Election 2024: polling shows voters don’t believe the tax pledges – here’s how the numbers stack up

Are political pledges not to increase income tax, national insurance or VAT believable? Ink Drop/Shutterstock

The two main parties contesting the UK general election have been unusually cautious on their spending plans, despite urgent calls for more public funding to tackle crises in housing, social care and the environment.

While they have pledged not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT, they have refrained from promising tax cuts, despite evidence of these helping to sway past elections.