Jeremy Hunt refuses to commit to tax cuts before 2024 election

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Several senior Tories spokes out against changes announced at Wednesday’s Budget – with Jacob Rees-Mogg decrying the government’s “not good” approach to tax policy. Liz Truss loyalist Simon Clarke – a senior figure in the Conservative Growth Group advocating tax cuts – responded to the Budget by saying “we urgently need to have a more Conservative position on tax.” Ranil Jayawardena said it would “stifle job creation”, while fellow low-tax advocate John Redwood said Mr Hunt needed to understand that “at exactly the time it’s putting the rate up, our competitors are going the other way.” Ex-cabinet minister Andrea Leadsom told Times Radio: “As soon as we possibly can we’ve got to link those tax thresholds to inflation.” Britain’s overall tax burden is predicted to rise to levels not seen since the World War II, the Office for Budget Responsibility said. But Mr Rees-Mogg said “salami-slicing” the corporation tax rise with the capital allowance schemes was “not a good approach to tax policy.” The former Brexit opportunities minister told Times Radio he was “certainly worried” about the freezing of thresholds on income tax, adding: “High taxes are always damaging for political parties.” But Tory Treasury secretary John Glen defended the changes. Many mothers want to go back to work – but many mothers don’t.” One Tory MP at the 1922 Committee meeting with Mr Hunt last night called the Budget a “triumph”.