As Budget day approaches, the opposition are attempting to pile pressure on the Tories. As part of these efforts, Jeremy Corbyn has published details of his tax return in an effort to force Philip Hammond to do the same. However, if the stunt was meant to put the focus on the Chancellor, it has backfired spectacularly this evening.
Rather than questions being raised over Hammond’s finances, Corbyn is facing questions over his own. Namely whether he declared his full income as Labour leader. His tax return shows that he earned £114,342 in 2015-16, and paid £35,298 in tax. However, as the Leader of the Opposition, it’s thought he would also be in line for around £37,000 for that tax year — should he choose to accept it. At present, Corbyn’s team are unable to say whether the salary is missing.
Given that the Labour leader’s decision to publish his tax return last year revealed a £100 late fine and a failure to declare three pensions incomes, Mr S suspects Corbyn should refrain from such stunts in future.
Update: After some delay, a Labour spokesman says the party is ‘confident’ the total income of £114,343 is correct — with nearly all the tax paid at source. However, doubts remain. The government’s accounts state that Corbyn was paid £30,587 in 2015/16 but the Labour leader has put £27,192 on his return…
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