NO TAX HIKES FOR WORKERS TO FUND INCREASED DEFENCE SPENDING SAYS STARMER

THE government will not raise taxes on working people to fund increased defence spending, the Prime Minister has told GB News.

He also said plans to reform the welfare system will go ahead, despite the opposition of over 100 of his own MPs.

Asked if taxes would have to rise to fund more spending on defence, Sir Keir Starmer told GB News: “Let me first of all reassure your viewers that the first duty of the UK Prime Minister is the safety and security of our citizens, and that’s a duty I take extremely seriously.

“We’ve already increased our defence spend to 2.5% in 2027 and I’ve been absolutely clear where the money for that comes from.

“We’ve cut the overseas development aid budget and we will now make commitments, NATO commitments, to 5%.

“That includes a resilience element that we’re already spending, but it is important that we make that commitment for the long term security of our country.

“We had a commitment to reassure your viewers in our manifesto that we wouldn’t raise taxes on working people and we intend to keep to that commitment.“

Asked what his message would be to Labour MPs who are opposed to the government’s plans to cut the welfare budget, he said: “The principles I brought to this are that those that need protection must have protection and support.

“Those that can work should work and should be helped into work, but we must have a welfare system fit for the future and the current model doesn’t work.

“It desperately needs reform. It leaves people trapped and not able to get into work and so we need to reform it, and that’s what we will do.”