Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, has refused to make a pledge to end stealth tax raids on workers, despite criticizing the Tories for it.

In a recent interview, Sir Keir acknowledged that the current record high tax burden should not be increased any further. However, when asked if he would consider cutting income tax thresholds to provide relief for workers, he not only ruled it out but downplayed the possibility altogether.

During a new year's speech in Bristol, Sir Keir expressed his readiness to challenge Rishi Sunak in the upcoming elections. However, he faced inquiries about the specific policies his party would be offering to voters.

There has been increasing speculation about the Labour Party's stance on taxation, with reports suggesting that income tax cuts could be included in their manifesto.

During a Q&A session with journalists following his speech, Sir Keir stated, "Before we address the question of tax, we must focus on growing the economy. We have another fiscal event before the election, and we need to assess the situation at that time. However, in principle, I do want to see lower taxes for working people and more money in their pockets."

When pressed further about the possibility of reducing the overall tax burden under his leadership, Sir Keir stated that any tax increases would be announced well in advance of an election. He also emphasized that, given the current high tax burden, he does not believe in increasing it further, except in specific areas that have been identified as priorities.

Furthermore, Sir Keir acknowledged that Labour's £28 billion annual investment in green energy might be scaled back depending on the economic situation. Nevertheless, he criticized the Conservatives' attacks on the plan as "misconceived."

Last year, Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves had stated that the £28 billion figure would be a target to work towards in the second half of the party's first term in power, rather than a guaranteed annual investment until 2030.