'Give her axe if she puts up tax'

CHANCELLOR Rachel Reeves must resign or face the sack if she puts up taxes in her Budget on November 26, Conservatives have insisted.

- By Jonathan Walker

Leader Kemi Badenoch said: "If she puts up tax, give Reeves the axe.'

She hit out after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer refused to say that Labour stood by its manifesto pledge not to increase rates of VAT, income tax or national insurance - paving the way for the promise to be broken.

The Chancellor is understood to be considering increasing income tax by 2p, possibly accompanied by a corresponding fall in national insurance. This could mean total taxes on wages remain roughly the same but pensioners - who usually do not pay NI - would face higher charges.