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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.
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…
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