Starmer declines to rule out election pledge-breaking tax rises in budget after claim Treasury must fill £40bn deficit – UK politics live

Prime minister defends government’s handling of economy but will not give assurances over not raising income tax, employee NI or VAT

Keir Starmer has defended the government’s handling of the economy, but declined to rule out tax rises in the autumn budget.

Speaking to broadcasters on a visit to Milton Keynes today, he also claimed that he did not “recognise” some of the figures in a thinktank report claiming that in the budget in the autumn Rachel Reeves will need to address a deficit of more than £40bn.

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research argues that tax rises will be needed to plug the hole in government finances. (See 9.39am.)

At PMQs last month Starmer said he was still committed to Labour’s manifesto commitment not to raise income tax, employee national insurance or VAT.