Chris Leslie MP, Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, responding to the IFS’ briefing note on David Cameron’s claims about Labour’s tax plans today, said:

“This is a disastrous and embarrassing start to David Cameron’s campaign. Within hours of making totally false claims about Labour on the steps of Downing Street, the independent IFS has totally undermined them.

“As the IFS has said, tax and benefit changes by the Tories since 2010 have cost households an average of £1100 a year. And they say that the Conservative Party’s plans for the future would mean substantially bigger spending cuts or tax increases. The whole country knows that these extreme plans will mean the Tories end up raising VAT again and cutting the NHS if they get another five years.

“Labour has a better and more balanced plan. We will cut the deficit every year and balance the books in a fairer way, including by reversing David Cameron’s tax cut for millionaires.“