Starmer Declines to Rule out Manifesto-Busting Tax Rises in Budget

Sir Keir Starmer speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions. House of Commons/UK Parliament/PASir 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).