Rishi Sunak to claim Tories can lower taxes as he launches election manifesto
The Prime Minister will be hoping to improve his party’s outlook as Labour continues to enjoy a strong lead in the opinion polls.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Rishi Sunak is expected to draw upon the spirit of Margaret Thatcher as he launches the Conservatives’ General Election manifesto.
The Prime Minister will stress the Tories believe in “sound money” given they are the “party of Margaret Thatcher and Nigel Lawson”, the latter renowned as cutting taxes during his time as chancellor in the Thatcher government.
He will also claim that the Tories will ensure “we have lower welfare so we can lower taxes”.
Mr Sunak will launch the manifesto after a bruising few days in the campaign in which he has dismissed resignation rumours amid the ongoing fallout over his early departure from D-Day commemorations.
Policy pledges from the Tories include no increases to income tax, national insurance or VAT, an expansion of levelling up funding with a pledge to give 30 towns £20 million, and plans to boost community care by expanding Pharmacy First and building 100 new GP surgeries and modernising 150 more.
The party has also promised to increase the income tax personal allowance for pensioners, giving them a tax cut worth around £95 in 2025-26, rising to £275 in 2029-30.
Mandatory national service for 18-year-olds was among the first pledges by Mr Sunak and would require teenagers to choose between taking a 12-month placement in the armed forces or “volunteer” work in their community one weekend a month for a year.
The Conservatives also have an ambition to scrap national insurance when financially responsible to do so, with Labour suggesting such a policy could cost £46 billion by 2029/30.
With Labour enjoying a strong lead over the Tories in the opinion polls, and with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK hoping to appeal to Tory voters, Mr Sunak will be hoping to improve his party’s outlook at the manifesto launch.
We will ensure that we have lower welfare so we can lower taxes
He is expected to say on Tuesday: “We Conservatives have a plan to give you financial security.
“We will enable working people to keep more of the money you earn because you have earned it and have the right to choose what to spend it on.
“Keir Starmer takes a very different view.
“He says he’s a socialist, and we know what socialists always do: take more of your money.
“And we know that the plans Labour have already announced will require them to increase taxes on working households by £2,094.
“We Conservatives have had to take difficult decisions because of Covid.
“But we are now cutting taxes for earners, parents and pensioners.
“We are the party of Margaret Thatcher and Nigel Lawson, a party, unlike Labour, that believes in sound money.
Rishi Sunak's manifesto isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on
“In this party, we believe that it is morally right that those who can work do work, and that hard work is rewarded with people being able to keep more of their own money.
“We will ensure that we have lower welfare so we can lower taxes.”
Mr Sunak last week denied accusations from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer that he “lied” by saying Labour would hike taxes by £2,000 in claims criticised by the UK statistics watchdog.
Pat McFadden, Labour’s national campaign co-ordinator, said: “The one thing to know about the desperate series of unfunded commitments in the Tory manifesto is that the money’s not there.
“Their manifesto will be the most expensive panic attack in history. The Tories’ scattergun and unfunded commitments have racked up billions with no idea from them of how to pay for it.
“They used to care about economic credibility. Now, in their desperation, they spend every day torching whatever remnants of it they had left.”
Wendy Chamberlain, Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesperson, said: “Rishi Sunak’s manifesto isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.
“The only guarantee they’re good for is unmitigated failure.
“The wheels have already fallen off their campaign, and the promises they make are just a desperate attempt to rescue Rishi Sunak.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.