Keir Starmer, during the #BattleForNo10 Sky debate, faced intense questioning from Beth Rigby regarding his previous support for Jeremy Corbyn and his stance on future tax policies. Starmer admitted he was certain Labour would lose the 2019 election but campaigned for Corbyn anyway. He repeatedly refused to confirm whether he wanted Corbyn to become Prime Minister. On tax policies, Starmer assured no tax rises for working people, including income tax, VAT, and National Insurance, but did not rule out increases in corporation tax, capital gains tax, and council tax. He also criticized the Conservative Party, stating they are in no position to lecture anyone over tax rises. Starmer received applause from the Sky audience after his remarks on tax policies and leadership pledges.
This is too well constructed as a tweet for the PM to actually have written it himself. https://t.co/FamlkCJ9rz
Keir Starmer, on potential future tax rises, gives the same refusal to rule out that he did to @PippaCrerar this week: "I’m not going to sit here tonight and write the next five years of budgets and you wouldn’t take me seriously if I did."
Keir Starmer tells the Sky audience: “No tax rises for working people.” He says that includes income tax, VAT and NI. But it doesn’t include corporation tax, CGT, council tax.
🚨 NEW: Keir Starmer receives an applause after saying the Tories "are in no position to lecture anyone over tax rises" #BattleForNo10
Starmer v @BethRigby — tough start grilled on support for Corbyn and broken leadership pledges — and he doesn’t rule out tax rises — but he insists says he’s different from “previous Labour leaders who have pulled the tax lever every single time and driven up spending”
Starmer gabbling after being skewered by Beth Rigby on saying Corbyn would be a great PM and then dumping most of his leadership contest pledges in 2020. Awkward! 😬
This is a much more difficult Q for Keir Starmer - he can say he didn't believe Corbyn would win the election and people may accept that - but Starmer then went on to pitch for Labour leadership with v similar promises to the manifesto he said had no chance of winning...
Keir Starmer can't say if he meant it when he said Corbyn would be a brilliant PM. Insists repeatedly he didn't think Labour would win the last election. "Have I changed my position on those pledges? Yes I have. I changed my mind, it was too expensive."
So Starmer says he endorsed Corbyn because he knew he was going to lose… but that doesn’t add up because after Corbyn lost he ran a leadership campaign on a far left Corbyn ticket 😂 Slippery Starmer on full display
#Skydebate Sir Keir Starmer getting a proper grilling from @BethRigby from the off on his previous support for Corbyn - Sir Keir says he was certain Labour would lose the 2019 election.
Keir Starmer challenged repeatedly on why he campaigned for Jeremy Corbyn to be PM in the 2019 election. "I was certain we would lose."
🚨 NEW: Keir Starmer was "certain" Labour would lose the 2019 election #BattleForNo10
#Skydebate Sir Keir Starmer getting a proper grilling from @BethRigby from the off on his previous support for Corbyn - Sor Keir says he was certain Labour would lose the 2019 election.
Keir Starmer appears to be saying that the reason he supported Jeremy Corbyn and campaigned for him to become PM, is because he didn't think Corbyn would win..
Eeek - Keir Starmer tells @BethRigby he was "certain we would lose" the 2019 election but says he campaigned for Labour anyway under Jeremy Corbyn
Eeek - Keir Starmer says he was "certain we would lose" the 2019 election but says he campaigned for Labour anyway under Jeremy Corbyn
Starmer tells Beth R on Sky interview: "I was certain that we would lose the 2019 election." Repeatedly refuses to say that he wanted Corbyn to become PM.
“Keir Starmer is about to bestride British politics like the colossus no one thought he was” @robertshrimsley https://t.co/ECHO2WQdiD