Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury James Murray was grilled by GB News' Eamonn Holmes about Sir Keir Starmer appearing to hint at tax rises.
Labour's manifesto stated the party would not increase taxes on “working people”, leading many to question how such people were defined.
Starmer said yesterday he means those who have a job, rely on public services and do not have meaningful savings.
Eamonn questioned Murray over whether his boss is blurring the lines between ‘working people’ and ‘poor people’, as the former “comes in all shapes and sizes”.
Asked about Starmer’s “narrow definition” of what a working person is, Murray said those who fit in the bracket are the people who have “suffered most” under 14 years of Tory leadership.
Eamonn Holmes grilled Murray on GB News
GB NEWS
“Working people are some of those who have suffered most with 14 years of Conservatives”, he said.
“The tax burden is at a 70-year high, wages are stagnant and economic growth is on the floor and working people across the country realise the impact of the Conservative decisions they’ve had.
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“So many people at this election, even those who have voted Conservative before, now want a change.”
Eamonn hit back, branding Murray’s comments a “load of rubbish” as he demanded a clear explanation of Starmer’s definition.
“So many people are working people, it doesn’t just take sweat on your brow”, he said.
“If you mean poor people, say poor people, because working people come in all shapes and sizes.”
James Murray joined Eamonn and Isabel on GB News
GB NEWS
Murray acknowledged that people on middle incomes are also experiencing hardships, adding “It’s not just people with the least amount of money”.
Eamonn interjected to assert “that’s not what your boss is saying”.
He added: “Your boss is saying these are people who cannot afford to write a cheque, so what he means is poor people.”
The shadow minister sought to defend Starmer’s position, saying there are many who don’t feel they have the resilience to pull through a potentially difficult financial situation were it to come their way.
Keir Starmer is under more scrutinyPA“People who don’t have great resilience if they are hit by a shock may not have the resilience to get through”, he said.
“People feel more precarious now because of the economy and wages are flatlining and tax is so high.
“People want greater security and that’s absolutely right, they want security to know that if something unexpected were to come along, people are not going to be knocked off course.”