Labour’s general election manifesto has made headlines in several papers. The Daily Mirror reports that Keir Starmer promised to repair the damage the Conservatives have inflicted on Britain with a manifesto of hope. He also announced the party’s intention to improve the economy and create a better future for future generations if it wins on 4 July. Meanwhile, the Financial Times is leading with Starmer’s plans to raise £8.6 billion in additional taxes, which are being contrasted with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s pledge of £17 billion in tax reductions. The FT highlights how Labour’s manifesto has been criticised by Tories for paving the way for tax increases and by other sections of the political left for being lacking in ambition.
Despite Labour’s promises, the Guardian states that they are being asked difficult questions about how they would pay for the much-needed repair of Britain’s broken public services. Economists are skeptical that the party can avoid significant public service spending cuts without borrowing more or raising taxes. Furthermore, The Times reports that the Institute for Fiscal Studies describes a “conspiracy of silence on cuts and higher taxes” between Labour, the Tories, and the Liberal Democrats. None of the major parties is thought to be truthful about the state of public finances or the trade-offs that will be needed to fund the services. The TLS also highlights a new poll by YouGov for the paper, which shows that Reform UK has moved ahead of the Conservatives.
In response to these polls, Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, stated that “we are now the opposition.” The Daily Telegraph states that Farage’s party could be experiencing a “crossover moment” that Tory figures and activists might fear. Conservative MP, Jeremy Hunt, has also accused the Labour Party of setting a “tax trap” for the country with its plans to tax private schools, energy companies, and non-doms.
Labour is also finding challenges in growing the economy, and its manifesto has been described in the Daily Mail as being “big on windy promises and small on detail”. Alternatively, a new poll by BMG for The Eye suggests that Labour has taken the lead in terms of polls on security and defence, following Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s D-Day error. Finally, the Metro dedicates its front page to the opening of Euro 2024, while the Daily Star reports that the “magic ball” technology at the event is installed to prevent cheating, similar to Diego Maradona’s infamous “hand of God” goal
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