Labour has indicated its intention to implement additional tax hikes to finance public investment should it come into power, as Chancellor Jeremy Hunt prepares to adopt one of its central revenue-generating proposals.
Sir Keir Starmer is poised to endorse the Chancellor’s proposal to reduce National Insurance Contributions (NICs) by 2p in today’s Budget announcement. This adjustment could potentially save the average worker £450 annually, amounting to £900 when combined with last year’s reduction.
However, the opposition is up in arms, alleging that Hunt is also appropriating its idea of recuperating some of the lost revenue through a significant crackdown on non-domiciled taxpayers.
The Chancellor aims to generate £2 billion by scaling back tax privileges for foreign nationals residing in the UK but holding overseas domiciles to evade UK tax on their foreign income or capital gains.
If confirmed, this move could create a substantial gap in Labour’s economic agenda for governance, compelling the party to seek alternative revenue-raising strategies. Nonetheless, shadow health secretary Wes Streeting has assured that Labour will find the necessary funds.
In an interview with LBC, Streeting remarked, “Everyone in Westminster knows Rachel Reeves is a chess player; she is already several moves ahead of the Chancellor. It will cause us no grief whatsoever.”