Starmer 'taking the British people for fools' over council tax pledge
Keir Starmer accused of ‘taking the British people for fools’ over pledge to freeze council tax as he launches local election campaign – with first signs of party’s poll lead narrowing
- Starmer pledged a hypothetical freeze on bills this year, if Labour was in power
- But he failed to commit to a real freeze if Labour wins the next election in 2024
- Shadow Chancellor: ‘We’ll have to see what the public finances look like’
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was accused of taking voters ‘for fools’ over council tax today as he launched the party’s local election campaign.
The opposition leader pledged a hypothetical freeze on bills this year, if Labour was in power, ahead of the campaign launch in Swindon.
But the Conservatives leapt on the failure of Sir Keir, and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, to commit to freezing bills in real life, if they win an election expected to take place next year.
Ms Reeves this morning told broadcasters there is at least one more budget before the next vote ‘so we’ll have to see what the public finances look like’.
Tory chairman Greg hands said: ‘Labour’s announcement isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. They have no plan to introduce this if elected. They’re taking the British people for fools.’
It came amid signs that Labour’s lead in the polls may be tightening slightly.
The opposition leader pledged a hypothetical freeze on bills this year, if Labour was in power, ahead of the campaign launch in Swindon.
Ms Reeves this morning told broadcasters there is at least one more budget before the next vote ‘so we’ll have to see what the public finances look like’.
It came amid signs that Labour’s lead in the polls may be tightening slightly.
Speaking in Swindon the Labour leader said the move would be funded with a ‘proper’ windfall tax on the profits of the oil and gas giants.
With the party hoping to pick up seats in the May 4 polls in England, Sir Keir sought to contrast Labour’s approach with the Tories’ decision in the Budget to ease pension taxes for the well-off with the scrapping of the tax-free lifetime allowance cap.
Labour claims the Government is effectively forcing local authorities to increase council tax by reducing central funding while giving them additional ‘flexibilities’ to raise taxes locally.
The party says this has resulted in an average council tax rise of 5.1 per cent, topping £2,000 for the first time.
Ms Reeves did today commit to not increasing capital gains tax if she ends up in No11.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, she said: ‘There are people who have built up their own businesses who maybe at retirement want to sell that business.
‘They may not have had huge income through their life if they’ve reinvested in their business, but this is their retirement pot of money.
‘And we also have said we want Britain to be the best place to start and grow a business.’
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