SIR Keir Starmer was last night accused of lying to voters as it emerged “working people” will be hit in next week’s Budget.
Labour’s election manifesto promised to freeze rates of income tax, National Insurance and VAT for those hard-pressed Brits.
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But now the PM has warned landlords and shareholders are not covered by the pledge.
And while he put those with “assets” in the crosshairs, Chancellor Rachel Reeves admitted some “working people” will face rises anyway.
She committed only to not hiking “key” levies on them.
Ms Reeves had already spooked employers by saying the NI vow did not apply to their contributions.
Asked to define “working people” Sir Keir told Sky he meant someone who “goes and earns their living, usually paid in a sort of monthly cheque” but cannot “write a cheque to get out of difficulties”.
Pressed if this included people with assets, he said: “Well, they wouldn’t come within my definition.”
Downing Street later backtracked, suggesting he meant those who “primarily get their income from assets” but “not precluding people that have a small amount of savings”.
Shadow Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said: “The Prime Minister has no clue as to what the definition of a ‘working person’ even is. It’s clear that everyone will bear the brunt.
“They planned this all along, they just didn’t have the courage to tell the public.”
Top Tory Claire Coutinho added that Sir Keir “straight up lied” during the campaign.
And, with data suggesting some 30 per cent of landlords still work full-time, industry leader Ben Beadle said: “It is simply not true landlords are not working people.”
