Britain’s opposition Labour Party will publish its election manifesto on Thursday, leader Keir Starmer told the BBC on Monday.
Starmer who has been heading the Labour party since 2020, told reporters in Essex on Sunday that the party manifesto is a winning manifesto. “ The manifesto is a really good document and I am really looking forward to you seeing it. ”
Labour is on course to win the national election on July 4 according to polls which give Starmer’s party a roughly 20-point lead over the ruling Conservative Party.
The two parties clashed last week after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Labour would raise taxes by 2,000 pounds ($2,500) per household if it came to power. Labour has strongly rejected that figure.
Starmer also told reporters that his party will not be raising taxes on working people. “ This means we won’t be raising income tax, national insurance or VAT.’’
In a fiery television debate, Sunak said, “ He (Starmer) is going to put up your taxes, put up your bills. It is as clear as night follows day.’’
Sunak went on to say that increasing taxes of people is not the right course of action. “ This election is about the future and making people’s lives better. I am clear that I am going to keep cutting people’s taxes as we now our. Independent treasury officials have costed Labour’s policies and they amount to a 2000 pound tax rise.’’
Starmer said on Monday that Labour’s plans were “fully costed” and “fully funded”.
“They (our plans) don’t require tax rises over and above those that we have already set out. So there won’t be any surprises when the manifesto is unveiled on Thursday,” he said.
While delivering the first major speech of the general election campaign two weeks ago, Sir Keir Starmer said that Politics has to be about service. “ If the British people give us the opportunity to serve, then this is their core test- the definition of service. Can you protect this country? This is the foundation- the bedrock, our first steps that our manifesto will be based on.’’
Starmer articulated the slogan, “ Country First, Party Second, I will fight for you.’’
(Additional reporting by Reuters)
