Senior Tories break ranks and lash out at Truss as tax row explodes

Kwasi Kwarteng grilled by Ferrari on attending Tory party event

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

A leading ally of former Chancellor Rishi Sunak has led the attack on Liz Truss this morning over her U-turn on scrapping the 45p rate for higher earners claiming she had “shown the wrong values” even to consider it. Teesside Mayor Ben Houchen, one of Mr Sunak’s key lieutenants during the summer leadership contest, became the latest top figure to question the Prime Minister’s priorities after Michael Gove, another Sunak ally, led the rebellion yesterday which forced the U-turn.

With Tory members in shock over the announcement by Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, this morning that the policy had been abandoned a CCHQ event was only half attended with the party faithful digesting the news.

But the speaker at the event, Mr Houchen, immediately launched an attack on the policy.

Asked by the event chairman what he thought of the U-turn, Mr Houchen said: “I was very pleased. I was calling for it before it became fashionable.”

He added that he “gets the economics” of the idea but warned that “it sent the wrong values at a time when people on low and even middle incomes are struggling to pay their bills” because of the cost of living crisis.

“The message we were sending was the wrong values to share with the country.

And with a message about the Red Wall areas won off Labour, he added: “It has taken us backwards in terms of the political journey we have been on for the last 15 years.”

But others were furious that the Government had made the U-turn.

Local government minister Paul Scully appeared frustrated as he told a fringe event: “There is never seemingly a good time to do tax cuts as we’ve just seen this morning.

“Last week it was a measure that was going to make us more competitive, looking at our near neighbours like Norway and Italy.

“Today it’s just a millstone round out neck.”

More to follow…

Source: Read Full Article