Keir refuses to rule out even MORE brutal tax hikes next year and vows 'I'll defend tough decisions all day long'

10/28/2024 08:06 AM

SIR Keir Starmer today declared he will defend hiking tax rises “all day long”.

At a pre-Budget speech in Birmingham, the PM said that voters have “had enough” of “crumbling public services”, as he refused to rule out more raids in the years to come.

He pledged to turn the page on decades of Tory “chaos” and “decline”, and “get Britain working”.

Sir Keir said: "It is working people who pay the price when their government fails to deliver economic stability.

"I will defend our tough decisions all day long.

“It is the right thing for our country and it is the only way to get the investment that we need."

At his speech the PM confirmed one “tough decision” will be a 50 per cent rise in bus fares.

The £2 bus fare cap will be hiked to £3 in a bid to help plug the £22bn black hole in the public purse.

Sir Keir also announced that Rachel Reeves will pledge £240 million for local services to be spent on getting Brits on benefits back to work.

The PM said: "I fundamentally believe that we need to run towards the tough decisions.

“I fundamentally believe we have to fix the foundations so that we can build a better future and that is tough, that is difficult. 

"But that is why we are taking the decision on Wednesday to do it because it is the right thing to do and it is the right thing for our country.”

The Chancellor's Budget on Wednesday is likely to see inheritance and capital gains tax go up, alongside a two per cent rise on National Insurance paid by employers.

Income tax thresholds will be held beyond 2028, while duties on beer and vapes are set to rise.

But dozens of MPs want Ms Reeves to steer clear of raising fuel duty following a 14-year campaign by The Sun to keep it frozen.