Keir Starmer refuses to rule out huge NI tax hike in fiery PMQs clash
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer refuses to be drawn on National Insurance plans.
PMQs: Starmer quizzed on National Insurance by Sunak
Sir Keir Starmer has declined to rule out raising employers’ National Insurance contributions during a clash with Rishi Sunak.
The Prime Minister twice failed to refuse the increases to employer NI contributions at the Budget on October 30.
Mr Sunak told MPs at PMQs today: “When (Sir Keir) talks about security at work, once again, it’s one rule for him and another rule for everyone else.
“But I know that not everything or everyone has survived his first 100 days in Government, so can he confirm that when he promised not to raise income tax, National Insurance or VAT, that commitment applies to both employer and employee National Insurance contributions?”
The Prime Minister replied: “We made an absolute commitment in relation to not raising tax on working people.
“He, of course, was the expert’s expert on raising taxes. What did we get in return for it?
"We got a broken economy, broken public services, and a £22 billion black hole in the economy. We’re here to stabilise the economy, and we will do so.”
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Mr Sunak pressed the Labour leader and asked if the Party’s pledge not to put up NI applied to both employer and employee.
Sir Keir again refused to clarify the situation.
He said: “We set out our promises in our manifesto. We returned with a huge majority to change the country for the better and I stick to my promises in the manifesto.”
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John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Taxpayers will be nervous at the Prime Minister’s refusal to rule out raising employer National Insurance.
“Hiking this tax would lead to businesses hiring less and paying less, damaging the very working people Starmer claims to be on the side of.
“The Prime Minister should stop searching for a cheap way out of his manifesto promise and rule out this rise for good.”
