Sir Keir Starmer launches Labour ‘manifesto of hope’

Sir Keir Starmer has gambled on growth in British Labour’s manifesto as he rejected warnings from ‘defeatist’ economists that Britain faces five years of spending cuts and tax rises if he wins.

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer and deputy leader Angela Rayner arrive to launch Labour's general election manifesto on Thursday. Picture: Getty Images

Keir Starmer has gambled on growth in British Labour’s manifesto as he rejected warnings from “defeatist” economists that Britain faces five years of spending cuts and tax rises if he wins the election.

The Labour leader described his plans for government as a “manifesto of hope” and a “rejection of cynicism” as he insisted he could defy economic forecasts by overhauling the planning system and attracting billions of pounds in private investment.

However, economists said Labour was part of a “conspiracy of silence” involving all the main parties over the state of the public finances and the trade-offs that would be needed whoever won the general election.

The Labour manifesto, which was launched on Thursday, contained no new policy detail.

Although Sir Keir has said he will not raise the main rates of tax – income, national insurance and VAT – he has repeatedly failed to give the same assurances over capital gains tax, fuel duty and tax relief on pensions.

The Times