PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak has outlined his commitment to reducing taxes by tightening welfare spending and implementing government reforms before and after the upcoming general election.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Sunak indicated a significant focus on tax reductions.
The Tory leader presented the party's position as a key differentiator from the Labour in the run-up to the election.
“When I say that I want to keep cutting taxes, that’s what we’re going to deliver I’m going to be crystal clear. My priority is cutting taxes,” he told the newspaper.
He added that his priority lies in delivering a more tax-friendly environment.
Sunak hinted at an imminent income tax cut in the March 6 budget, preceding the election.
This reduction could potentially be supported by additional welfare reforms, building on the £4 billion in savings from changes announced in September.
Last week the prime minister said that general election will be held in the second half of this year.
Sunak also stressed his strategy of funding tax cuts by streamlining Britain's welfare system and overall government spending.
He specifically mentioned measures such as a hiring freeze on civil servants as part of this fiscal approach.
The Prime Minister expressed his focus on levies "on work," drawing attention to the recent 2p National Insurance cut, which he sees as aligning with his vision for a tax structure that rewards hard work.
Sunak's stance goes beyond that of chancellor Jeremy Hunt, who was less definitive about tax cuts in a recent statement.
"The Autumn Statement delivered the biggest set of tax cuts in one event since the 1980s. That should give people a sense of the scale of what we’ve just done, and a sense of my ambition and the chancellor’s determination to cut taxes," he told The Telegraph.
As the election approaches, Sunak highlighted the sharp contrast between the Tory's focus on tax cuts and what he perceives as the Labour's inclination toward increased government spending.
Meanwhile, chancellor Hunt is facing pressure from over 45 Tory MPs to address concerns about forecasting errors by the Office for Budget Responsibility ahead of the budget.
Additionally, Hunt hinted at the possibility of an inheritance tax cut, referring to it as "a pernicious tax" in a recent statement.
Damian Talbot