Labour considering new increases in sugar tax despite cost of living crisis

LABOUR is considering new increases in sugar tax — even if it hikes food bills further.

Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he was looking at “prevention and public health measures” to ensure “we’re living more healthily”.

He hammered food firm Nestle for its new KitKat cereal, which the company describes as “nutritious” despite it being high in sugar.

Mr Streeting told the BBC: “I don’t particularly want to go round banning things, but then you see Nestle marketing new KitKat cereal for children and even having the audacity to claim it’s nutritious.

“This is not serious from Nestle.”

In a hint of more regulation, he said he wanted a “greater degree of responsibility on the part of the food and drink industry”.

They can help “give people the chance to make healthier choices”, he added.

And Shadow Health Minister Liz Kendall pointed to sugar taxes as a way to make businesses change their behaviour.

She warned: “We will be looking at shifting events towards prevention.”

It comes as Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will today set out how he would address healthcare issues if he wins the next general election.

But he admits that more funding is not the answer.

He will say: “Some people will tell you this is purely a question of money — and money is part of it — but you can’t look at the problems now and tell me it’s just about money.”