General election 2024: Labour's Sir Keir Starmer refuses to commit to unfreezing tax thresholds

Sir Keir Starmer has told Sky's Beth Rigby he won't commit to tax promises the party can't keep.
Speaking after Rishi Sunak said a general election could be called in the second half of the year, Sir Keir refused to back unfreezing tax thresholds or cutting taxes.
But the Labour leader was firmer on inheritance tax.
He said Labour would reverse any changes introduced by the Tories that "further tax cuts for those that are very wealthy".
Full story: news.sky.com/story/starmer-re...
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[@TheWishp]

Absolutely still no idea what he stands for, why do they even bother interviewing these people, never answer questions and just regurgitate cut and paste statements.

[@daftdigital]

Because they're all in it together. Corbyn has decent policies of the people look how the Tories/media treated him

[@lestrem11]

Boris with a better haircut. He NEVER answers a single question directly. Get rid.

[@speedgoat7496]

Just the savings from stopping corruption, vip lanes, friend family friendly contracts and special tax exemptions will be a good starting point. Not to mention the money disappearing in the bucket loads under project Rwanda.

[@jrobs1133]

They'll be no "savings" under Labour. None at all.

[@speedgoat7496]

Quote 97, things literally can only get better.

[@gary_c2376]

​@@jrobs1133 removing existing tax breaks for millionaires is a saving. Totally feasible Labour will do this as they have only committed to "no taxes on wealth". Recouping money lost to fraud also a strong possibility

[@jrobs1133]

@@gary_c2376 Keeping Labour voters happy is never cheap. They’ll be no savings. None. Spending will go up and taxes will rise. Enjoy your Labour government. Reply to this in five years time.

[@geoffwright9570]

Labour have already allocated more money than the country has to it's pet policys and that's before they get elected

[@chatham43]

....a speech absolutely jam packed with nothing...so vote for us.😊

[@smashingturnips5353]

True !

[@pritapp788]

Hehehe... more of the same. Heavy taxation on those who rely exclusively on their work income to live, light or no taxation on actual owners of wealth (mostly inherited, not the result of work). That's the way it's always been in the UK and Starmer just demonstrates with aplomb that he'll defend the same powerful interests as Sunak and Truss.

[@Alcaza1977]

Starmer will say anything to get into Number 10

[@MattTerrell]

A yes man, a puppet.

[@TheRip72]

An ironic comment since he refused to say yes to any unrealistic promises this journalist tried to get him to make.

[@MattTerrell]

@@TheRip72 I never listen to what the muppet has to say, I wouldn't waste my time !

[@LongEclipse]

TAX THE RICH!!!!! TAX THE RICH!!!!! TAX THE RICH!!!!! TAX THE RICH!!!!!

[@dragonfly6908]

Does this include taxing the rich MP's who are on a basic salary of over £86,000?

[@gary_c2376]

​@@dragonfly6908obviously

[@simonj2612]

@@dragonfly6908obviously 😂

[@JT_Williams]

Weak mentality

[@lestrem11]

Zero ideas, just ridiculous. For Christs sake, don’t let him near a tv camera again.

[@jacobcohen9205]

Capn Hindsight won't give any detailed explanation of what his policies are. Anything to get into Downing Street.

[@OAC184]

Yep

[@user-ts4sy4fd4h]

He has seen Conservatives broke promises, and he doesn't dare to make any promise 😂

[@Harroi]

He has zero ideas!

[@pmarsden89]

let him talk FFS

[@user-wq6sz7vt3w]

Starmer squats over his policies every morning!

[@kat2023.]

Hush Torybot!

[@gordongowland6430]

Starmer certainly does not give me any confidence that he is the man to change anything for the better

[@lizfuller400]

At this time I would prefer Miss Piggie to be PM rather than the TORIES continue with their greed, selfishness, and smearing Labour. I will firmly vote Labour and be proud to do so. I am 76 and care about the poorer people, the unemployed, the nurses, junior doctors, and the shortage of jobs.

[@banishedpest115]

He would be extremely hard pressed to be worse. Tories gotta go.

[@samhodgins9804]

Reform UK for change

[@daftdigital]

He's a corporate puppet. All left wingers got kicked out.

[@samhodgins9804]

@@banishedpest115 check Wales, London, Birmingham where Labour have control to see what Labour are going to be really like

[@garymorgan489]

If he gets in we are in serious trouble

[@jdean399]

More trouble than we are in now?

[@aidandesilva]

he is a vast improvement to what we currently have - so no, we're not in trouble.

[@garymorgan489]

He wants to scrap Brexit for a start

[@TheRip72]

We are in serious trouble right now & the present government is making it worse.

[@callumblake9003]

Get the Tory’s out!!!!!!!

[@JT_Williams]

Get Reform in!!!!!!

[@virumzzgaming]

More nonsense. We need a young authoritative leader who cares little for politician traditions and more about serving the public instead of paychecks.

[@bwilliams572]

Ben Habib (Reform) has stated he will not draw a salary if he gets to be an MP. Thats more like it 🙂

[@Pilky-Bs2Mc]

​@@bwilliams572that is desperation

[@bwilliams572]

@@Pilky-Bs2Mc No it was a statement that he is not in it for the money.

[@jamesdenny5078]

@@bwilliams572 more like the statement of a man that will never be an MP and knows it

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

@@bwilliams572 It's a statement that he has more than enough income from other sources for it not to be an issue for him. He has a net worth of over £50m !!!!

[@The_Bon_Juan]

2 minutes in and Starms has it right. Forget tax, tax can wait but if the economy doesn’t grow Britain’s will continue to be poorer and poorer through an international lens. Meaning everything produced abroad; oil, gas, cars, food, wine, clothes becomes more unaffordable. Raising wages and GDP per capita is the number 1 underlying issue in Britain today.

[@TomG-mh1oy]

As I understand squatting is illegal. If so then why are the police and the bailiffs not in attendance. 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@oliverleonard7730]

Because it's just a silly attack line - he isn't actually illegally living there - everyone knows the leader of the party with a majority of MPs is PM so that is Rishi Sunak he has the support of his party so he isn't illegally living there I agree it's a really stupid thing for Starmer to have said.

[@AjayKumar-kb5cq]

What about ulez

[@theworldsyourlobster1583]

He had his party's as well 🎉

[@petercarr6637]

Was that interviewer related to Liz Truss? Has about the same level of charisma and a weird obsession with tax cuts.

[@bigdee1216]

Why not tax cuts for workers

[@Pilky-Bs2Mc]

What Beth Rigby? She's brilliant at her job

[@NSW-ye3xw]

It doesn't matter whether the government is Tory or Labour, both lie and never deliver on their promises. Yes, we need the tories out. However, what we need is a change to our political system, as it not fit for purpose. I have never seen such corruption as I have seen over the last 14 years.

[@pauldadson3812]

Starmer WANTS and BELIEVES, about as convincing as a tissue safety net 🙄

[@ineedmoreflavour1955]

It’s called being responsible and pragmatic

[@AliAliAliAli]

The sky news comment section should run the country!

[@mattinterweb]

My God we have to get that lying, incompetent rabble out of government, I just wish we had a stronger more visionary alternative. Britain needs significant leadership NOW.

[@Mags7760]

Certainly not thin lipped keir!!!!!

[@ITSWRIGHTY43]

plus sunak not doing anything about the floods in the uk

[@mightyatom1404]

There's only one GOD, or mother nature. It ain't under any man or woman's control. Although I've seen plenty of SRM, Geo -engineering going on. Water will do what water does 😁👍

[@Jamal-Ahmed786]

Where is the money to unfreeze? And it is fair to not give tax cuts until growth happens.

[@damianbutterworth2434]

Might be my savings.

[@lestrem11]

So, no tax cuts then.🤪

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

Unlikely.

[@samhodgins9804]

Labour have no intention to they have got to pursue net zero which is a burden on taxpayers time to vote Reform UK

[@oliverleonard7730]

Good something needs to pay for the NHS

[@dereklee7958]

Don't put them up either then.

[@AjayKumar-kb5cq]

They all stones of one bag

[@rupertharvey4506]

Mr Muppet will do what he is told.

[@samhodgins9804]

We are crying for change but Labour are not that change and will make everything even worse

[@coolhand1966]

Robot.

[@OAC184]

Will he actually announce any policies for the election?

[@ivanconnolly7332]

Sunak must actually like Bojos vile wallpaper.

[@jamesdenny5078]

Grow the economy by re-entering the single market please

[@markhayward7400]

I am not sure this analogy helps Starmer/Labour very much. Squatters have rights and are notoriously difficult to shift! If Labour really does want a General Election earlier in 2024, then they should NOT have talked about it. Sunak, cannot, now, be seen to be caving in to Labour pressure to hold a May 2024 election. There is also a far better way of attacking Sunak's right to tenure in 10 Downing Street. It is that nobody has ever elected him or given him/his Govt any electoral mandate for its policies.

[@davidhodgson3901]

I liked that bit about fighting fire with fire and there’s so much at stake. Absolutely correct. The Tories are desperate and are going to mount a massively funded and vicious campaign.. let’s give the gets the same back plus more.

[@JT_Williams]

Let them bicker and fight, in the mean time Reform is building a real case.

[@OhmMade]

He talks alot but no plan at all, shame really.

[@LawrenceReitan]

Still better than conservatives, they had their fair share of time in command. Time for a change, at least try them and see

[@jacobcohen9205]

He just lost the Granny vote.

[@perolagrande]

But he's got the fanny vote.

[@lasttango7522]

Lost my granny.

[@jacobcohen9205]

@@lasttango7522 Sorry to hear that bud. Grandparents are very important to us all and most are underappreciated. Shalom.

[@sduk451]

Useless. Standard Labour, more tax, more spend. No Vision, no plan, no clue.

[@NebloHideki]

A man who thinks about everything, has nothing to think about except thoughts. This man is a tory in a red tie smh.

[@johngorton5468]

dont vote tory or labour

[@James_Doyle83]

Yes the public didn't vote him in

[@jrobs1133]

Yes, they did. He's the MP for Richmond Yorkshire.

[@kierano8390]

the public have never elected a pm, and he was elected in his constituency

[@bwilliams572]

@@kierano8390 The conservative members elected Johnson and Truss, so yes they do.

[@kierano8390]

mp's are not members of the public, pm;'s have never been elected for the job, only elected as mp's@@bwilliams572

[@jacobcohen9205]

Starmwer will not COMMIT to anything.

[@stayhappybetrue]

keir starmer has put on weight 😂 stressful job his doing

[@blahblahblah6378]

The robot got stuck in a loop on this one 🤣

[@jacobcohen9205]

He says growing the economy is vital and I agree. So why won't he say how he's going to get growth?

[@carmadme]

It will be in the manifesto I should think They can't know what funding will go where until election is called and until they know what budget they will be working under Seems to me far better than promising a load of stuff that they then can no longer deliver on as our economy continues to stagnate there's talk of possibly going into recceccion (although the way our economy is currently behaving is as if we have been in one all year anyway)

[@SlowhandGreg]

​@@carmadmethey still won't be able to budget the uk finances are a complete mess the autumn statement was fantasy land and the next budget will cause chaos with unfunded tax cuts. Sunak and Hunt are either deliberately wrecking the economy or fkin clueless

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

Ironically he doesn't like tax cuts because the poor benefit the least, how is this mindset compatible with growing the economy if he doesn't incentivise ambition ?

[@daftdigital]

We need equality growth, forget shareholders and profiteers

[@daftdigital]

@jjefferyworboys8138 How does giving tax breaks to the rich incentivise?

[@darrenvoysey7734]

but they say they don't know the books...really?

[@michaelray9958]

Believe it when I see it...!!!!!!!

[@benwrong6855]

Kier has stolen and destroyed any voice the working class had

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

I thought the working class were very good at shouting ?

[@SharonaPJ]

We might be crying out for change but it's certainly NOT for the labour party. Definitely NOT. For me, he's just not likeable. Him saying Sunak would be 'squatting' in Downing Street is just desperate.

[@jamesdenny5078]

ok love haha

[@TheExcessus]

what has "likable" have to do with good government?

[@scott9371]

Power for power's sake.

[@yahoo1638]

We need ASAP general election! Sunak don't understanding, or don't wanna understand what he's doing?!!!.

[@poppiefleur7425]

He wont go

[@Pilky-Bs2Mc]

The Tories will force him out or the electorate will. He's going & of that we can count on

[@MilesBellas]

Interviewer falsely believes interruption = power

[@Robert-xy4xi]

Well there is squatters rights 😂

[@Dbz-yo5ct]

Just showed he has no clue in what’s he doing, no planing, no direction of how the growth will come about. Typical politician can’t give a straight answer.

[@korrin897]

😂So no tax cuts

[@TC8787-yq7og]

So depressing and uninspiring

[@sonnybryan07]

Liz truss had the right idea , trying to reform the country to a low tax economy The markets were not ready for change. Nothing will change under labour we need reform

[@simonadshead857]

I was going to comment but I can't be arsed...

[@roonilwazlib3089]

If labour get in I’m cutting my taxes

[@Cc-kn2sm]

Fed up of these clowns who don’t care for the poorest and vulnerable

[@TonyAmore-dp9kx]

the tory library staff at stoke on trent library say they are picking on sir kier starmer and lisa at keele university newcastle under lyme are they taking the piss says sue and simon. to be frank

[@ianhopkins5612]

I zoned out really early on.

[@adrianaspalinky1986]

General Election Please

[@erywst2106]

No chance of Starmer moving in though. The tories are appalling. But the thought of Labour getting in is to dire to contemplate. Thankfully they aren't a credible opposition and are nigh on unelectable. More of the same for yrs to come I'm afraid.

[@jacobcohen9205]

Listening to this compilation of none answers should tell everybody why they shouldn't vote for Starmer's Labour.

[@jamesdenny5078]

Tory vote = losing vote

[@jacobcohen9205]

@@jamesdenny5078 Losing what, exactly?

[@davidantonucci1161]

He doesn’t have to answer s*#t yet he is not the Pm when it’s time he will answer them

[@PhillCurtis]

Surely.. the UK people would want an election early in the year.. so they can choose a direction they want the country to go toward. Get the election done and let's let the people move on mentally. Let people get on with their lives. Let business know what the plan is for 2024. Drag this drama out all year is what the politicians want to do? What about what the people want to do.

[@10minlaterugotdropoed88]

Reform in building regulations, everyone start building and this economy will go up ⬆️

[@TomG-mh1oy]

It's now been confirmed that No10 is a scam call centre !!! 😂😂😂

[@ab8865]

I hope starmer gets a chance to do better for this country. I know hes not perfect. However we dont need more greed, privatisation and everyone is fed up. People cant even put food on there table.

[@GerryT.]

Sunak needs to clarify if the Personal Allowance freeze will remain, because that is what will pay for any tax cut. If indeed it does remain then Starmer will be a fool if he intends to do the same.

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

Income tax is the governments largest source of income, anything other than a very modest increase in the thresholds would cost too much, so it's more likely he will leave for Labour to become the new bad guys.

[@GerryT.]

@@jjefferyworboys8138 O have been wondering why Statmer hasn't been highlighting the affect of this fiscal drag which brings part time,lowest earners gradually into paying tax and Nat.Ins. what it also does is bring non tax paying pensioners who aren't paying tax.i.e. they have a very small private pension as well as State Pension,into paying tax. If Starmer is going to let the freeze on Personal Allowance continue then its a vote loser. He really needs it pointing out that he will be just as bad as Sunak with that policy. What he coukd do is emphasise who brought it in(Sunak) and state he's reversing it.

[@assassinskillz123]

Karl Marx has conquered the world

[@mattyn870]

He needs to deal with the growing wealth economy

[@user-kj1rr9cn2x]

Labore. Labore. ;abore

[@dalebenton3354]

Had a word with all my work mates this morning,Even none of them won't even touch Labour even if they where the last party going,They would fail again

[@paullarne]

It's nonsense - Sunak is not "Squatting" at all, he is completing the term that we voted for in Dec 2019. There's nearly a year left.

[@jamesdenny5078]

I didnt vote for failure or to be held hostage to a government that knows it will lose

[@mightyatom1404]

Was he voted in? I don't remember that!

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

@@mightyatom1404 Neither was Boris or any past PM. We only ever elect a party to form a government.

[@MrHann-ht3qx]

Hi

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

Income tax is the governments largest source of income, in 2022/3 it was £788 billion @ 10% increase on the previous year. Even a small increase in personal allowances would be is very costly. By contrast Inheritance tax raised @ £7bn, the relative cost of increasing thresholds or scrapping it completely, by comparison is tiny.

[@ashleybishton742]

Keirs Gona crash our economy an I can't wait

[@emmanuelofori4205]

"Meet fire with fire" well said our next PM

[@bwilliams572]

The bank of England broke the economy not Truss.

[@mightyatom1404]

💯 the banks run the show, not these political actors 🙄🤡🌎

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

The Bank of England saved the economy, the markets didn't like the Truss unfunded tax cutting mini budget and caused it to crash.

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

@@mightyatom1404 Every economic activity is dependant on the banking system.

[@MsPaulsf]

Anyone voting labour will be getting more of the same

[@IMARMY-qw9fy]

Immediately following this or while this epochal event is drawing to a close, Yajuj and Majuj, formidable beings driven by rage and animosity towards humanity, will be unleashed upon the world. Muhammad Qasim is Mahdi

[@LooneyPoliticsTunes]

Do away with honours too! Starmer may have earned his ! But far to many haven’t ! And let’s not even mention economic vandal Liz and her crony list

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

Ironically his came 3 years after the death of Savile, the man he failed to prosecute thereby saving the establishment.

[@karlkidd6295]

Why didn't Starmer prosecute Blair for war crimes when he was presented with solid evidence, blair loves him for that.

[@mightyatom1404]

They all love each other 🤗

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

What useful purpose would that serve ? Should he then issue an International arrest warrant for George Bush ?

[@Qamar3424]

Can a PM enter No 10 without lying and deflecting questions? Integrity is key.

[@marcusdosh408]

Starmer has zero chance of getting in power

[@dlpjhapppy9714]

We do need a change, a change from the same 2 useless parties called Conservative and labour. REFORM UK 🇬🇧

[@lestrem11]

When is this Pratt going to say how he gets ‘growth’?

[@xjordzx94s47]

Don't care who wins will get rishi out ❤

[@TelTel1890-rw9oy]

Mismanagement of Tories is the absolute joke! But a labour government spineless it’s a lose lose

[@belindastephens8907]

Oh well we'll just get another Tory under Rupert Murdoch

[@oliverleonard7730]

Unless we vote for Labour or the Lib Dems.

[@oliverleonard7730]

The one Labour policy I don't agree with is their plan to not change inheritance tax - I'd by all means keep income tax but I'd change the threshold on when people start paying it to £625,000 as £325,000 in today's money isn't a lot and that's a lot of people paying it. I also wish Labour would push for electoral reform which locks the Tories out of power unless they seriously up their game.

[@paultrickett7717]

HMRC estimate less than 4% of the population pay inheritance tax

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

@@paultrickett7717 They all live in London and the South East and most are very ordinary people.

[@oliverleonard7730]

So therefore it cannot make a lot of money so could easily be done away with then. @@paultrickett7717

[@user-qn8hl7cp8f]

O Lovley more migrants coming

[@user-ej9qe4me8v]

Starmergeddon 👎

[@dsmdsm2186]

Wow he is lame and boring.

[@aidandesilva]

We've had over a decade of "interesting and exciting!" and the country is fucked for it. I'll take boring any day of the year and some.

[@TheUnomosh]

I prefer boring to crazy and incompetent.

[@bwilliams572]

@@TheUnomosh Both parties manage all 3 well enough.

[@Pilky-Bs2Mc]

​@@aidandesilvadamn right. Me too. At least Starmer has integrity That's something the Tories have pissed all over for 14 years and counting

[@samhodgins9804]

@@TheUnomosh he isn't competent though