January 7, 2025

British Prime Minister and current Conservative Party leader Rishi Sunak (left) and opposition Labor Party leader Sir Keir Starmer. Politicians went toe-to-toe on Tuesday in the first face-to-face debate ahead of the July 4 election.

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LONDON — Taxes emerged as a key battleground in the first live televised debate in the British general election as party leaders addressed public concerns about the cost of living crisis.

Rishi Sunak, the current Conservative leader who is trailing in the polls, said the opposition Labor Party’s policies would be equivalent to a tax increase of 2,000 pounds ($2,553.73) for “every working family”, based on analysis by independent Treasury officials. Dollar) .

“I’m clear I will continue to cut people’s taxes as I am now… Mark my words, Labor will raise your taxes, it’s in their DNA. Your job, your car, your pension gold.

he repeated New Conservative Party Promise Increase the UK’s tax-free pension benefits through the “triple lock” scheme.

Labor leader Keir Starmer said the calculation of the £2,000 was “based on policies set out by the Labor Party”.

Starmer said his party would only deliver “full cost” policies and would raise money through policy changes Carry interest tax rules On private equity, completion of so-called closing “Non-dom” tax system, End tax breaks About independent schools and Increase windfall profits tax About oil and gas companies.

Starmer accused the Conservatives of damaging the public finances during Liz Truss’s term as prime minister in 2022. Prime Minister resigned after only 45 days in office.

He also said the Conservatives had raised taxes to Hit a 70-year high.

When asked by ITV News’ debate moderator Julie Etchingham, both leaders said they would not raise income tax or national insurance (a general tax) during the next parliament.

Movement tracking

Late last month, Sunak surprised politicians and the public alike by announcing an election for July 4.

The parties have since gone into campaign mode alongside smaller rivals such as the Greens, Lib Dems, SNP and SNP. Reform Party.

While an official manifesto is yet to be released, the Conservatives have pledged national services to school leavers, pushed ahead with their controversial plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda and improve existing Tax-free pension benefits.

Analysts say UK election looks 'difficult' for Conservatives

Labor Party promise These include creating a new UK publicly owned energy company, taking train operators into public ownership and raising the minimum wage.

Both sides pledge to cut long waiting times for UK patients struggle National Health Service.

Under Starmer and his shadow finance secretary Rachel Reeves, Labor won the business vote and experienced a major shift towards the political centre. This caused controversy among some supporters, and the leadership accused of exclusion A political candidate from the left wing of the party.

British Prime Minister Sunak issued a statement outside No. 10 Downing Street in the rain, announcing that the British general election will be held on July 4 and May 22, 2024 in London, England.

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A victory for Labor would mark its first parliamentary majority in 14 years.

Polls have Some time Labor had long believed it would win the general election after the Conservatives’ support plummeted following a series of scandals during former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s tenure.

Since Johnson resigned in July 2022, the party has failed to gain public support.

Sunak experienced a period of relative political stability after Truss’s brief period in power, but Opinion polls still show There was a high degree of dissatisfaction with his premiership.

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