Party leaders throw accusations at each other of post-election sting on the taxpayer
DAVID Cameron and Ed Miliband have accused each other of secret plans to sting the taxpayer after the election ahead of tonight’s televised showdown.
The Conservative leader claimed that Labour was planning a raid on working people, as his party pledged it would legislate against tax rises if elected next month.
The Labour leader hit back accusing the Conservatives of a “secret plan” to slash £3.8 billion in tax credits for millions of families.
Labour released an analysis it said showed a Conservative government would have to cut tax credits by £3.8 billion to meet its spending plans, costing families an average £760 a year.
Shadow chancellor Ed Balls said the cuts needed under Tory plans would also amount to a 21 per cent a year reduction in the defence, which could see the Army scaled back to levels last seen under Oliver Cromwell.
But the Tories heralded their promise of legislation to guarantee a “tax lock”, banning rises in the three main taxes paid by households over the duration of the next Westminster parliament, expected to last for five years.
Under the policy there would be a ban on any increase in the rates of income tax, VAT or national insurance until potentially May 2020.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, a potential partner for the Tories in any postelection coalition, dismissed the tax laws plan as a “stunt”.
Mr Miliband described the announcement as meaningless.
Tonight the Tory and Labour leaders will crossover but, significantly, not go head-tohead in an election version of BBC’s Question Time hosted by David Dimbleby.
A special programme in Scotland will follow immediately afterwards featuring the SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon.
SNP sources said they were pleased that Ms Sturgeon will get a chance to put her pitch in the subsequent programme.