It’s time for Rishi Sunak to become a low-tax Tory

This week marks two years since Rishi Sunak was thrust from relative obscurity into the political spotlight as Chancellor of the Exchequer. After less than a month in post, he delivered his first Budget. Weeks later, Britain was in lockdown.

How has the ‘Covid Chancellor’ fared in the intervening period? When he was splashing taxpayer cash early on in the pandemic, he was cheered to the rafters. Now, he faces criticism both for holding the line against big spending colleagues, and for presiding over the highest tax burden in several decades.

If Sunak were a speech, his opening paragraph would be full of promises. He’s a low-tax Thatcherite who believes in the power of the free market and champions freeports. He was a lone voice early in the pandemic pushing against more stringent Covid controls. When challenged, he reminded us that ‘Everyone’s job in the cabinet is to provide the Prime Minister with the best advice that they can in their area of expertise.’