Monday 26 September 2022 01:02 AM Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham differ with Keir Starmer over new rises trends now
Labour's tax policy descended into chaos yesterday as two senior figures contradicted Sir Keir Starmer over the 1p cut to income tax.
On the first day of the party's annual conference in Liverpool, Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, echoed deputy leader Angela Rayner by saying he would reverse cuts to both the basic and top rate of income tax.
But moments later, Sir Keir confirmed he backed Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng's decision to slash the basic rate from 20p to 19p in the pound.
Mr Burnham told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday that it was not 'the most targeted way of using the resources that we've got at this moment in time'.
Moments later, Sir Keir confirmed he backed Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng's decision to slash the basic rate from 20p to 19p in the pound
'That's my position, I don't think it was a time for tax cuts. I think this is a time to support people through a crisis.'
Mr Burnham branded Friday's mini-Budget as 'the most flagrant act of vandalism on the social cohesion of our country', adding that the Government had 'drawn battle lines with ordinary working people'.
But just half an hour later, Sir Keir said he supported Mr Kwarteng's decision to cut the basic rate of income tax, paid on earnings between £12,571 to £50,270, from April.
'I've long made the argument that we should reduce the tax burden on working people,' he told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme.
'That's why we opposed the national insurance increase earlier this year, which of course the Government is now reversing.'
But the Labour leader said he would reintroduce the top 45p rate of income tax, paid by the highest earners, if he won the next general election.
Mr Burnham branded Friday's mini-Budget as 'the most flagrant act of vandalism on the social cohesion of our country', adding that the Government had
