Sir Keir Starmer has stated that there are no plans for further tax rises before the next general election, although he acknowledged that unforeseen circumstances could force a change. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, he outlined six key pledges, including a commitment to improve living standards for working people. Sir Keir admitted some decisions may be unpopular but said voters could judge his leadership based on whether their lives improved by the end of this parliament.
The pledges include ambitious goals such as building 1.5 million new homes in England, reducing hospital backlogs, and ensuring 75% of children are "ready to learn" when starting school. Labour has denied that these targets signal a government reset, following its first Budget in October, which increased public spending by £70bn. Over half of the funding will come from higher taxes, including increased National Insurance contributions and capital gains tax, raising concerns among businesses about reduced capacity to offer pay rises or create jobs.
In his interview, Sir Keir defended the government’s focus on taking tough decisions early to "turn the country around," even at the cost of his popularity. He emphasised the importance of sustainable, realistic policies rather than "empty promises" and said that progress would be evident by the end of the parliament, although immediate improvements were already being felt by many low-income workers.
On housing, Sir Keir described a plan to build 1.5 million new homes as part of a "golden era of building" to tackle the UK’s housing crisis. While critics, including Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, dismissed the pledges as unachievable, Sir Keir argued that decisive planning reforms were essential to overcome bureaucratic barriers and deliver much-needed homes.
