The Labor leader will hit out at the “hypocrisy” of those who served in Boris Johnson’s government, saying they were “recruited through election lobbies” to support tax rises despite being “opposed to them all along”. It comes after Jeremy Hunt and Sajid Javid both said they would not only scrap the former chancellor’s plans to raise corporation tax from 19% to 25% in April, but cut the rate to 15%, in separate leadership bids . In addition, Mr Javid said he would scrap the government’s controversial rise in national insurance, bring forward a planned 1p income tax cut for next year and introduce a further “significant” temporary cut in fuel duty. Sajid Javid and Jeremy Hunt both said they would scrap the former chancellor’s plans to increase corporation tax (Chris Jackson/PA) (PA File) Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, newly appointed Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, Transport Minister Grant Shapps, Attorney General Suella Braverman and former minister Kemi Badenoch have also pledged to cut taxes. All but Mr Hunt served in the outgoing prime minister’s government before it fell, when they were obliged to publicly support government policy under the principle of collective responsibility. Delivering a speech in the North East on Monday, Sir Keir is expected to say: “I can’t believe what we’re hearing from the candidates to be the next Tory leader. “The vast majority of them served in Boris Johnson’s government. Hypocrisy is nauseating.” Sir Keir will also accuse those seeking the top job of “fantasy finance”. He will say: “Over the weekend, candidates have made more than £200bn of unfunded spending pledges. Let it sink in. The vast majority of them served in Boris Johnson’s government. Hypocrisy is nauseating Sir Keir Starmer “This is more than the annual NHS budget, splashed across the pages of the Sunday papers, with no word on how it will be paid for. “I can tell you now – you will never get that from me. When I say decency and honesty matter, that means being honest about how we finance every thing we promise you.” He will argue that Labor will “explain every pound” of its promises when it holds the next general election. “When I say we will pay for children to get to school early, I’m also saying it will be funded by scrapping the charity status of private schools,” he will say. “Or when I say we need to fix mental health treatment in this country, I’m also telling you we’re going to do it by closing the tax loopholes used by hedge funds. Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer (Kirsty O’Connor/PA) (PA Wire) “We will explain every pound why Labor will fight the next election on growth. And the first line of the front page of our offering will be about wealth creation.” Sir Keir will claim Britain is “stuck” with a “tank economy”, with taxes rising and food and energy bills “out of control” and promise a “fresh start” with a Labor administration. “Only Labor can restart our economy and end the cost of living crisis. Only Labor can revitalize our public services and revitalize our communities. Only Labor can unite the country and clean up politics,” he will say. “These three tasks will define my government, because until we address them, we leave ourselves vulnerable to the shocks and crises we have all suffered over the past decade.”
