Moment Rachel Reeves' huge Budget lie is brutally exposed: 'It's a sham!'

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has come under fire after refusing to rule out tax rises in her upcoming Autumn Budget, despite Labour's manifesto promise not to increase income tax, VAT, or National Insurance. Ms Reeves' spokesperson said the Chancellor has "no regrets" over the possibility of breaching these pledges. The pound reacted sharply, falling to a six-month low following Ms Reeves' pre-Budget speech on Tuesday morning, in which she said she would make the "necessary choices" to address gaps in the public finances.

Rachel Reeves is expected to unveil her Budget on 26 November, potentially introducing measures that could affect taxpayers across the country. On the Daily Expresso podcast hosted by JJ Anisiobi, Former Conservative Special Adviser, Charlie Rowley, reacted to this morning's 8am press conference, which appears to pave the way for tax rises that contradict Labour's manifesto. He called the move a "sham," criticising the government for seemingly abandoning its core promises.

He said: "It's hard to be supportive of what's about to come down our way with more tax rises."

Mr Rowley pointed out that Labour had previously promised not to raise VAT or income tax. Yet after the first Budget, National Insurance contributions were increased, a move he called "strange."

On top of that, asking for further tax rises, he argued, shows a lack of planning and credibility: "There is no strategy, no credibility and you will lose confidence in the markets."

Mr Rowley said this is "probably the longest drawn-out run-up to a Budget" he can remember. He said that while the Treasury may be testing ideas to see how they land with the public, the Government now appears set to break a key manifesto pledge by raising income tax, a promise made despite what he called "a complete and utter absence of growth," something else Labour had said it would do.

"I can understand the Treasury pumping out ideas, trying to test the water to see how it's going to land with the public, but ultimately having to come back to the table to say we're going to break a manifesto commitment, a key one, which is to raise income tax, something they said they weren't going to do when there has been a complete and utter absence of growth, something else they said they were going to do; that hasn't materialised because they've talked the economy down, they've scared the markets, they've taxed employers, they've choked off that growth, and the very wealthy have up sticks and left.

"There's no one really to tax. And if you get on the back of saying we're not going to tax working people, we're not going to increase taxes on working people, how do you define a working person? Well, it now sounds as though we're all going to be taxed.

"So, it's a sham, and I'm sorry to say that for any new Government, because you do try and wish anyone well in those positions. But I just think this is a rod that she's made of her own making, and I can't see a survival-I really can't."

In her speech from Downing Street on Tuesday, Reeves stated that she would make "the choices necessary to deliver strong foundations for our economy" for the long term.

Ahead of the speech, No 10 refused to reaffirm Labour's commitment to avoid raising income tax, VAT, or National Insurance, sparking further speculation that these promises could be broken.

Reeves outlined three key priorities for the Budget: reducing national debt, easing the cost of living, and protecting the NHS. She emphasised that her decisions would be guided by fairness and opportunity, prioritising the needs of the British public.