Kemi Badenoch refuses to publish her tax return and won’t say why not

Kemi Badenoch’s spokesperson said the Tory leader has “no plans” to publish her tax return – despite every PM, Chancellor and leader of the opposition doing so since 2017

Kemi Badenoch has refused to publish her tax return and won’t say why not.

Every Prime Minister, Chancellor and leader of the opposition has published details of their tax affairs since 2017. Both Keir Starmer and Jeremy Corbyn did while they were in opposition.

Keir Starmer and today Rachel Reeves have both committed to publishing their tax returns after the tax year ends on Friday.

Initially Ms Reeves was unsure whether she would put the details in the public domain, but this afternoon the Treasury confirmed that she would.

Meanwhile, the Tory leader’s spokesman told reporters earlier today that she was waiting to “see what Rachel Reeves does.”

Later, after being told Ms Reeves would publish hers, the spokesman said Ms Badenoch had “no plans”.

Asked why, he said: “All of her declarations are made in line with the Register of Members interests.”

Politicians publish their tax returns voluntarily, and have nothing to do with the Register of Members Interests.

Asked why she was breaking with the tradition of opposition leaders engaging in this transparency, the spokesman did not respond.

Earlier, the spokesman suggested to GB News that opposition leaders usually only published tax details shortly before an election, which is not true.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has also refused to publish his tax return for 2023/24 – telling GB News: “I was not Reform leader in that tax year. I was a civilian.”

Asked if he would do so next year, he added: “I will think about it but I doubt it. Do they want my inside leg measurements?”