TAXES will have to increase unless locals accept new pylons in their communities, Sir Keir Starmer has warned.
The PM hit back at Nimbys fuming over plans to ramp up Britain’s electricity infrastructure.
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He also told refuseniks to put up with more prisons and houses as part of “trade-offs” the country has “shied away from for too long”.
Sir Keir was responding to criticism from Nimby campaigners alarmed by his conference speech pledging more pylons going up in communities.
Rebuking them on his recent trip to New York, the PM said: “If you want lower energy bills, we’re going to have to have pylons above the ground.
“Yes, there is the option to put them below the ground – it costs much more money, and if there’s one consistent theme into and out of the last election, it’s that most people feel they’re already paying too much tax, and I don’t think many would put their hand up to pay more tax in relation to that.
“These are the sorts of trade offs. It’s same with housing – if we want people to actually be able to buy their own homes, then we are going to have to accommodate that in communities.
“I think we just shied away from these tradeoffs for too long. We’ve got to be serious about it.”
Sir Keir also singled out the justice system and said that if we need more prison places then people will have to swallow new jails being built.
He said “of course” construction will happen in consultation with locals – but added: “But I do want to be clear: these are serious tradeoffs that we’re going to have to make and we’re going to have to take those decisions.”
Sir Keir has ruled out hiking income tax, national insurance, VAT or corporation tax at the next Budget.
But his Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to raid other areas including capital gains and inheritance taxes.
She claims there is a £22billion “black hole” in the finances left by the last Tory government that needs to be filled.
Ministers are already under fire for axing universal winter fuel payments to save around £1.5billion.