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

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