insurance contributions on their workers’ earnings which will raise up to £25bn a year for the government.
On the possibility of further tax rises, Sir Keir Starmer said: “I don’t want to suggest we’re going to keep coming back for more because that isn’t the plan. What I can’t do, is say to you there are no circumstances unforeseen in the future that wouldn’t lead to any change at all.
“If you look at Covid and Ukraine, everyone knows there are things we can’t see now but I can tell you our intention was to do the tough stuff in that Budget, not keep coming back.”
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