Keir Starmer accused of plotting a 'class war' against Middle Britain as PM suggests those with shares, property and savings are not 'working people'

Keir Starmer accused of plotting a 'class war' against Middle Britain as PM suggests those with shares, property and savings are not 'working people' By Jason Groves and Mark Duell and Harriet Line In Samoa For The Daily Mail Published: 17:33 EDT, 25 October 2024 | Updated: 17:39 EDT, 25 October 2024 e-mail 16 View comments Sir Keir Starmer was last night accused of plotting ‘class war’ against Middle Britain. The Prime Minister faced a ferocious backlash after suggesting those who own shares, property and savings are not ‘working people’, and indicating that anyone with more than a few thousand pounds in assets was fair game for tax rises in next week’s Budget. Labour has pledged to protect ‘working people’ in the October 30 statement when Chancellor Rachel Reeves is planning to hike taxes by a staggering £35 billion.

But asked to define the term yesterday, Sir Keir said it included someone who ‘goes out and earns their living, usually paid in a sort of monthly cheque’, but who does not have the resources to ‘write a cheque to get out of difficulties’. Asked if someone who derives their incomes from assets, such as shares, property or savings would qualify as a working person, the Prime Minister said: ‘They wouldn’t come within my definition.’ The Prime Minister faced backlash after suggesting those who own shares, property and savings are not ‘working people’ Keir Starmer (pictured in Apia, Samoa) insisted next week's fiscal package would 'r.