Facts

Speaking on LBC, Boris Johnson promised that the government would not be raising taxes. But on September 7 2021, it was announced that the government would be increasing National Insurance by 1.25%. 

This broke the Conservative party’s manifesto pledge, repeated during the general election on LBC, not to do so. 

Verdict 

"Read my lips: no new taxes" was the phrase used by George Bush Snr when he accepted the Republican nomination for President in 1988. His credibility was gravely damaged when taxes subsequently rose. Boris Johnson uses the same discredited phrase “read my lips” when he pledged not to raise National Insurance Tax, and like George Bush Snr he broke his promise.