Rishi Sunak, who is stepping into the role of leading the Conservative Party conference as the British Prime Minister for the first time this weekend, is entering the annual gathering, which commences on Sunday, amid mounting pressure from his fellow party members regarding tax cuts. These calls for tax reduction come as the governing party gears up for an upcoming general election, anticipated to take place in 2024.
Notably, his predecessor, Liz Truss, who had a notably brief stint as Prime Minister last year, made headlines with her controversial mini-budget that proposed tax cuts. Also, former Indian-origin Home Secretary Priti Patel, among other Tory MPs, has openly expressed dissatisfaction with the current taxation landscape.
This discontent has surfaced in the wake of a recent forecast by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), a think tank, which revealed that tax levels in the UK have reached their highest point in the past 70 years.
Liz Truss took to Twitter to address this situation, stating, "This unprecedentedly high tax burden is one of the reasons our economy is stagnating and why we need to cut taxes to help make Britain grow again." She emphasized the importance of reducing the tax burden, especially during times when family budgets are under significant pressure.
Priti Patel, who received the title of Dame from former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and received the honor at Windsor Castle earlier this week, shared her views on the matter during an interview with 'GB News.' She asserted that taxes must begin to decrease. Patel pointed out that the tax burden in the UK has now reached a 70-year high and labeled it as unsustainable, emphasizing that it is the hard-working individuals across the country who bear the brunt of these taxes. She stressed the importance of conservative principles, highlighting the need for the public to retain a greater portion of their earnings, rather than seeing the state's size continue to expand.
Moreover, Patel challenged the Sunak-led government's assertion that taxes cannot be reduced while inflation remains high. Drawing a distinction between the two issues, she recalled the successful approach of former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who tackled inflation while promoting economic growth.
Patel also criticized the internal dynamics within the Tory ranks, describing them as "gamesmanship and shenanigans." She emphasized the importance of moving forward with a forward-facing approach, particularly in preparation for the challenging upcoming general election, and expressed her disapproval of the treatment of two democratically elected Conservative Party leaders, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, who were effectively forced out of office.
Internal divisions and concerns over high taxes are expected to dominate discussions at the Tory party conference, scheduled to be held in Manchester from Sunday, with Rishi Sunak delivering the flagship leader's address on the concluding day, Wednesday.
The 43-year-old British Indian leader is determined to project a strong and cohesive image as he approaches an election year, during which the Tories find themselves trailing behind the Opposition Labour Party in opinion polls.
Sunak has chosen to focus on local issues that he believes will resonate with the British public. Notably, he has taken a firm stance against Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) in England, aiming to prevent their introduction without local support.
In an interview with 'The Sun' on Saturday, he expressed his intention to "slam the brakes on the war on motorists," emphasizing his aim to halt initiatives such as LTNs and blanket 20mph speed limits that are imposed on local communities.
Recent policy adjustments, including the revision of the government's Net Zero policies, which extended the ban on new diesel and petrol cars from 2030 to 2035, have provided Sunak with a slight boost in the opinion polls. However, the Tory conference holds significant importance for Sunak as he endeavors not only to win over the British electorate but also to drown out the divisive voices within his own party.
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