UK
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer signals tax rises coming as he warns of ‘painful’ budget
The October budget will be “painful”, Sir Keir Starmer has said, giving the biggest hint yet of tax rises.
Speaking from Downing Street on Tuesday, the prime minister said: “I will be honest with you, there is a budget coming in October and it’s going to be painful.”
He added: “Just as when I responded to the riots, I’ll have to turn to the country and make big asks of you to accept short-term pain for long-term good. The difficult trade-off for the genuine solution.”
Politics latest: Starmer gives biggest clue yet as to where tax rises may hit
The budget is set to be held on 30 October.
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‘Things will get worse before they get better’
Sir Keir said “those with the broadest shoulders should bear the heavier burden” and “those who made the mess should have to do their bit to clean it up”.
The first group he linked to the scrapping of the non-dom tax status, and the latter to water companies paying fines.
The Conservatives have accused the prime minister of a “betrayal” of people’s trust after he promised not to raise taxes.
Tory leader and former prime minister Rishi Sunak posted on social media: “Keir Starmer’s speech today was the clearest indication of what Labour has been planning to do all along – raise your taxes.”
The prime minister referenced the “£22bn black hole” in the nation’s finances – that he said the Office for Budget Responsibility did not know about – as he took aim at the last government.
“I said change would not happen overnight,” Sir Keir said. “When there is a deep rot at the heart of a structure, you can’t just cover it up… you have to overhaul the entire thing, tackle it at root. Even if it’s hard work or takes more time.”
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Asked by Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby which specific tax rises are being considered, Sir Keir reiterated that taxes on “working people” – like income tax, VAT and national insurance – will not go up.
He added: “We have to get away from this idea that the only levers that can be pulled are more taxes, or more spending.
“Our number one mission is to grow the economy.”
The prime minister was speaking from the rose garden at Downing Street – previously used by Boris Johnson’s adviser Dominic Cummings after he broke COVID lockdown rules, and also where gatherings took place during partygate.
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Dominic Cummings in the Downing Street rose garden in 2020. Pic: PA
This appeared to be a deliberate choice, as Sir Keir said: “This is a government for you, a garden and a building that were once used for lockdown parties.
“Remember the pictures? Just over there? With the wine and the food. Well, this garden and this building are now back in your service.”
Sir Keir has repeatedly blamed the previous government and said it is influencing his decision-making.
This includes the means testing of the winter fuel payments for pensioners.
‘Betrayal of people’s trust
The government’s claims of a £22bn “black hole” left by the Tories have been questioned following substantial pay awards to unions – including to both junior doctors and train drivers.
Sir Keir said he “didn’t want to means test the winter fuel payment”, but it was a choice that needed to be made to “protect the most vulnerable pensioners”.
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Laura Trott, the Conservatives’ shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, said: “The government are no longer promising to protect working people from their incoming tax raid because just like pensioners, working families are next in line for Labour’s tax hikes.
“After promising over 50 times in the election not to raise taxes on working people Labour are now rolling the pitch to break even more promises.
“The chancellor is entitled to raise taxes to pay for her expensive choices and above inflation pay rises demanded by her union paymasters, but she should have had the courage to be honest from the start.
“This a betrayal of people’s trust and we will hold them to account for their actions.”