Fears mount over potential Labour gains tax hike as Wes Streeting refuses to rule out changes to duty on sale of assets – despite being asked four times

Wes Straating has refused four times to rule out an increase in capital gains taxes Work wins the general election.

The shadow health minister expressed fears that the party could increase the duty on asset sales in its first budget to raise money.

He suggested an increase would not be included in the party’s general election manifesto, saying nothing in it “requires an increase” in the levy.

Labor has so far ruled out increasing income tax, national insurance and social security VAT in its manifesto, which will be published tomorrow (THURS).

The shadow health minister expressed fears that the party could increase the duty on asset sales in its first budget to raise money

Mr Streeting told BBC Radio 4 Today: ‘Any manifesto promises we make on Thursday will be promises we can keep and that the country can afford’

But the refusal to rule out other levies has raised fears the party could impose a surprising range of taxes on the country.

During the ITV election debate last week, Rishi Sunak accused Sir Keir of plotting a £2,000 tax rise to fund a ‘black hole’ in their spending plans.

Sir Keir dismissed the figure as ‘absolute nonsense’ and accused the Prime Minister of lying.

Yesterday he accused the Tories of unveiling a Jeremy Corbyn-style manifesto as the parties traded arguments over who would be more responsible for the economy.

There are fears that Labor will announce future tax changes if it wins the election, including on capital gains.

Mr Streeting told the BBC Radio 4 Today program yesterday: ‘Nothing in that manifesto calls for an increase in capital gains tax.’ When asked again if he could reform the levy, he said: “Well, the manifesto comes out on Thursday. I have to be a little careful not to get ahead of that.

“But I don’t think all those things you just mentioned are in Thursday’s Labor manifesto.” Mr Streeting also could not rule out an increase when he was asked twice more why he would not want to increase duty on the sale of assets such as second homes.

He added: “Any manifesto promises we make on Thursday will be promises that we can keep and that the country can afford.

“As I said, nothing in our manifesto calls for an increase in capital gains tax. And what we have set out very clearly, and you have touched on it, is the triple taxation of income tax, national insurance and VAT.

“And the reason why we’ve been so specific about those taxes is because we’re acutely aware that low- and middle-income working people are really in trouble right now.

During last week’s ITV election debate, Rishi Sunak accused Sir Keir of plotting a £2,000 tax rise to fund a ‘black hole’ in their spending plans.

Jonathan Ashworth, a Labor frontbencher, (pictured) repeatedly refused to rule out his party raising capital gains taxes on Monday

‘Even when they look at the state of their local NHS services or the vacancies in our schools, they want assurance that Labor will not do the same as the Conservatives, which is working people as the first and last resort.’ It comes after Jonathan Ashworth, a Labor frontbencher, repeatedly refused to rule out his party raising capital gains taxes on Monday.

The shadow paymaster-general has also made no commitment that there would be no further increases in corporation tax under Sir Keir.

Mr Ashworth was asked three times whether he could rule out such an increase, but would only promise that Labor would not increase income tax, national insurance or VAT.

He said: “We have made our commitment clear on income tax, national insurance and VAT. Nothing in our plans requires additional taxes to be collected.

‘We will be honest with the British public. Every commitment we make will be fully funded and budgeted, so you know where the money comes from.’ Sir Keir has also refused to rule out a capital gains tax raid, with speculation he could set the rate on par with income tax.

The Labor leader told The Guardian: ‘I’m not going to write five-year budgets for three and a half years, four weeks before the election.

“But I’m going to say that we’re fully funded, and none of our plans require tax increases beyond the taxes we’ve already enacted.”