Prepare yourselves for unpleasant reality, Starmer warns

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Prepare yourselves for unpleasant reality, Starmer warns

Ahead of a budget he claimed would repair deteriorating public services and spur economic growth, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will declare on Monday that he should be evaluated on his capacity to address the "unprecedented" economic issues he inherited. 

In a speech before to the unveiling on Wednesday, Sir Keir Starmer will state that although the budget will embrace the "harsh light of fiscal reality," "better days are ahead." 

The prime minister is likely to vow that the government will "run towards them" while warning of "unprecedented" economic obstacles as Labour gets ready for its first budget in nearly 15 years. 

A raise in the National Insurance (NIC) rate paid by employers is one of several anticipated tax increases that the government is scheduled to announce. Some argue that this goes against Labour's manifesto promise to keep taxes for "working people" from rising. 

Sir Keir has been charged by the Conservatives as leading a "broken 

Sir Keir will contend that the nation faces an "unprecedented" crisis of poor public finances and "crumbling public services" during a speech in the West Midlands on Monday. 

Taking on "the tough decisions" is what he will pledge to do. 

With Rachel Reeves asserting that the Tories had left a £22 billion "hole" in the public budget, speculation has been mounting over the tax increases the chancellor will unveil on Wednesday. 

Sir Keir will respond: "We choose a different path: honest, responsible, long-term decisions in the interests of working people." 

The anticipated decision to prolong the income tax threshold frozen past 2028 and the ambiguity surrounding the definition of "working people" have both drawn criticism towards the Labour party. 

In its manifesto, the party made a commitment to refrain from raising taxes on working people, specifically excluding increases in income tax, national insurance, and VAT. 

Since then, however, officials have under pressure to clarify what it entails. 

Senior Minister Pat McFadden stated that it was improper to examine "income levels and job descriptions".

"When we discussed working people, we brought up our manifesto pledges that the taxes on wages paid by individuals would not increase once the chancellor takes office." 

Voters may anticipate "the most honest Budget on Wednesday that you've had in many years," he continued. 

"We're going to end the fiscal fiction of things being announced which no money had set aside for them." 

The argument against raising taxes on working people was also deemed a "terrible illusion" by the former governor of the Bank of England, Lord King of Lothbury. 

"Ultimately, they fall on the amount that people can spend and you only can raise significant amounts of money by raising taxes on most people, however you care to define that, but it’s most people will have to pay higher taxes," he stated. 

As the chancellor is expected to prolong the income tax threshold freeze, which is currently scheduled to expire in April 2028 and results in people being forced to pay higher rates through a phenomenon known as "fiscal drag," critics have claimed that employees will also bear a heavier burden. 

Last week, Reeves signalled that businesses would face an increase in National Insurance, when she said Labour's election pledge not to increase contributions on "working people" related to the staff element, as opposed to the sum paid by employers.

The government is also reportedly looking at increasing tax on asset sales, such as shares and property, as well as changing its own self-imposed rules on how its debts are measured in order to free up money for spending on infrastructure projects.

Speaking to Laura Kuenssberg programme, shadow science secretary Andrew Griffith said Labour had "essentially lied to the British people in terms of their plans".

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will soon start to lay the ground for Wednesday's announcements - Labour's first Budget for 14 years.

So let's take a look at what the Budget might include:

• National Insurance contributions by employers: There have been strong indications these contributions might be raised

• Income tax and NI thresholds: After being frozen in 2022, thesewere due to start rising again each year from 2028, but the chancellor might extend the freeze

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• Capital Gains Tax (CGT): There has been conjecture that these rates, which are levied on the profit from the sale of assets that have increased in value, could be raised. • Inheritance Tax: There are challenges to several exemptions that impact how much inheritance tax individuals must pay. 

• Stamp duty: Since 2022, the threshold for stamp duty, which is paid if you purchase real estate or land for more than a specific amount, has increased. • Pension taxation: The chancellor could increase revenue by altering the way private pensions are taxed. Labour has made no promises to prolong these 

• Non-dom tax status: Then-Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said in the March Budget that non-dom tax status will be eliminated. Labour has stated that it wishes to make these measures more rigorous. 

• Fuel duty may increase on Wednesday after not increasing in over ten years. 

Following the release of CCTV evidence that seemed to show MP Mike Amesbury beating a guy to the ground, he was suspended from the Labour Party. 

Additionally, the Labour whip has been removed from him, allowing him to serve in Parliament as an independent MP.

The victim is seen lying in the roadway in the video, and it appears that Runcorn and Helsby MP are still hitting him. 

According to Cheshire Police, a 55-year-old man was released pending additional investigation after willingly participating in a cautionary interview on the incident. 

We've reached out to Amesbury for comment. 

It follows a different video that was uploaded on X and allegedly showed Amesbury yelling and cursing at the man who was lying in the roadway in Frodsham, Cheshire. 

"Mike Amesbury MP has been assisting Cheshire Police with their inquiries following an incident on Friday night," a representative for the Labour Party stated.The Labour Party has administratively suspended Mr. Amesbury's membership in the party while these investigations are still underway. 

Additionally, he no longer has the position of Labour whip in the Commons. 

The events leading up to the scenes captured on camera are unclear. 

Amesbury can be heard yelling, "You won't threaten the MP ever again, will you?" in the first tape. 

Cheshire Police said in a statement prior to footage's release: "Police were called to reports of an assault in Frodsham at 02:48 BST on Saturday, October 26."A caller said that a man had attacked him on Main Street. Investigations are still being conducted. 

The 55-year-old backbencher wrote on his personal Facebook page on Saturday: "After spending an evening with friends, I felt threatened and was involved in an incident last night."I personally called Cheshire Police this morning to report the incident. 

"I will not be making any further public comment but will of course cooperate with any inquiries if required by Cheshire Police." 

Although the CCTV tape was "very graphic," senior minister Pat McFadden stated that he preferred to "let the police do their job and reach a conclusion before I say I anything more." 

Amesbury "has questions to answer about his actions," according to a Conservative Party spokeswoman, who also said it was "right they are thoroughly investigated." 

He was urged to step down by a representative for Reform UK, whose candidate finished second to Amesbury in the general election held in July. 

The CCTV footage was described as "horrendous" by former Conservative MP Dehenna Davison, whose father was killed by a single blow. "The police are investigating and I am sure the full facts will emerge soon," she wrote in a post on X.In order to increase awareness of the risks that a single punch can cause, I have worked with One Punch UK for years. 

"Such violence - whatever the background to the altercation - is never and should never be justified." 

Amesbury was a shadow minister from 2018 until 2024 before becoming a Cheshire Labour MP in 2017. 

With a majority of 14,696 votes, he won his constituency in the general election held in July. 

A 56-year-old man was convicted in July 2023 of stalking and harassing Amesbury around town and at his constituency office.