Labour not looking to raise taxes to fund benefits, minister says after WhatsApp messages revealed

Nick Thomas-Symonds says messages between Pat McFadden and Peter Mandelson are ‘embarrassing’

• UK politics live – latest updates

Labour MPs are not looking to raise taxes to fund more benefits, the cabinet minister Nick Thomas-Symonds has said.

In messages between the work and pensions secretary, Pat McFadden, and Peter Mandelson released on Monday, McFadden wrote: “Every meeting I have is: ‘Who can we tax in order to pay benefits to others?’ They’re asking the wrong questions.”