The Conservatives are set to revive their general election campaign with a manifesto launch promising giveaways, including a 2p cut in national insurance. Rishi Sunak is expected to emphasize the party’s belief in “sound money” and their association with Margaret Thatcher and Nigel Lawson, known for tax cuts during their time in government. The manifesto is anticipated to include almost £20bn in tax cuts and spending, such as the national insurance cut, child benefit expansion, and an income tax cut for pensioners. This move comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson reiterated his claim that a Labour government would lead to a £2,000 increase in household taxes, a statement that was challenged during an interview with BBC’s Panorama program.
General election news live: Tory manifesto aims to save ailing campaign with 2p national insurance cut
Minister denies Rishi Sunak will quit before general election after D-Day blunder
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The Conservatives will aim to revive their ailing general election campaign with a manifesto launch set promising giveaways including another 2p cut in national insurance.
Rishi Sunak is expected to tell voters the Tories believe in “sound money” and “are the party of Margaret Thatcher and Nigel Lawson” – the latter renowned for cutting taxes during his time as chancellor in the Thatcher government.
The manifesto is set to contain a string of giveaways amounting to almost £20bn in tax cuts and spending, including the national insurance cut, child benefit expansion and an income tax cut for pensioners.
It comes after the prime minister doubled down on his disputed claim that a Labour government would result in household taxes going up by £2,000.
During an election interview with BBC’s Panorama programme broadcast on Monday evening, Mr Sunak stood by the figure when it was put to him as “misleading”.
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Reform UK defends candidate over Hitler comments
The official Reform spokesperson has defended Ian Gribbin over comments he made that Britain should have “taken Hitler up on his offer of neutrality”.
The candidate for Bexhill and Battle reportedly wrote on a website’s comment section: “Britain’s warped mindset values weird notions of international morality rather than looking after its own people.”
He also reportedly said that women were the “sponging gender” and should be “deprived of health care”.
The party said the comments were “probably true” and “shared by the vast majority of the British establishment including the BBC of its day”.
The spokesperson also told The Jewish Chronicle that Mr Gribbin had “done nothing wrong” and he would not be sacked.
The BBC later said Gribbin had apologised for the “old comments and withdraw them unreservedly and the upset that they have caused”.
Ian Gribbin praised Vladimir Putin, described Winston Churchill as ‘abysmal’ and says Britain should have ‘taken Hitler up on his offer of neutrality’ instead of fighting the Nazis (Reform UK)
Salma Ouaguira11 June 2024 08:02
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Salma Ouaguira11 June 2024 07:56
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Tories: Labour trying to ‘drift across the line’
Mel Stride has claimed Labour is trying to “drift across the line” and into power and accused Sir Keir Starmer of using a “Ming Vase” strategy during the general election campaign.
The Work and Pensions Secretary told Sky News: “If you think about this election campaign, you have got Labour who don’t want to say anything, they want to keep a small profile, they want to carry that Ming Vase across the polished floor, they want to hold onto that lead and drift across the line.
“We are the party that is out there with the bold, clear plan for our country.”
Salma Ouaguira11 June 2024 07:54
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Unemployment rate rises unexpectedly to highest level in years
The jobs market weakens again after an unexpected rise in unemployment rate to highest levels since 2021.
The Office for National Statistic (ONS) has said the rate has skyrocketed to 4.4 per cent in the three months to April, which is up from 4.3 per cent in the three months to March.
Vacancies also plummeted again, down 12,000 to 904,000 in the three months to May.
But the figures showed regular earnings growth remained unchanged at 6% in the three months to April and continued to outstrip price rises – up 2.9% when taking Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation into account, which is the highest since the three months to August 2021.
The ONS said: “This month’s figures continue to show signs that the labour market may be cooling, with the number of vacancies still falling and unemployment rising, though earnings growth remains relatively strong.”
Salma Ouaguira11 June 2024 07:51
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Mel Stride insists Labour’s election promises ‘to cost £2,000 in tax rises’
The work and pensions secretary has doubled down on the claims despite the figure being contested.
Mr Stride has been challenged after citing the figure and told Labour had branded it a “barefaced lie”.
He replied: “Well, no, not at all. I don’t know if you saw the Prime Minister on Panorama’s interview last night, he set out very clearly where those figures come from.
“There are 27 different spending commitments, 21 of them have been costed by the Treasury. Two of them actually are Labour’s own figures including the largest figure of all, this so-called green prosperity plan that they have which is costed at £23 billion.
“There is no getting away from the fact that there is this £38.5 billion black hole. What that is going to mean is more tax.”
Salma Ouaguira11 June 2024 07:47
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Rishi Sunak to offer tax cuts as he admits buying home has become harder under Tories
Salma Ouaguira11 June 2024 07:46
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Rightwing Tories plot ‘rebel manifesto’ if launch falls flat
Tory right-wingers are plotting to urge Rishi Sunak to toughen up action on immigration and human rights law before the election if his promises fall flat today.
Politicians including Suella Braverman and Robert Jenrick are among figures waiting to see the manifesto result, according to The Guardian.
If the launch doesn’t land well among voters, they plan to set out an emergency press conference next week to offer alternative pledges.
A former cabinet minister said the rebel manifesto could be published inn the days ahead, adding: “We’ll just have to see what emerges.”
One Tory source said: “Sunak doesn’t want to leave. This is just language to appease the right. It’s signalling. There’s no way he wants a cabinet row over this in the middle of the campaign, and some of his ministers are firmly against.”
Salma Ouaguira11 June 2024 07:36
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Tories to pledge national insurance cut in manifesto
The Conservatives are expected to promise to cut national insurance by another 2p at the manifesto launch later today.
Rishi Sunak and chancellor Jeremy Hunt have already reduced 4p off in the past months.
But despite the attractive offer, the Tories are still struggling behind Labour in the polls.
Mr Hunt previously admitted the tax cuts haven’t made a difference among voters.
He told the Mail last week: “The fact that we’ve had two significant tax cuts that haven’t really changed the polls demonstrates to me that having a third one with the same again is unlikely to change the calculus.”
Salma Ouaguira11 June 2024 07:29
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Mel Stride vows no tax rises if Tories win
The Cabinet minister has promised that the Conservatives will not rise any taxes if they win the general election.
The work and pensions secretary was asked whether there would be not ax rises under the Tories.
Mr Streeting told BBC Breakfast: “We are not able to make that commitment today because the money simply isn’t there and I think Rishi Sunak should level with people that the money simply isn’t there.
“I think he is taking people for fools.”
(PA Wire)
Salma Ouaguira11 June 2024 07:22
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Labour: ‘Sunak taking people for fools’ over tax cut
Labour’s shadow health secretary Wes Streeting is doing the media round this morning. He is now speaking about the Tories’ plan to cut 2p from National Insurance.
Mr Streeting has been asked whether the party would match the Conservative promise, but he says Rishi Sunak won’t be able to stick to that commitment because “the money simply isn’t there”.
He told BBC Breakfast: “We are not able to make that commitment today because the money simply isn’t there and I think Rishi Sunak should level with people that the money simply isn’t there.
“I think he is taking people for fools.”
Salma Ouaguira11 June 2024 07:19
Read the full story on www.independent.co.uk
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/general-election-2024-sunak-tax-panorama-manifesto-b2560197.html