Confusion as Sir Keir Starmer refuses to rule out homes tax – as Labour chiefs insist they won’t

LABOUR was in chaos last night as Sir Keir Starmer refused to rule out whacking family homes with capital gains tax – despite denials by a party spokesman.

Tory ministers had accused Sir Keir of an “unprecedented” plot to impose the levy on primary residences for the first time.

Cabinet member Laura Trott charged them with cooking up the “disastrous policy for families up and down the country” after Angela Rayner failed to deny it in Thursday’s TV debate.

Under growing pressure, Labour last night rubbished the claims and hit out at “Conservatives lying”.

A spokesman said: “No. Labour will not introduce capital gains taxes on primary residences. It’s a bad idea.”

The statement did not rule out hikes to capital gains tax on valuable assets such as shares.

However, in a BBC Panorama interview, broadcast later that evening, Sir Keir again refused to rule out wider increases in capital gains tax.

It suggests the Nick Robinson interview was recorded before Labour changed its position on Friday afternoon.

Meanwhile, shadow health secretary Wes Streeting all-but pledged fuel duty would remain frozen if Labour won the election.

He said Sun’s Keep It Down campaign to freeze fuel duty will be “pushing at an open door” under Sir Keir.

Speaking on our Never Mind The Ballots show, Mr Streeting said: “One thing I can predict with absolute certainty is that when Rachel Reeves announces the date of her first budget, if we win the next general election, The Sun will run that campaign again, as you always do, and you’ve got a pretty good track record of success.

“And Rachel Reeves has got a pretty good track record of backing your campaign.

“So without wanting to speak for Rachel or write her budgets for her… Rachel has shown time and again that she understands the pressures on motorists and the pressures of the prices of the pumps.

“I know that as a motorist myself, so does Rachel. I think it’d be pushing an open door.”

The rate of fuel duty, worth 52p a litre, has been frozen since 2011 after 14 years of success for our campaign.

Our crusade has helped save Britain’s 37 million drivers £16 on every full tank of fuel in the last year alone.

Sir Keir has ruled out raising income tax, National Insurance or VAT in the first term of a Labour government.