UK's Javid sets out tax-cutting plan in pitch to be PM

He is one of the several Conservative Party leaders promising cuts

By Reuters

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Top Stories

Published: Mon 11 Jul 2022, 6:54 PM

Sajid Javid, a contender to replace Boris Johnson as Britain's prime minister, said on Monday he would cut a slew of taxes and hold an emergency budget to increase help for households hit by the rising cost of living if he was chosen as leader.

Javid, a former finance minister and health minister, is one of several candidates to be Conservative Party leader promising tax cuts. He said he would bring forward an income tax cut, halt a corporation tax rise, and scrap an increase in social security contributions.


He would also cut fuel duty by 10 pence a litre and launch a new 5 billion pound package to reduce energy bills.

"It is vital that we do more to support families dealing with the spike in inflation," Javid said in a policy document.


"These are one off costs to be announced in an Emergency Budget which ... will have minimal impact on fiscal headroom in 2024/25."

Javid quit the government last Tuesday, the first senior minister to resign over Johnson's handling of a string of scandals, triggering the eventual implosion of the government.

In a document setting out his economic plan, Javid said he would bring forward a planned income tax cut to 19 per cent from 20 per cent to come in from 2023, rather than in 2024.

He also said he would ditch the National Insurance Levy - an increase to social security contributions that took effect in April and he publicly defended as health minister to boost spending on the National Health Service and social care.

He said he would hold corporation tax at 19 per cent, rather than raise it to 25 per cent as is currently due in April 2023, with a long term goal of reducing the tax to 15 per cent.

He said he would control public sector wages by ensuring pay does not go up by more than recommended by independent reviews.

ALSO READ:


More news from