UK: Chancellor Reeves Refuses to Rule Out Breaking Tax Pledge

Published 1 day ago·Updated 17 hours ago

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Above: Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves in London, England, on Nov. 4, 2025. Image copyright: USTIN TALLIS/POOL/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Left narrative

Britain faces a budget shortfall and decades of economic stagnation that demands serious action, not wishful thinking. Income tax increases are necessary to fund world-class healthcare in an aging society while ensuring pensioners contribute fairly after benefiting most from NHS spending. Breaking manifesto pledges is justified when confronting the harsh reality of Britain's fiscal crisis.

Cat Hobbs on X Guardian

Right narrative

Reeves repeatedly promised not to raise income tax, National Insurance or VAT on working people throughout 2024 and 2025, calling it a firm manifesto commitment. She's now breaking these sacred pledges after claiming the difficult decisions were "once in a generation" and she wouldn't "come back for more." This represents a complete betrayal of voter trust and proves Labour has no credible economic plan.

The Telegraph

Piers Morgan on X