UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Refuses to Commit to Ending Tax Freeze That Hurts Workers
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During Prime Minister's Questions, Keir Starmer sidestepped calls to end the regressive freeze on income tax thresholds, fueling concerns that the Labour government may continue policies that disproportionately burden working people while sparing the wealthy.
During Prime Minister's Questions on November 19, 2025, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was challenged by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch over the government's willingness to extend the deeply unfair freeze on income tax thresholds. Badenoch demanded clarity on whether the government would honor its previous promise to end the freeze by April 2028, a policy that has already squeezed ordinary workers for years. Starmer, however, evaded the question, stating only, "The budget is one week today and we will lay out our plans," refusing to provide any real assurance to those struggling under the current system.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to present the budget on November 26, amid credible reports that the government is considering extending the freeze on income tax thresholds by two more years, to 2030. This move would extract an estimated £8 billion each year from the pockets of working people, as more are pushed into higher tax brackets due to wage inflation—effectively a stealth tax that hits the majority while leaving the rich largely untouched.
The possible extension has sparked outrage among advocates for economic justice, who point out that it would increase the tax burden on workers without actually raising tax rates, a tactic that disproportionately impacts those on lower and middle incomes. The Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates that, if the freeze is extended, the number of higher-rate income tax payers in the UK would surpass 10 million for the first time—a damning indictment of a system that continues to favor the wealthy elite.
In her previous budget speech, Chancellor Reeves had pledged not to extend the freeze beyond April 2028, claiming the government was committed to protecting working people. Yet, faced with fiscal pressures, the government is now wavering on this promise, raising questions about its true priorities.
The upcoming budget is expected to address these critical issues, but many fear that the government will once again choose to balance the books on the backs of workers, with further details to be announced by Chancellor Reeves on November 26.
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