article: Shadow chancellor John McDonnell will vow to protect low and middle earners by also ruling out rises in VAT and employee national insurance rates. But he will say the top 5% of earners would pay more to fund public services. The Tories, who have also ruled out a rise in VAT, say there is a £45bn black hole in Labour's tax proposals. Theresa May has said she has "no plans" to raise other taxes after the election, but has so far declined to say whether a manifesto pledge not to raise direct taxes ahead of the 2015 election will be retained. Chancellor Philip Hammond appeared to distance himself from the commitment when he said recently that "greater flexibility" would be needed in future to pay down the deficit and reduce levels of debt. After a poor showing in Thursday's council elections, Labour has admitted it faces a "historic" challenge to win the snap election on 8 June, but Mr McDonnell has urged the party to "come out fighting". In a major speech on Sunday, he will argue Labour is on the side of working families and seek to reassure middle earners about his plans. At the same time, he will accuse his opponents of keeping people "in the dark" about their own intentions. He will say that if Labour wins power, 95% of taxpayers would see no rise in their overall tax burden until 2022 - the end of the parliamentary term. This would be achieved by ruling out increases to the standard 20% rate of VAT, personal national insurance contributions and income tax rates for those earning under £80,000. However, he will say those earning more than £80,000 would have to pay more, without giving specific details. At the moment, those earning more than £150,000 a year pay 45% tax on earnings above that level. "The choice at this election is very clear on tax as there is currently only one party which is committing not to raise taxes on middle and low earners," he will say. "The Tories are the party of tax handouts for the super-rich and big corporations." Mr McDonnell will contrast the certainty around Labour's plans with what he says is obfuscation from the Conservatives. "Every time Theresa May and the Conservatives are asked whether they are planning tax increases if they are re-elected on 8 June, they run and hide," he will say. Labour's spending commitments so far include: The majority of these, it says, will be covered by the reversal of cuts to corporation, capital gains and inheritance taxes. The Conservatives are not expected to confirm their own plans until their manifesto launch later this month. Mr Hammond abandoned proposals in March's Budget to increase national insurance contributions for the self-employed following a Tory rebellion, with MPs claiming the move breached its 2015 manifesto. During the coalition years, the focus of Conservative policy was steady increases in the personal tax allowance, the point at which people start paying income tax. The threshold rose to £11,500 last month and is due to increase to £12,000 by
summary: Labour is pledging not to raise income tax for those earning less than £80,000 a year as part of a "personal tax guarantee" for 95% of taxpayers.