Chancellor Rachel Reeves has defended her recent budget, insisting she has kept all manifesto commitments despite Conservative claims to the contrary. In a Commons speech on Wednesday, Reeves stated: “I have cut the cost of living – with money off bills and prices frozen – all while keeping every single one of our manifesto commitments.”
However, the claim has been challenged by opposition leader Kemi Badenoch, who accused Reeves of breaking promises on taxation. The chancellor had pledged not to raise national insurance, VAT, or income tax, but critics argue that two of these have effectively been increased.
Badenoch responded directly to Reeves’s statement, saying: “Because taxing your home, your car, your savings and your pension was not enough, the chancellor has, by her own admission, broken her manifesto promise on income tax.” The exchange highlights a growing dispute over the government’s fiscal integrity.
The budget has sparked debate about whether the government is adhering to its pre-election pledges, with both sides presenting conflicting interpretations of the measures announced.
