Sir Keir Starmer fails to rule out tax burden rise under Labour

Published

2 years ago

September 17, 2023

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Sir Keir Starmer has refused to guarantee the tax burden – currently the largest since the Second World War – would not increase under Labour.

While the opposition leader told Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme he wanted it to come down “for working people”, his “laser focus” was on growing the economy.

Sir Keir, along with shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, have sought to stress the party’s plans for fiscal prudence in the face of difficult economic conditions.

In the exclusive interview, he also dismissed Conservative Party claims about Labour’s immigration plans as “complete garbage” – after the Tories argued the Opposition’s proposals would increase asylum seeker numbers.

Pressed over the tax burden, Sir Keir declined to give an assurance it would reduce under a Labour government.

He said: “I want it to come down for working people.

“But also, I’m absolutely focused on growing the economy.

“If the economy in the last 13 years had grown at the same rate as the last Labour government, we’d have tens of billions of pounds to spend on our public services without raising a penny more in tax.

“And that’s where I want that laser focus.”

‘The government has been pumping out complete garbage’

Sir Keir also rejected accusations levelled by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary Suella Braverman that Labour was planning to let the UK become a “dumping ground” for 100,000 migrants from the EU each year.

The political row flared after the Labour leader indicated he could be prepared to do a deal with Brussels which would involve the UK taking a quota of asylum seekers who arrive in the bloc in exchange for the ability to return people who cross the English Channel.

Labour has proposed speeding up data and intelligence sharing with Europe as part of a new post-Brexit security pact and strengthening powers to restrict the movement of those suspected of organised immigration crime.

Speaking to Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News, Sir Keir called Conservative claims about his plans “complete nonsense”.

He said: “Let me be absolutely crystal clear about this, because the government has been pumping out complete garbage this week in terms of the numbers that they are suggesting.

“There is obviously an EU quota system for EU members. Well, it’s obvious we are not an EU member.

“We will not be part of that. We are not an EU member. This is why what the government’s saying, it’s been complete garbage.

“And even that scheme within the EU is not working.

“I’ve been discussing that with EU leaders up here.

“That scheme itself isn’t really working very well.

“So the idea that we’re going to join the EU scheme on quotas is complete nonsense.

“We’re not an EU member and that wasn’t what I was talking about.”

The opposition leader also brushed off Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt’s Barbie-based jibe that – like Beach Ken – Sir Keir has “zero balls”.

“I just think when a government has completely run out of energy and ideas and the ability to shape or change anything, they go down this rabbit hole of ridiculous insults.

“It’s water off a duck’s back to me,” he said.

Politics

EthereumMax investors secure partial win in class-action lawsuit

Published

10 hours ago

August 8, 2025

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EthereumMax investors secure partial win in class-action lawsuit

Four state-level lawsuits against three celebrities and individuals tied to the EMAX token may proceed after a California judge’s ruling.

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Funding effort for Roman Storm grows as defense preps for possible retrial

Published

11 hours ago

August 8, 2025

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Funding effort for Roman Storm grows as defense preps for possible retrial

Donations to the embattled software developer increased after Wednesday’s partial verdict and the possibility of a retrial.

Politics

JD Vance warns against UK going down ‘dark path’ of losing free speech during meeting with David Lammy

Published

11 hours ago

August 8, 2025

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JD Vance warns against UK going down 'dark path' of losing free speech during meeting with David Lammy

JD Vance has said he does not want the UK to go down a “very dark path” of losing free speech during a meeting with the foreign secretary at his country estate.

The US vice president has previously raised concerns that free speech is being eroded in the UK.

However, during a two-day visit to David Lammy’s grace and favour 115-room mansion, Chevening House in Kent, Mr Vance kept his criticism a bit more low key.

Asked about free speech in the UK during a televised meeting of the two men, Mr Vance said he has “raised concerns” about free speech in his own country and accused the West of “censoring rather than engaging” with different opinions.

He said: “I think the entire collective West, the transatlantic relationship, our NATO allies, certainly the United States under the Biden administration, got a little too comfortable with censoring rather than engaging with a diverse array of opinions. So that’s been my view.

“Obviously, I’ve raised some criticism, concerns about our friends on this side of the Atlantic.

“But the thing that I’d say to the people of England or anybody else, to David, is many of the things that I worry most about were happening in the United States from 2020 to 2024.

“I just don’t want other countries to follow us down what I think was a very dark path under the Biden administration.”

Mr Lammy, who has struck up the unlikely relationship over the past few months, did not comment on Mr Vance’s indirect criticism.

In February, when Sir Keir Starmer was carrying out a similar televised meeting with Donald Trump in the Oval Office, Mr Vance said “infringements on free speech” now do not just affect the British, but also American tech companies – “and by extension American citizens”.

Sir Keir quickly interjected, saying: “We’ve had free speech for a very long time, it will last a long time, and we are very proud of that.”

Mr Vance and his family are staying with Mr Lammy at Chevening for two days before heading to the Cotswolds for a summer holiday.

The vice president was effusive in his praise for the grand estate that comes with Mr Lammy’s job, saying “being here lifts up the human spirit” as he thanked the “people of England” for having such a “beautiful place for foreigners like me to come and talk about the issues of the day”.

He added that he “loves the UK”.

The two politicians went fishing ahead of their meeting, with Mr Vance revealing he caught a few, while all three of his children caught a fish but Mr Lammy did not.

He also said his children had fallen asleep on the floor of the large house, and his three-year-old daughter kept asking if she would see Mr Lammy’s daughter.

Mr Lammy posted a picture of him and Mr Vance laughing as they fished, saying it was a “real pleasure” to welcome the Vance family and the vice president “gave me fishing tips, Kentucky style”.

JD Vance confirmed he will holiday in Scotland next week in a trip that could see up to 1,000 police officers deployed as part of security efforts.

He confirmed his Scottish trip during talks with Mr Lammy on Friday.

Sky News understands the Vance family are likely to visit Ayrshire, the same area where Mr Trump recently stayed where he secured a trade deal with the European Union.

Police sources have suggested approximately 1,000 officers will be working across the visit to ensure the vice president and his loved ones are safe, Sky News’ Scotland correspondent Conner Gillies reported.

Police Scotland declined to comment on the specifics.

It is understood the Vance family will not be staying at Trump Turnberry, the luxury Ayrshire resort owned by the US president himself.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Planning is under way for a potential visit to Scotland by the vice president of the United States.

“Details of any visit would be for the White House to comment on, however it is important that we prepare in advance for what would be a significant policing operation.”