Keir Starmer says Labour's attack ad didn't target Rishi Sunak's wife

Sir Keir Starmer and Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves pose at a stone counter during a stroll in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. Photo: Stephan Russo. /PA

Sir Keir Starmer said Labor's advertisement for non-resident tax status was not «targeted» at Rishi Sunak's wife when he defended his party's controversial campaign.

Labor came under fire last week for a series of social media posts that included photos of Mr. Sunak and his signature.

Most provocatively, the prime minister doesn't think adults who rape children should go to jail.

On Tuesday, another post read: «Do you think it's right to raise taxes for working people when your family took advantage of the tax loophole? Rishi Sunak knows.”

Akshata Murthy, Mr Sunak's wife and daughter of an Indian billionaire, did not have a domicile for tax purposes, meaning she did not have to pay UK taxes on overseas income. It was stripped of status when a deal was struck last year.

The Labor government will freeze the council tax this year, paid for by a proper contingency tax for the oil and gas giants. .

And we would remove the non-Mrs. Tory tax loophole. pic.twitter.com/tBkNAhKPtA

– Labor Party (@UKLabour), April 11, 2023

Asked about the tone of the tweets during a visit to Great Yarmouth on Wednesday, Sir Keir said he «makes no apologies for highlighting this government's failures.»

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«They broke our National Health Service they broke our economy, and this argument that because they changed the prime minister five times, the prime minister is somehow not responsible for 13 years of grief for many, many people — I just don't think that [it] adds up.»

Asked about the content of the declaration of inadmissibility, Sir Keir replied: “No one is after the Prime Minister's wife. Behind this ad is the simple truth that they have destroyed our criminal justice system, destroyed our National Health Service and destroyed our economy.”

Labor vowed to renounce taxpayer status despite warnings from tax experts that that such a move could force business leaders and corporate investors to move elsewhere.

During his visit to Belfast for bilateral talks with President Joe Biden, Mr Sunak declined to speak directly about the scandal, telling reporters, that his priority is «providing to the British people.»

«I said I want to do five things: halve inflation, grow the economy, cut debt, cut lines and stop boats,» he said. “That’s what I focus on day in and day out – working for people. I think this is what the British want to see from their politicians. Less talk, more action to change the main thing.”