Tax rise if Tories win, says Tom Watson
The Conservatives will not make a commitment to freeze tax rates for small businesses, Labour's deputy leader has claimed.
Tom Watson said after Chancellor Philip Hammond was forced to U-turn on a planned National Insurance hike, the Tories will not make any promise not to raise the tax in the party's manifesto.
The West Bromwich East MP said small businesses will be hit by National Insurance rises if the Conservatives are elected.
He said: "Small businesses need to know Theresa May will make them pay more tax.
"The Tories had to scrap plans in the Budget to raise National Insurance payments because they'd promised not to in their last election manifesto. That's why they won't make the same promise this time.
"There will be no commitment to freeze National Insurance payments in the Tories' 2017 manifesto.
"Theresa May broke her promise not to hold a snap election and she can't be trusted on NI either. The Tories will hit small business with a tax rise they can't afford."
The Conservative Party is yet to reveal its manifesto for the snap General Election called for June 8.
The Chancellor had wanted to raise National Insurance rates for the self-employed to bring them closer to the levels paid by workers.
After cancelling the rise, the Chancellor admitted that the reform was a breach of the 'spirit' of the Conservative manifesto. He said that the plan was the 'right approach' but said it would not take place in the current Parliament.
