Amid crucial White House discussions, Sir Keir Starmer neither confirms nor rules out further tax rises and spending cuts
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has declined to clarify whether his government plans to raise taxes or introduce further spending cuts ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spring Budget on 26 March.
When asked about the possibility of tax increases, Starmer refused to specify which economic measures might be implemented. The Autumn Budget had already introduced £40 billion in tax rises, alongside cuts to the winter fuel allowance and several other social programmes.
“I am not going to say in advance what we might or might not do,” Starmer said on Thursday.
His remarks come as the prime minister travels to the United States today for one of the most significant meetings between Downing Street and the White House in recent history. During the discussions, he is expected to urge Washington to provide additional backing for Ukraine to deter further Russian aggression in Europe.
Meanwhile, Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer has called on Starmer to set “clear red lines” regarding what she described as Donald Trump’s threat to Palestinian territories. In January, Trump suggested “clearing out” Gaza as either a temporary or long-term measure to bring stability to the Middle East.
