Tax rise to fund NHS moves step closer

TORY MPs are being asked whether they would support a tax rise for the NHS amid claims an extra £850 per household would be needed by 2022.

Party whips have approached Conservative backbenchers to find out if they would back an increase in income tax or national insurance to save the Health Service.

Pressure on Philip Hammond to put up taxes has been growing in recent weeks, with Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt claiming voters would be willing to pay more tax to fund it. Brexiteers want the Prime Minister to boost spending and honour the Leave campaign’s pledge of £350million more a week for the NHS.

Yesterday the Institute for Fiscal Studies said the only way to avoid increasing borrowing or cutting non-health public spending was to put up taxes. It said that to modernise the NHS, spending rises of 4 per cent a year are needed. By 2022/23 that would equate to £850 per household on average.

If taxes were not raised, spending cuts of £26billion would be needed to other departments or the Government would have to abandon its pledge to balance the books.

The IFS said: ‘The Government is in a bind. It is extremely doubtful that large additional cuts to spending on other public services are either feasible politically or consistent with maintaining quality.’