Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has refused to commit to tax cuts ahead of the next election, despite growing calls from inside his party.
His cabinet colleague Michael Gove told Sky News on Sunday that he wanted to see “the tax burden reduced” by the time the public goes to the polls.
But speaking to Kay Burley this morning, Mr Hunt said “big tax cuts now… would be inflationary”, and “nothing is going to compromise the battle” to bring that figure down.
Asked if we could see a headline tax cut before the next election, he said: “It’s very difficult to see having that kind of tax cut this year.”
The comments came ahead of the chancellor’s speech to the Conservative Party conference in Manchester this afternoon, where he is due to announce a rise in the living wage and stronger benefits sanctions.