Boris Johnson’s tax gamble

Will MPs go along with Boris Johnson’s social care plans? On Tuesday, the Prime Minister is expected to share his plan to reform social care through a 1 per cent hike on national insurance with his cabinet before presenting it to MPs. Given raising national insurance amounts to breaking a manifesto pledge, there are already backbenchers who have gone public with their concerns. John Redwood has taken to social media to declare it a ‘bad idea’ while several ministers have voiced their opposition under anonymity.

Now Johnson’s former aide Dominic Cummings has penned a blog calling ministers to challenge the Prime Minister over his plan: ‘If you’re a cabinet minister and want to protect your own political position, I strongly suggest that over the next 48 hours you insist to the chief whip on full discussion on Tuesday of the whole plan for the policy, implementation, and communication — before any announcement, otherwise the PM should not expect me to defend it on TV’.