‘They know who they are’: Keir Starmer gives another desperate non-definition of ‘working people’ ahead of Budget tax raid as ministers squirm on whether small business owners count [Video]

06:32 EDT 28 Oct 2024, updated 08:06 EDT 28 Oct 2024

Keir Starmer had another go at defining ‘working people’ today – saying they ‘know who they are’.

The PM tried to draw a line under months of confusion about who falls into the category in a speech ahead of the Budget tax raid. 

The Labour election manifesto used the term as it laid out who would be protected from increases. 

But Sir Keir sparked fury last week by suggesting landlords, shareholders and savers did not count.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson struggled yesterday on whether small business owners making just £13,000 a year were ‘working people’.

And the premier said this morning that ‘the working people of this country know exactly who they are’, saying the government would operate in their ‘service’. 

The Chancellor’s revenue-raising measures are expected to include an increase in national insurance paid by employers.

That has led to furious claims of a breach of the party’s manifesto …