Starmer Dodges Questions on Potential Tax Increases, Citing Conservative Economic Legacy
During Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) today, labor leader Keir Starmer declined to definitively rule out tax increases in a future Labour budget, sparking scrutiny from Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch. Teh exchange centered on whether Starmer would adhere to pledges made in his party’s manifesto regarding taxation.
The questioning follows an ongoing review of British economic productivity, expected to reveal a downgrade and potentially create a fiscal shortfall for the Chancellor. Starmer attributed the anticipated negative findings to the economic record of the Conservative goverment, arguing the review serves as a “judgment on their record in office.” This comes as the government faces pressure to address potential budget gaps and outline its fiscal plans.
Badenoch pressed starmer on a previous response from July 9th, when Prime minister Rishi Sunak answered “yes” when asked if taxes would rise, a response Badenoch characterized as delivered with a ”smug grin.” She questioned what had changed in the intervening four months to prompt Starmer’s more cautious approach.
Starmer countered that he would not preemptively disclose Labour’s budget plans, but emphasized that the productivity review’s findings “confirm that the Tories did even more damage to the economy than we previously thought.” He asserted that his party is already demonstrating economic improvement, citing “the fastest growth in the G7 in the first half of this year,” alongside “five interest rate cuts in a row” and recently secured trade deals with the US, EU, and India.
Concluding his remarks, Starmer stated, “They broke the economy, we’re fixing it.” The exchange highlights the growing political debate over economic policy and the potential for shifts in fiscal strategy as the next general election approaches.
