Labour will not raise income tax if party wins next election, Starmer says

If Sir Keir Starmer wins the next general election, he has vowed not to increase income taxes.

The Labour leader claimed he would avoid increases “across the board” after earlier rejecting a wealth tax on the society’s wealthiest individuals.

He told the Mirror: “We will do nothing to increase the burden on working people, whether it comes to tax or anything else.”

When asked if he would raise the income tax, he responded, “No.”

Since promising to raise income tax for the top 5% of earnings during his 2020 leadership run, Sir Keir has backtracked on tax increases and instead focused on achieving the strongest growth in the G7.

The Labour left lambasted the leadership last month for its decision to rule out a wealth tax of any type if it wins the next election.

With figures worried that the prospect of tax increases or unfilled spending commitments would be used to portray the party as fiscally incapable, the move is intended to deflect Tory assaults.

The ideas are a rehash of what Gordon Brown and Sir Tony Blair pledged to do in the lead-up to their landslide victory in 1997: not raise taxes and continue with tory expenditure for the first two years.

The party’s attempt to re-establish economic growth is expected to be based in large part on planning reforms, which Sir Keir is anticipated to outline at this year’s party conference.

Following the Conservatives’ conference, which will be held in Manchester from October 1-4, it will take place from October 8 to 11.