Starmer confronts Badenoch disdain

SIR Keir Starmer yesterday refused to rule out freezing income tax thresholds at the Budget next week.

- PRESS ASSOCIATION REPORTERS

The Prime Minister declined to answer numerous questions from Kemi Badenoch on the issue, which she said would be a breach of Labour's manifesto.

Rachel Reeves was branded the “clueless Chancellor” by the Conservative Party leader at Prime Minister's Questions, as she warned of the “real anxiety” caused by speculation.

The Chancellor is widely expected to raise taxes on November 26 in order to fill a multi-billion-pound gap in her spending plans. Opposition politicians, think tanks and campaign groups have called on Ms Reeves to focus her plans on the wealthiest taxpayers, instead of pursuing broad-based tax rises.

In the Commons yesterday, Mrs Badenoch repeatedly pressed the Prime Minister to confirm whether he will freeze income tax.