Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has defended the Labour Government's position following revelations of a major manifesto U-turn on income tax, insisting that ministers take their promises "very, very seriously" despite the controversial change in policy.
Manifesto Commitment Under Scrutiny
The Labour Government informed the Office for Budget Responsibility late last week that it intends to break its manifesto commitment by raising income tax in the upcoming budget. This represents a significant departure from their pre-election promise not to increase taxes on working people, which specifically covered hikes to national insurance, income tax, or VAT.
According to reports from The Times, Chancellor Rachel Reeves' proposal is included in the government's official submission to the fiscal watchdog, marking the clearest indication yet that Labour will abandon its tax pledge made during the 2024 election campaign.
Government's Defence Amid Criticism
Appearing on Sky News's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme, Lisa Nandy acknowledged the government's commitment to its promises while warning about the necessity of "difficult decisions."
When questioned about whether she agreed with Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell's position that the government should honour its manifesto commitment, Nandy responded: "I agree with Lucy Powell that promises matter. I also agree with her that the situation that this Government inherited is very challenging."
Powell has publicly expressed concerns that the likely 2p increase to income tax would damage "trust in politics" and create additional problems for both the Prime Minister and Chancellor.
Balancing Promises With Reality
Nandy elaborated on the government's position, stating: "We take our promises very, very seriously and we did make specific commitments around tax in the manifesto, but we were also elected on a promise to change this country."
She pointed to the government's record investment in the National Health Service as evidence of their commitment to delivering change, noting that waiting times are decreasing and more appointments are becoming available across various measures.
The Culture Secretary emphasised that while the government is delivering the change people want to see, difficult decisions remain necessary. She concluded firmly: "I'm not going to write the Budget live on air," refusing to provide further details about the upcoming financial announcement.
The controversy emerges as the government prepares its budget against a backdrop of economic challenges, forcing ministers to balance their election promises with the practical realities of governing.
