Why is Sunak cutting a tax only paid by the rich?

Last week, Rishi Sunak struck a blow for ordinary people against the elitist project that is net zero, assuring them that a government led by him will not be loading them with tens of thousands of pounds in costs for fitting heat pumps, forcing them to buy an impractical electric car or stinging them in taxes for flying off on holiday. The opposition, at least in the shape of Ed Miliband, fell right into his trap. As polls have shown over and over again, public support for net zero tends to melt away very fast when it comes to asking them about issues which threaten to affect them personally.    

So why is the PM now trying to ruin it all by – according to the Sunday Times – preparing to announce in his conference speech that the government will slash the rate of inheritance tax prior to abolishing it for good? It is true that inheritance tax (IHT) often shows up in polls as Britain’s most-hated tax – although people don’t tend to like any taxes.