Britain’s opposition Labor Party kicked off its annual conference in Liverpool in the north of the country on Sunday, with leaders attacking the new Conservative government’s “immoral” tax cuts.
The meeting began two days after the new government, led by new Prime Minister Liz Truss, announced a series of tax cuts to stimulate the economy, including income tax cuts (IRS). 45%, the wealthiest taxpayers pay only 40%, while the lowest bracket will drop from 20% to 19%.
Labor has highlighted the tax cuts as a key issue for Britons struggling with the worst cost of living rises in decades.
Labor leader Keir Starmer told supporters that the Conservative Party had “shown its true colours” by offering tax breaks to high earners.
“They make the rich richer and they do nothing for the workers,” he said upon arriving at the conference.
Andy Burnham, The Mayor The mayor of Manchester, one of the largest cities in England, considered this conservative policy “immoral”.
Labor suffered a heavy defeat at the last general election, in 2019, under previous leader Jeremy Corbyn, and at this conference it aims to re-establish itself as a credible alternative to government.
At the start of the conference, Labor observed a minute’s silence in honor of Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem – the first time it has been sung at a party conference that has many members who support the abolition of the monarchy.
Starmer said there was now “confidence in a Labor government” among an electorate that saw rising energy bills help push inflation to 9.9%, while workers were getting only modest pay rises.
He promised to roll back income tax cuts for wealthy Britons and create a windfall tax for energy producers.
The Labor leader also said his government would invest in green energy to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.
Labor deputy leader Angela Rayner, who led keynote speakers on the first day of the conference, accused the government of “lining the pockets of oil and gas executives, enriching bankers while families starve”.
The Truss government has ruled out a windfall tax and wants to subsidize the energy bills of consumers and businesses.
The subsidies are expected to cost taxpayers £150 billion (€170 billion).
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