Jeremy Hunt will defend Tory' record and push for a repeal of tax increases enacted during the pandemic. Photo: Getty Images Europe
Labour will introduce taxes “as surely as night follows day”, Jeremy Hunt warned on Friday, outlining the Conservatives' economic plans. ahead of the elections.
During a speech in central London, the Chancellor will accuse Sir Keir Starmer of using “playground politics” to disguise plans to hit families pocketbooks so his big spending promises can be funded. .
Mr Hunt will point to taxes, jobs and welfare as the three clear dividing lines between the Tories and Labor on the economy and will insist he has a plan to boost growth by reducing taxes, job creation and tightening of benefits.
It came a week later as the Prime Minister kicked off the election campaign with a speech in which he warned that Labor posed a threat to Britain's future security.
Other statements followed that drew a dividing line between the Labor Party and Tory: Police have been ordered to step up the use of stop and search, and new draft sex education guidance has been published calling on schools not to teach controversial gender ideology and saying sex education should not be taught to children under nine.
Mr Hunt will defend the Tories' record and insist that tax rises introduced to cover the cost of the Covid lockdown and prop up energy bills are scrapped.
Instead, he will say Sir Keir is committed to keeping The tax burden is at a record high.
The Chancellor will say: “Without plans to pay for promised spending, taxes will rise under any future Labor government as surely as night follows day.”
“And taxes will fall under a Conservative government because we will do the hard work needed to keep our economy competitive.”
The speech came after Sir Keir, the Labor leader, unveiled his six election promises.
They included a pledge to keep taxes “as low as possible,” but did not promise not to raise them.
Mr Hunt's comments came after Downing Street was buoyed by good news about the economy, including growth figures. for the first three months of the year by 0.6%.
Three banking giants cut mortgage rates on Thursday amid hopes that lower inflation will lead to lower interest rates as early as early summer.
Mr Hunt took aim at Labor on taxes after recent polls showed 2019 Tory voters would rather cut the burden than put more money into public services.
An Ipsos poll in March found that 43 per cent of Tory voters favored tax cuts, even if it meant cutting public spending on areas such as the National Health Service. By contrast, 31 per cent said they would be happy to pay more tax to better fund public services.
Winning back the voters who brought Boris Johnson into Downing Street five years ago is crucial to the Tories' hopes of changing their electoral fortunes.
Mr Hunt will say: “Labour likes to criticize tax rises in this Parliament, thinking people don't know why they went up.
“The furlough scheme, energy price guarantee and billion-pound cost of living support are policies that Labor itself has backed.”
“What This is why using tax rises to distract debate from the biggest divide in British politics is gaming policy. This is exactly what happens next.
“Conservatives recognize that while these tax increases may be necessary, they do not need to be permanent. Labor doesn't do that.”
His remarks will be seen as a statement of the Tories' plans to reduce the tax burden to pre-pandemic levels.
Mr Sunak, the then chancellor, announced tax rises of £46 billion between 2020 and 2022 to cover the cost of lockdown measures, including furlough.
These included raising the corporation tax rate from 19 to 25 percent and freezing income tax thresholds, which has left millions of people in higher tax categories.
The Chancellor pledges to repair the damage by cutting National Insurance 'until it goes away', ending the double tax on jobs estimated to cost £46 billion.
< p>Labour has repeatedly criticized the proposals in recent weeks, warning the Tories would have to launch a raid on pensioner benefits to pay for them.
Angela Rayner, deputy leader of the Labor Party, and Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, show off their party's promise cards
Mr Hunt will add that Britain needs to be more like the low-tax economies of North America and Asia, rather than the stagnant European one Union.
He will say “increasing pay is good for economic growth”, hinting at Tory plans to tackle the growing number of people on sick pay.
On Thursday night, the Tories seized on the remarks. by a senior shadow minister who suggested there was a £12 billion funding black hole in Labour's energy plans.
Steve Reid, the shadow environment secretary, told LBC it “may well be” that the proposals Labour's proposal to create GB Energy will cost £82 billion.
This will mean Labor will invest £20.5 billion, up from £8.8 billion previously, with the rest of the money coming from private investment.
Claire Coutinho, Energy Secretary, said: “Keir Starmer urgently needs to explain what taxes they are going to raise to pay for this. It is now clearer than ever that Labor has no plan.”
This week the Conservatives also tried to draw a dividing line with Labor on issues of crime and gender ideology.
On Tuesday, Chris Philp, the police minister, called on officers to use stop and search more frequently after Mr Sunak criticized Sadiq Khan for knife crime in London.
This was followed by a statement from the education secretary on Thursday Gillian Keegan on banning the teaching of “contested” gender ideology, such as the idea that children can change their gender or that there are 72 genders.
James Murray MP, Labour's shadow financial secretary to the Treasury, responding to Mr Hunt's economic speech, said: “There is nothing Jeremy Hunt can say or do to hide the fact that working people are worse off after 14 years of economic collapse.” under the Conservatives. . The tax burden has hit a 70-year high and the average household is forecast to be £870 worse off under Rishi Sunak's tax plan.
“Now Jeremy Hunt is desperately trying to escape reality with his reckless pounding. $46 billion unfunded tax plan to abolish National Insurance
“It's time for change. Labor will deliver economic stability through tough spending rules so we can grow our economy and keep taxes, inflation and mortgages as low as possible.”
Recent Comments