Rachel Reeves was seen visibly grimacing during Prime Minister’s Questions today, as the Tories hammered Labour over expected tax rises this autumn. Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride stood in for Kemi Badenoch, while Angela Rayner was forced to defend the government while Keir Starmer is at the NATO summit in the Netherlands.

Mr Stride demanded that Ms Rayner repeat Labour’s pledge not to raise taxes on working people in the Budget later this year, in the knowledge that lying in the House of Commons is a serious offence. The Deputy Prime Minister notably failed to repeat the promise, prompting shouts and heckles from opposition MPs.

Mr Stride said: “The whole house will have heard that the Rt Hon. lady did not repeat the Chancellor’s promise not to raise taxes, and Britain’s businesses have today been put on notice: tax rises are coming.

Mr Stride skewered Labour’s tax lies (Image: Parliament Live)

“Specifically in her own area, despite Labour’s promises to freeze council tax the IFS says that the spending review will mean the biggest council tax increases in a generation.

“A £7bn tax rise, and yet the Chancellor of the Prime Minister have repeatedly claimed that the government will not raise taxes on working people.”

Asked why she doesn’t believe that council tax is paid by working people, Ms Rayner hit back that the Tories “have an absolute nerve.”

She accused her opposite of raising council tax “every single year under their government”.

Mr Stride pointed out that Labour MPs themselves are not convinced by the Chancellor’s plans at the moment in light of a major rebellion brewing on welfare cuts.

Keir Starmer is away for a second PMQs in a row today due to the NATO summit (Image: Getty)

He blasted: “I’m not even sure that the rt hon. Lady herself is convinced. So can I ask her: isn’t she just a little embarrassed to be defending policies she doesn’t even agree with herself.”

The Deputy Prime Minister once again dodged the question and attacked the record of the previous Conservative government.

She boasted: “We’re putting working people first. I’m proud – we’ve had a huge boost to the minimum wage, the biggest uplift to affordable housing in a generation and expanding free school meals to half a million people.”

Opening PMQs today, Mr Stride skewered Ms Rayner over the current Labour divisions.

Taking to his feet the top Tory joked: “It is a pleasure to stand opposite the Rt Hon lady. Despite what many may think we have a great deal in common – not least that we both viscerally disagree with the Chancellor’s tax policies.

“And it is great to see [Angela Rayner] standing in temporarily for the Prime Minister for the second week running, although I know there are many sitting behind her who wish this were a permanent arrangement!”