article_snippet: Osborne today refused to match Labour's pledge not to increase VAT as a row erupted over how to balance the books after the election.
article_snippet: Chancellor declined to give a 'cast-iron guarantee' to match Labour's pledge not to increase VAT over the five years of the next Parliament.
article_snippet: Osborne declined to give a 'cast-iron guarantee' to match Labour's pledge not to increase VAT from 20 per cent over the five years of the next Parliament .
article_snippet: Appearing before the Commons Treasury Committee, Osborne was repeatedly challenged to match Labour's promise but refused to do so .
article_snippet: In the Houses of Parliament today, Mr Osborne was repeatedly challenged to match the promise but refused to do so.
article_snippet: Labour MP John Mann asked the Chancellor four times to give a 'cast-iron guarantee' that Labour MP John Mann would not hike the tax.
article_snippet: A second Labour MP, Andy Love, also twice pressed the Chancellor over whether VAT would have to rise.
article_snippet: In the Chancellor responses, Mr Osborne said Mr Osborne did not intend to increase the tax but stopped short of an actual pledge to rule the tax out.
article_snippet: Mr Osborne told Mr Love: 'I have identified where the £30 billion of savings I believe need to come from and they don't involve a VAT rise. '
article_snippet: But Mr Osborne stuck to Mr Osborne position: 'The policies we have do not involve a VAT rise ...
highlights_snippet: Osborne used first Budget in 2010 to increase rate from 17.5% to 20% .
  Chancellor insists Chancellor plans to balance books do not require new increase .
  
highlights_snippet: But Chancellor repeatedly refused to match Labour's promise ahead of election .