Katy Balls Katy Balls

Will Tory MPs really back tax rises?

Another day, another story mooting a new tax rise. Today the Sun reports the Chancellor is considering a rise in National Insurance contributions for the self-employed. Like other tax rises floated in recent days – from fuel duty to corporation tax to capital gains tax – it has quickly met opposition from members of the Tory party whether it be No.10, rival ministers or the parliamentary party.

With Rishi Sunak looking ahead to the Autumn Budget, no proposals are definite. However, the backlash over every measure that’s been floated points to a problem coming up the track: no unifying Conservative economic principle. Long gone are the days of David Cameron and George Osborne’s long term economic plan. Boris Johnson has made clear on numerous occasions that he has no desire to return to austerity measures and his new look Tory party also campaigned on a high spend message in the 2019 election.

There is a problem coming up the track: no unifying Conservative economic principle

As a result, the new intake of MPs contains many who expect high investment in their areas.

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