Prime Minister Keir Starmer surprised many people when he showed up on BBC Breakfast. He was interviewed by the BBC’s political correspondent, Henry Zeffman, on Tuesday, October 15. Some viewers were caught off guard by his appearance and even turned off the program.
During the interview, Starmer talked about the upcoming budget on October 30, hinting that it would be challenging and may include more tax increases than originally promised in Labour’s election plan.
People have been guessing that the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, might introduce some new tax rises. Despite this, Starmer firmly said that Labour wouldn’t break promises by increasing the employer’s share of National Insurance, a tax companies pay on behalf of employees.
Body language expert Judi James analyzed how Starmer behaved in the interview. She said he looked “unhappy” and even “stubborn” at times. She pointed out how he raised his eyebrows and used his hands in a way that showed he was trying to be open but also determined.
When a political leader does this, it often means they want to make a point or even avoid answering directly. She noticed his hands were in a “digging” position, showing he was prepared to push his message but might still be uncomfortable explaining it.
When asked if Labour’s plans ruled out any increase in National Insurance, Starmer said they had made it clear they wouldn’t raise taxes on working people. He mentioned that this included income tax and National Insurance for employees, as they had said repeatedly during their campaign.
However, he didn’t give away any specific details about what would be in the upcoming budget. Starmer was careful to stick to Labour’s promises, insisting that their focus would be on rebuilding the country and creating the economic growth needed for the future. He ended by saying this goal aligned with the discussions they had in a recent summit.
