Labour manifesto: Keir Starmer unveils plans to find £7bn in taxes

Sir Keir Starmer was earlier asked by the Daily Mail, in response to an answer he gave at last night's leader's debate: "Did you really think Jeremy Corbyn was going to be a great PM?"

Starmer responded: "You can see what the Conservatives are doing - every day they're putting a new policy, a new gimmick, on the table, which is under-funded. If you make un-funded tax cuts then it damages the economy and working people pay the price.

"I didn't think we would win the last election. I didn't think that we were in a state to win it. That's reinforced by the work we have now done. We were rejected by the country - and the first decision I took was that if you get rejected that badly you don't look at the voter and say, 'What on earth were you doing?', you look at your party and you change it.

"Jeremy Corbyn is now not just not a Labour candidate, he is expelled from this party – that is how much change we have brought around."

Labour’s manifesto pledges “fall short of what is needed to fix the Tories’ broken Britain", political group Momentum has said.

Chairwoman Kate Dove said: “This manifesto shows that a Labour government can make progressive change – and that it needs to make a whole lot more.

“We welcome policies such as ending tax breaks for private schools, public ownership of rail and the repealing of anti-union laws as part of a New Deal for Working People. It is no coincidence that Labour’s most popular policies take on the few on behalf of the many.

“Nonetheless, it is clear that Labour’s current commitments fall short of what is needed to fix the Tories’ broken Britain. If elected, Labour must go much further to fulfil its promise to the British people of change.

“That means bold policies like investment in our struggling public services, NHS and schools, renationalising our water and real action to end child poverty by scrapping the two-child benefit cap and introducing free school meals for all. And it means taxing the wealthiest to help pay for it.

“The public are sick and tired not just of the Tories, but of Tory policies – if Keir Starmer continues down their path, he risks the same fate.”

Starmer, in response to questions on the manifesto spelling out plans to raise £7bn in taxes, said: “The tax rises we’ve set out in the manifesto, there’s no surprises this morning.”

He added: “There are no tax rises that we haven’t already announced. Yes, we want to bear down properly on the non-dom tax status and make sure the super-rich pay their fair share in this country.

“Yes, we want the oil and gas companies to pay fair tax on the massive profits that they’re making. Yes, we want to make sure that private equity loopholes aren’t there … and yes we’ve taken the tough decision in relation to VAT.

“So we will take all of those measures but what you won’t see in this manifesto is any plan that requires tax rises over and above those that we have already set out because we’ve been very, very clear – particularly in relation to working people – no increase in income tax, no increase in national insurance and no increase in VAT.”

On whether he would borrow more, cut spending or increase taxes if his growth plans do not deliver, Starmer earlier said: “This manifesto is a total rejection of that defeatist approach that the only levers are tax and spend.”

Starmer is asked by The Guardian about setting up an ethics and integrity commission within 100 days of taking office, as trust in politics "has never been lower".

"Rishi Sunak has struggled to lead a government of professionalism, integrity and accountability at every level - but can you do any better?"

He responds: "Yes. I've been in public service all my life, I've been held to high standards all my life. I've led from the front. Yes, we will get on with changing the ethics code and guidance codes that are in place straight away.

"I know nobody will believe it's changed until they see the action that follows. You need to take action when people breach those codes. Just as I know when we were changing the Labour party - I said on day one I would rip out anti-semitism by the roots.'

Starmer has said it will be a “hard road” but a Labour government would provide “light at the certain destination”.

He said: “We did the work properly, our responsibility to give a clear direction to businesses, communities, everyone invested in Britain’s future.

“We took that seriously. So yes, those five national missions, safer streets, cleaner energy, more opportunity, the NHS back on its feet. They remain at the core of this manifesto.

“But if they are to offer hope and clarity through these times, if they are to show, despite the hard road, the light at the certain destination then we must keep to that road. No matter the short-term ebbs and flows of politics, even in a campaign.

“That’s what mission-driven government needs. A chance to stop us bobbing along until the next crisis blows us off course and instead make sure we can keep going through the storm.

“Stability over chaos, long-term over short-term, an end to the desperate era of gestures and gimmicks and a return to the serious business of rebuilding our country.”

The Labour leader is now taking questions from journalists, with the first one, from the BBC's Chris Mason, saying that "we live in an era of scepticism, an era of an anti-politics mood".

Starmer responded that the aim is to “build a future which genuinely will be better for our children”.

He went on: “I understand the cynicism, I understand that after 14 years of this for many people the hope has been beaten out of them, but this is a manifesto for hope, it is a plan for growth, a plan for change, a plan for wealth creation.

“I will never accept the defeatism that says we can’t do better than this. We can, we will and, with a Labour government, we will get the opportunity to rebuild our country.”

Starmer said the Tories had “disregarded” some communities as sources of economic dynamism, who have gone “ignored by the toxic idea” that growth is “something the few hand down to the many”.

The Labour leader said: “Opportunity is not spread evenly enough. And too many communities are not just locked out of the wealth we create.

“They’re disregarded as sources of dynamism in the first place. Ignored by the toxic idea that economic growth is something that the few hand down to the many.

“Today, we turn the page on that forever.”

Starmer added that all Labour’s policies are “fully funded and fully costed”, saying it is “non-negotiable” after the chaos unleashed by Liz Truss’s mini-budget.

Starmer is now talking about family, the responsibilities of young people - before his first mention of one of his election catch-phrases - about his father's profession as a tool-maker.

"You can choose to take back control from Westminster. More democracy for your community - more powers over transport, skills, employment - unlock the pride and potential in every community. That is a different choice you can make.

"You can cut your bills for good with a new energy company, funded by a tax on the oil and gas giants, owned by the taxpayer, making money for the taxpayer."

Starmer adds: "I am fed up of politicians lecturing young people on their responsibility to our nation.

"After what young people did during pandemic, what they gave up for people more at risk than them, that adds insult to injury.

"I know what it feels like to be embarrassed to bring your mates home, to see your carpets threadbare, to see your windows broken… what always comforted my parents was the idea that in the end Britain would give their children a fair chance."

Starmer reiterates what is clearly one of Labour's key manifesto takeaways – that they want to be seen as the 'party of wealth creation'.

"If you take nothing else away from today let it be this, this changed Labour Party is pro-business and pro-worker, the party of wealth creation.

"We will reform the planning rules – a choice ignored for 14 years, and we will build the homes and infrastructure you need.

"We will level up your rights at work... and raise your wages and your security. We will create a new industrial strategy, and we will back it with a national wealth fund

Starmer also promises to create "650,000 new jobs, for communities like yours".

"We must change our approach so that it comes from every community. Redistribution can’t be a one word plan for our poorest towns and regions.

"Growth for every community, growth from every community, that is the path to national renewal."

Starmer is now talking taxes, and has promised not to raise taxes for working people.

"I make no apologies for ruling out tax rises on working people", he tells the Manchester audience.

"I don’t believe its fair to raise taxes on working people when they’re already paying this much in a cost of living crisis.

"Let me spell it out. We will not raise income tax, we will not raise national insurance, we will not raise vat - that is a manifesto commitment.

"The way we create wealth in this country is broken, it leaves far too many people feeling insecure.

"We will reform it. Wealth creation is our number one priority, growth is our core business.

"If you take nothing else away from today let it be this - this changed Labour Party is pro-business and and pro-worker, the party of wealth creation."

Sir Keir Starmer hails Manchester as the venue for Labour's manifesto, before going into more detail.

"Today we can turn the page, lay a new foundation of stability, and on that foundation we can start to rebuild Britain.

"A Britain renewed by an old argument - that we serve working people as their ambition drives our country forward.

"There is so much potential in this country, so much possibility, if we stand together as four nations and back the ambition people have for their family and their community.'

"Thank you for coming to Manchester, and thank you for all the hard work that has gone into this campaign so far," Sir Keir Starmer continues.

"Four and a half years of work, changing our party, to put it back into the service of working people.

"And now, the next step – the most important step – changing Britain. Rebuilding our country so that it too serves the interest of working people."

The Labour leader has to the stage to rapturous applause and begins by thanking the previous speakers.

"Taken together, isn't this evidence of a changed Labour Party, and clear evidence of the change we need for our country."

Seconds into his speech, however, a heckler can clearly be heard in the audience.

"Thank you very much," Starmer says, directly addressing the protester in the crowd, who is swiftly led away.

"We gave up being the party of protest five years ago, we now want to be the party of power," he adds, to huge cheers.

"That's not in the script, but it's part of the change."

He said the Labour Party is launching a “manifesto for wealth creation, a plan to change Britain”, adding: “Today we can lay a new foundation of stability and on that foundation we can start to rebuild Britain.”

The last speaker up before Keir Starmer is Holly, an A-Level student who has just turned 18, and is "a new member of the Labour Party".

"Politics is something which affects every aspect of our lives, and this election will determine our lives more than ever before.

"With the COVID pandemic, it often feels as if young people have been forgotten and left behind, especially when lost years of schooling and social interaction.

"At the same time, they had Downing Street parties - something that was hard for many of us to learn, especially for a generation who sacrificed so much of our youth."

The latest speaker is Daniel, who has spoken about his own living situation with his young family in a one-bedroom home which is "basically like a bedsit".

"If you can build a better home environment, you build better people and a better society," he told the audience.

"In the past 14 years we've struggled with turmoil and uncertainty. We need change and the only way to do that is to vote Labour."

Daniel was followed on the stage by another Labour vioter, Nathaniel, who is terminally ill.

He said: "If I had received chemotherapy earlier, I would have had a chance, I represent the human cost of this government's neglect of the NHS. It's too late for me, but it's not too late to call for change."

Angela Rayner has introduced the next speaker, Iceland CEO and former Tory donor Richard Walker, who is now speaking about 'the start of a better future for all of us'.

"Labour will turn our economy to growth. Only Labour can change this country’s trajectory of dismal economic performance," says Walker.

Walker quit the Conservative party last October in a blow to Rishi Sunak. He switched his support to Starmer’s party, accusing the Tories of having “failed the nation”.

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said growth would be delivered “in every corner of the country” under Labour.

She added: “We have changed the Labour Party, and with this manifesto, we can change Britain.”

She said Labour knows “the task at hand is daunting” but promised it would never take power in government “for granted”.

Rayner said: “When we deliver growth, it will be in every corner of the country.”

“Today we publish our plan for the change we need to meet the challenges ahead,” she said.

“Our chance to end the chaos, turn the page and start a new chapter. What we now ask is to make that change a reality.”

Labour leader Keir Starmer and deputy leader Angela Rayner have arrived to begin Labour's manifesto speech. Rayner takes to the stage first, with her first words being: 'Welcome to Manchester - and to the home of the co-operative movement.

"I'm so proud to call this city my home. I've been hearing the country crying out for change - change after 14 years of chaos.'

Gordon Rayner, writing in The Telegraph, said the Sky News debate on Wednesday night was “by far the toughest examination Sir Keir Starmer has undergone on live TV since this election campaign started”.

He said: “Within the space of a few minutes, the Labour leader refused to rule out tax rises and defended his support of Jeremy Corbyn in 2019 by saying he was convinced his party was going to lose.

“He was laughed at, heckled and challenged by the people of Grimsby on a distinctly uncomfortable night for him.

“Sky’s Beth Rigby brought a no-nonsense approach to ceremonies, pushing Sir Keir into places he did not want to go, and repeatedly challenging him on whether he could be trusted.

“She reminded him that he had campaigned for Mr Corbyn, then expelled him; had made a series of Left-wing promises then dumped them, in a career of ‘broken promises and changed positions’.”

Read the full piece in The Telegraph.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is also a former Labour MP, and is this time standing as an independent.

After he was removed from the party, Corbyn decided to contest his seat in Islington North on his own platform for this general election.

While lacking the glitz and glamour of the party launches, Corbyn nevertheless drew up his own ‘Manifesto for the Many’ and revealed its contents on Wednesday on X.

Among the pledges are rent controls, wealth taxes and peace and human rights.

Police have been "made aware of a potential electoral matter" after multiple general election candidates were registered under the name of a YouTube prankster.

Independent candidates under the name Niko Omilana are listed in 11 constituencies across England and Scotland – including Rishi Sunak's seat of Richmond and Northallerton.

Omilana appears to have alluded to the move in a video on his social media channels, in which he says he has "decided to run for prime minister" and wants to "remove" Sunak from politics.

Read the full story on Sky News.