Starmer defends Budget decisions

SIR Keir Starmer has said that the Budget “asked everybody to make a contribution” in order to protect public services and to help people struggling with the cost of living.

- SOPHIE WINGATE

Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Budget on Wednesday put Britain on course for a record tax burden as she hiked levies by £26 billion, after weaker economic forecasts left holes in earlier spending plans.

The Prime Minister yesterday argued that his Government had “done the least possible we can” to impact people and had “done it in a fair way”. The increases were also needed to pay for increased welfare spending, with the abolition of the two-child benefit cap costing £3 billion a year by 2029/30.

Sir Keir said he was “not going to apologise” for taking 450,000 children out of poverty, as he hit back at claims the measure was announced to appease restive Labour MPs.