RACHEL Reeves once claimed stealth income tax raids like the one she plans in her Budget were “picking the pockets” of workers.
The Chancellor was branded a “hypocrite” and a modern “Artful Dodger” after her comments from last year came to light.
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She is planning to extend the freeze in income tax thresholds until 2030 — forcing another one million working people to pay more.
Speaking last November, Ms Reeves slammed the Tories for freezing the same thresholds until 2028, fuming: “I think it is wrong that every time the Government wants to raise money [the burden falls] on ordinary people.
“The Government is picking their pockets. Pay that is meant to help with the rising cost of living — 40 per cent of it is then gone in taxes.”
Tory leadership candidate Robert Jenrick raged: “Rachel Reeves said freezing income tax rates was picking the pockets of workers — and now we hear she is planning the exact same thing.
“She is a hypocrite. The audacity of her hypocrisy would make the Artful Dodger blush.”
The Halloween Budget will hike taxes by nearly £40billion and force departments to make big spending cuts.
After weeks of rows over cash, Cabinet ministers handed in their final Budget submissions to No11 on Friday night.
Many ministers are furious with how little cash they are getting. One said: “It is going to be painful.”
Another party insider said “It looks like departments are getting harsh offers.”
A spokesman for Ms Reeves said she stood by her attack on the Tories “picking the pockets” of workers but refused to comment on Budget speculation.
