The Tories claimed Labour is not “being honest” about its tax plans as Sir Keir Starmer prepares to unveil his party’s manifesto.  

Sir Keir will set out his policy plans for the UK at an event in Manchester later this morning and he will attempt to rebut attacks on tax by insisting that “wealth creation” would be his priority in Downing Street. 

But Richard Holden, the chairman of the Conservative Party, claimed Labour is “refusing to say what they would really do because they know it would lose them votes”. 

He repeated a disputed Tory claim that Labour would have to put up taxes by more than £2,000 to pay for its policies and said: “Labour aren’t being honest with the public; they are refusing to say what they would really do because they know it would lose them votes.

“Labour will tax your family home, tax your pension, tax your job and tax your car and drag pensioners into the retirement tax. Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner are asking for a blank cheque and it’s becoming clear what he wants to do with it - put up your taxes.”

Labour’s manifesto is expected to rule out rises in income tax, National Insurance, VAT and corporation tax. But it will not rule out increases in council tax, fuel duty and capital gains tax.

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