CHANCELLOR Jeremy Hunt has been criticised for issuing a 19-page “dodgy dossier” claiming Labour’s policies will leave a multi-billion-pound “black hole.”

In a bid to portray the Tories as tax-cutters ahead of the general election, he claimed Sir Keir Starmer’s plans would leave a £38.5 billion gap over the next four years.

He however refused to give a “cast-iron guarantee” of tax cuts following his political speech in London, merely insisting the tax burden would go down under a future Conservative government.

Mr Hunt also refused to say whether the government would raise income tax thresholds, which have dragged more people into paying higher taxes as a result of being frozen since April 2021.

He expressed a desire to cut taxes further in the autumn, following the 2p cut to National Insurance at the spring Budget, and to scrap National Insurance altogether in the future.

During the speech in front of a banner which read “Labour’s Tax Rises,” the Chancellor hit out at the party’s claims that scrapping National Insurance would mean a £46 billion funding gap, and lead to higher taxes on pensioners, saying: “Frankly it is a lie.”

Treasury analysis carried out by non-partisan civil servants but based on assumptions provided by political special advisers suggest Labour would have a £38.5 billion gap in its spending promises.

The Chancellor pointed to this as evidence Labour would need to raise taxes to fulfil its promises if it wins power at the election, though he did concede the Tories had been responsible for tax rises during their time in power.

A Labour spokesperson said: “This is another desperate attempt by the Tories to deflect from their £46bn unfunded tax plan that could lead to higher borrowing, higher taxes on pensioners or the end of the state pension as we know it.”