How stupid can you get? Cameron hits out at Budget as Tory rebellion stirs
Former PM caught voicing fears over broken pledge while Hammond faces challenge from Brexiteers
DAVID CAMERON fears the Conservatives’ chances at the next general election have been badly damaged by Philip Hammond’s “stupid” and “mad” decision to break a manifesto pledge.
The former prime minister is understood to be worried that the decision in the Budget to raise National Insurance – despite a guarantee at the 2015 election – will lose the party votes when the country next goes to the ballot box.
Mr Cameron was caught on camera apparently telling Sir Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, and Mike Penning, a defence minister, that the decision was a mistake. According to lipreaders who viewed footage of the exchange, Mr Cameron said: “Breaking the manifesto promise – how stupid can you get.” He added: “It’s just mad.”
Former senior members of his government said Mr Cameron was scarred by the Liberal Democrats’ decision in the Coalition to break their own manifesto pledge and support an increase in university tuition fees. One said: “David Cameron was always crystal clear – if you get to a position of having to make a pledge you have to stick with it.”
This meant that as prime minister he never moved on his controversial commitments to spend 0.7 per cent of national income on overseas aid or the triple lock protection for pensions.
The source said that it would have been “extraordinary” if Theresa May and Mr Hammond had not been in the political Cabinet which supported the plans in the manifesto. “There is no way a serving Cabinet minister would not be clear about the manifesto. Everyone signed up to it.”
The Chancellor is under pressure over his first Budget after the 2 per cent increase in National Insurance contributions for 2.5 million self-employed workers were opposed by more than 30 Tory MPs.
A former government minister claimed that Tory MPs were rebelling over National Insurance in an attempt to get Mr Hammond sacked because of concerns he wants to frustrate Brexit.
The former minister, who backed
Remain in the referendum, told The Daily Telegraph that Mr Hammond’s critics were “hunting as a pack” in order to remove him from office. “Part of the strategy is for the hard-Brexiteers [to unite]. It is a ‘get Philip Hammond who is going to f--- Brexit’, as opposed to a genuine outrage.”
The Telegraph can also disclose that two Cabinet ministers believe that Mr Hammond will be forced to back down because the rises show that the Conservatives “can’t be trusted on tax”. Iain Duncan Smith, a former welfare secre- tary named as one of those seeking to remove Mr Hammond, said the claims were “complete rubbish”.
Asked if he trusted Mr Hammond to pursue a “hard” Brexit, Mr Duncan Smith replied: “He has got to get on with it. I trust the Prime Minister.”
Another rebel MP, who voted Remain, said: “This is absolutely nothing to do with Brexit. I was not happy with the deficit reduction target.
“I just don’t think he is that good, Philip Hammond. I just don’t think he is a Tory. I got into politics to reduce debt and the deficit.”
There are reports of mounting tensions between Downing Street and the Treasury. It was claimed yesterday that Mrs May’s advisers had pushed Mr Hammond to raise National Insurance contributions for high earners even more. Downing Street yesterday insisted that Mrs May remains “fully committed” to reforming National Insurance for the self-employed and the 2 per cent rise in class 4 contributions.
The spokesman added: “The Prime Minister has said that the Chancellor and his ministers will be talking to MPs and businesses over the summer. The Prime Minister talks to MPs all the time.”