Martin Lewis furious with Conservatives over campaign advert as he cries ‘no where’

A furious Martin Lewis has slapped down the Conservative Party after they posted a video of him on social media, claiming the trusted financial guru had said that Labour would put up people’s taxes. The Money Saving Expert website founder tore apart the Conservative attack ad, pointing out that “NO WHERE” in the clip had he spoken about taxes.

Instead, he said he had actually been referring to a “positive change” Labour was hoping to introduce. In the video, which was taken from Wednesday’s Good Morning Britain episode, Mr Lewis spoke about how he has behind the scenes discussions with the Tories and Labour.

He said: “I had a conversation with a senior member of the Labour Party, a private conversation, as I do with both parties and the exact phrase they used with me, when I asked about a particular policy, they said: ‘We’re not putting it in our manifesto because I can’t commit. We’ll do it but it is my aim we will do it over the next Parliament’.”

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The Conservatives then cut the clip and posted it on Twitter, with a caption reading: “They’re not telling you the full truth. Labour have said they wouldn’t put up your taxes. But it’s now becoming clear that they have every intention to put them up.”

Mr Lewis hit back on social media, saying: “NO WHERE in this comment do I talk about taxes. And the policy that I discussed (I will keep private as it was private) was NOT about taxes, or tax rises, it was about something that would be a positive change.”

The Tories have attempted to make tax issues the central focus of the election campaign, but have been repeatedly corrected over claims that Labour will raise taxes by £2000. This figure is disputed, as it is based on estimates by Conservative advisers, based over four years, and would be for a whole household rather than individual.

Keir Starmer has stated repeatedly that he will not raise taxes “on working people”, indicating no rises in income tax or National Insurance. Rishi Sunak was accused of “lying” after repeatedly telling viewers during an ITV General Election debate at the start of the campaign that Keir Starmer would hit Brits with £2,000 tax increases.

The PM had claimed in the debate that “independent Treasury officials have costed Labour’s policies and they amount to a £2,000 tax rise for every working family”. But the most senior civil servant in the Treasury the following day said this was not the case. James Bowler said he had warned ministers not to present the findings as produced by the civil service.

At the time, Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth said: “I think last night what was exposed is just how desperate Rishi Sunak has become. Because he lied about Labour’s tax plans. What he said last night about Labour’s tax plans is categorically untrue. Labour will not put up income tax, will not put up National Insurance, will not put up VAT.”