'Nanny state' junk food crackdown with ban on energy drinks for under-16s, hints of tax hikes and VAT on private school fees: Starmer poised to unveil Labour manifesto TODAY - after snap poll finds he won crucial TV election clash with Rishi Sunak

Keir Starmer will look to twist the knife on the Tories today as he launches an election manifesto with a fudge on tax, 'nanny state' moves on junk food and VAT on private school fees.

The Labour leader is bidding to capitalise after a poll showed he came out on top in a crucial TV showdown with Rishi Sunak last night.

Sir Keir was roasted during the Sky News programme in Grimsby over claims he will hike taxes, and whether he can be 'trusted' after previously backing Jeremy Corbyn. He was also berated for his 'robotic' manner.

However, YouGov research found viewers through he outperformed the PM by 64 per cent to 36 per cent - after Mr Sunak suffered an even more brutal 45-minute mauling. The premier was repeatedly battered over leaving D-Day commemorations early, and endured mocking laughter as he tried to defend the Tories' record on issues such as immigration.   

Sir Keir will launch the manifesto in Manchester today. In contrast to the Tory offering on Tuesday - which had no photos at all - it will apparently feature 34 images of the leader. 

But with polls putting the party on track for a landslide, the content is being billed as 'safety first'. It will include charging VAT on private school fees and a crackdown on junk food - including banning energy drinks for under-16s.   

The document is expected to include a pledge to cap corporation tax at its current rate of 25 per cent to give businesses long-term certainty.

However, it will not rule out council tax revaluation or raids on capital gains tax - something the Tories have seized on.

Sir Keir is expected to say: 'Wealth creation is our number one priority. Growth is our core business – the end and the means of national renewal.'The mandate we seek at this election is for economic growth. This changed Labour Party has a plan for growth. We are pro-business and pro-worker, the party of wealth creation.'

Labour has already ruled out raising rates of income tax, national insurance or VAT, and said the manifesto will contain no tax rises that have not already been announced.

Those increases are charging VAT on private school fees, abolishing the non-dom tax status and closing 'loopholes' in the windfall tax on oil and gas firms.

The party's first steps also include a pledge to cut NHS waiting lists with 40,000 new appointments a week, setting up a Border Security Command, establishing GB Energy, cracking down on antisocial behaviour and hiring 6,500 teachers. The manifesto is expected to commit to reforming planning rules and building 1.5million new homes.

There will be measures to overhaul workers' rights and a pledge to devolve decision-making away from Westminster.

On foreign policy, Labour has said it will back Ukraine against Russia and support recognising a Palestinian state as part of a Middle East peace process.

The party has also promised that it will aim to spend 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence.