UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has declined to commit to a previous pledge not to raise taxes on working people ahead of a budget next month, saying upcoming forecasts would show the economy was in a worse state than thought.

Economists have said finance minister Rachel Reeves may have to break the government's promise and raise income tax, a move that would break the commitment Labour made to voters ahead of the election in 2024.

Conservative Party opposition leader Kemi Badenoch asked Starmer if he stood by his promise not to increase income tax, social security contributions or value added sales tax.

Starmer said the government would lay out its plans in the budget on November 26.

Badenoch said he had given the single-word answer "yes" when asked exactly the same question in July.

See Full Page