The Prime Minister dodged questions about a rumoured increase in National Insurance in the upcoming Budget.
Sir Keir Starmer did not answer whether his pre-election promise not to raise the tax applied to both employee and employer National Insurance payments during a grilling in Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.
The PM insisted that taxes would not be raised on “working people”, but declined to rule out raising employers' contributions.
Tory leader Rishi Sunak told the Commons: "When (Sir Keir) talks about security at work, once again, it's one rule for him and another rule for everyone else.
"But I know that not everything or everyone has survived his first 100 days in Government, so can he confirm that when he promised not to raise income tax, National Insurance or VAT, that commitment applies to both employer and employee National Insurance contributions?"
The PM replied: "We made an absolute commitment in relation to not raising tax on working people.
"[Mr Sunak], of course, was the expert's expert on raising taxes. What did we get in return for it? We got a broken economy, broken public services, and a £22billion black hole in the economy. We're here to stabilise the economy, and we will do so."
Mr Sunak hit back saying he did not think Labour donor Lord Waheed Alli was "buying any of that nonsense”.
“I'm not asking about the Budget,” he added. “I'm asking specifically about the promise he made the British people.
“So let me ask him again, just to clarify his own promise. Does his commitment not to raise National Assurance apply to both employee and employer National Insurance contributions?"
Sir Keir replied: "We set out our promises in the manifesto. We were returned with a huge majority to change the country for the better, and I stick to my promises in the manifesto."
He added: "I notice it's question three and he hasn't yet welcomed the investment into this country. We've had in recent months, £8 billion from Amazon for jobs across the country, £10 billion from Blackstone for jobs across the north east, £22 billion on carbon capture, jobs in the North East and North West, £500 million for UK buses in Northern Ireland. While we are investing in our economy, what are they doing? They're arguing about whether to scrap maternity pay."
