Sir Keir Starmer has said he does not want to mimic previous Labour leaders in reaching for the “tax lever” to sort out the country’s finances.

Speaking to Beth Rigby during Sky News’ Battle For Number 10, the Labour leader said his “central mission was to the grow the economy” and that he wanted to “do things differently”.

Sir Keir, who is also taking questions from the audience during the event in Grimsby, said there would be “no need” to raise taxes in the party’s manifesto that will be published on Thursday.

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Pressed on whether he would implement a wealth tax of the country’s top earners – something he promised when he ran to be Labour leader – Sir Keir said: ” I want to do things differently. I want to grow our economy.

“I accept that previous Labour leaders have sort of pulled the tax lever every single time and driven up spending. I want to grow our economy. “

He added: “The manifesto tomorrow will be a manifesto, a plan for wealth creation.

“Now, you might not hear a Labour leader say that very often, but for me, that is the most important thing.”

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