The Conservatives’ evaluation of Labour’s tax proposals “should not be presented as having been produced by the civil service,” according to the top Treasury civil servant. James Bowler, the permanent secretary of the Treasury, told the BBC in a letter to the Labour Party two days ago that the £38 billion in uncosted spending that the Conservatives were using “includes costs beyond those provided by the civil service.” Rishi Sunak’s assertion at Tuesday night’s head-to-head debate that Labour’s plans would result in £2,000 tax increases per working household could be undermined by the letter. The prime minister was accused of lying by Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor.
She reiterated that the party has ruled out raising the rates of income tax, national insurance, and VAT, saying, “Labour has no plans to increase taxes on working people.” Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of Labour, called the data “absolute garbage” during the discussion.
