Shadow chancellor John McDonnell U-turned on voting in favour of tax cuts for the middle classes today.
He said Labour would abstain on the flagship giveaway in the Budget - a day after saying the party would “support the tax cuts”.
Mr McDonnell, who is Jeremy Corbyn’s right hand man, said it was not right to vote for or against as savings for the wealthy came as a package with tax cuts for low income households.
Chancellor Philip Hammond announced cuts for 32 million people in his Budget, including £130 for lower income people and over £800 for higher paid people.
It later emerged that wealthier people would lose half the gains in NI rises.
In remarks yesterday Mr McDonnell had said: “We’ll support the tax cuts at the moment on the basis that it will inject some demand into the economy.”
Theresa May mocked Labour’s u turn at Prime Minister’s questions, challenging Jeremy Corbyn to vote for tax cuts that she said would help senior school teachers.
“Perhaps he will tell us if he will back the tax cuts and vote for the Budget, “ she said.
Mr Corbyn responded that the Budget made poorer families worse off and said Mrs May had failed to honour her claim that austerity was over.
“Will she apologise for her broken promise to end austerity?” he demanded.
