LABOUR'S 'TAX MISTRUTHS BETRAY BRITISH PUBLIC'

LABOUR tax hikes based on "mistruths" about the nation's finances will be an "ultimate betrayal" of the British public, Jeremy Hunt has warned.

- Sam Lister

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is today laying the groundwork for autumn rises by presenting the findings of a review she will claim shows that the Tories overspent by billions.

She will tell the Commons that former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his ministers "covered up" what was really going on in government.

But economists have dismissed the claims and warned that tax rises are on the way. It comes as former Chancellor Mr Hunt accused his successor of being "beyond disingenuous".

Writing in today's Daily Express, he said: "Labour know, and have for some time, what the state of the public finances were.

"It also means that Labour made all of their many spending commitments during the campaign in full knowledge of what they could and could not afford to do.

"So it is beyond disingenuous for the Chancellor to now pretend to be blind to this reality and hope the public forgets what she said." Mr Hunt said Labour pledged 50 times during the election campaign not to raise taxes but capital gains tax, inheritance tax and even pensions relief are all in their sights.

He added: "Doing so, based on a foundation of mistruths and misconceptions, will be the ultimate betrayal of the public and the mandate Labour were elected on.

"And the British people will not forget it."

Ms Reeves will pledge to "fix the foundations of our economy" as she publishes a spending audit she is expected to say will show a £20billion black hole.