Matthew Lynn Matthew Lynn

Rishi Sunak’s energy bill u-turn is too little, too late

Sunak's tax tweak makes him look inconsistent and weak without winning any extra votes

(Credit: Getty images)

A tweak to the landfill tax perhaps? A minor adjustment to the airport levy? Rishi Sunak no doubt stayed up late into the night sifting through all the most minor tax cuts he could offer before re-launching his campaign with a dramatic u-turn. In the end, he plumped for axing VAT on energy bills, promising to scrap it for a year. Sunak’s campaign insist it will save the average household an estimated £160 as prices go up. The trouble is, it is too little, too late: if Sunak wanted to cut taxes he needed something far bigger and bolder.

Sunak has gone for the most minor tax tweak imaginable, making himself look inconsistent and weak without winning any extra votes

Sunak’s announcement is a sign of desperation. The Conservative party’s members look to have already chosen their next prime minister. Liz Truss is not way ahead in the polls because she is a fantastic speaker (she isn’t) or because she connects with ordinary people (she doesn’t).

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