UK inflation - live: Tories call for Bank of England to cut interest rates despite market gloom over rising prices
The Independent✕ Close Hunt attacks Labour and says he refutes 'myths' the economy is worse under Tories For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Tories are calling for the Bank of England to cut interest rates despite market gloom over new inflation data. But Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former Conservative business secretary, argued the Bank should have cut rates already because “inflation is a lagging indicator.” Paul Scully, a former minister, said cutting the rate would “bring relief to many who are fixing their mortgages for the next few years”. Paula Bejarano Carbo, NIESR economist, added said persistent core inflation and strong wage growth data suggested the Bank “may exert caution at its upcoming meeting and hold interest rates, despite today’s encouraging fall in the headline rate.” Suren Thiru, economics director at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, said a June cut was now “unlikely”.