Starmer declines to commit to tax pledges

SIR Keir Starmer has declined to say he would stand by Labour's manifesto pledge not to raise VAT, income tax or national insurance in next month's Budget, as he cited a grim economic backdrop.

- PRESS ASSOCIATION REPORTERS

SIR Keir Starmer has declined to say he would stand by Labour's manifesto pledge not to raise VAT, income tax or national insurance in next month's Budget, as he cited a grim economic backdrop.

The Prime Minister said the Government will "lay out our plans" at the November 26 statement, as he sought to blame the previous Tory government for worse-than-expected productivity forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) fiscal watchdog.

He has previously said the commitment Labour made to voters before the 2024 general election "stands", but he failed to repeat that assurance in the House of Commons and his press secretary also avoided using the phrase.