Ed Davey calls income tax threshold freeze a "£76bn stealth tax"

Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, has described a freeze on income tax thresholds as a "£76bn stealth tax". He said so in a BBC video published on 29 October 2026.

Income tax thresholds are the levels of earnings above which people start paying income tax. Freezing them keeps those levels where they are.

Earlier, on 28 October, Mr Davey said income tax thresholds should rise to avoid a "stealth tax". The phrase is the same one he used in the video, and it refers to the same issue.

The Liberal Democrats have also set out their own tax plans. On 22 September, Mr Davey unveiled a plan for a £17bn income tax cut. As part of it, he proposed raising the threshold for paying income tax to £15,000, according to The Guardian.

The same day, Mr Davey announced that the party would raise the threshold for the 40% band, the higher rate of income tax, to £56,000 if it were elected. The BBC reported the announcement.