Tax cuts for millions within days of Brexit
Average families to be £200 better off as Johnson unveils his key priorities if victorious in election
BORIS JOHNSON today pledges a
£200 tax cut for millions of families within days of Brexit.
In a statement of intent for the first 100 days of a new Tory government, Mr Johnson has listed his top priorities, including a February “Brexit budget”.
It comes as the Conservatives prepare a major advertising blitz to counteract any swing back to Labour in the final seven days of the election campaign amid fears Remainers desperate to stop Brexit are switching to Labour.
An exclusive poll for The Daily Telegraph found independent candidates were gaining ground amid a growing disaffection with the main parties ahead of polling day next Thursday.
A February budget would allow Mr Johnson to deliver on a manifesto pledge to cut taxes for hard-working families by raising the National Insurance threshold to £9,500 from April, giving an average family with two earners a tax cut of up to £200 a year.
Other planned changes include ending the automatic release of serious violent and sexual offenders after they have served half of their sentences and a major review of defence, security and foreign policy.
The Prime Minister commits today to legislating for a funding increase to schools by raising minimum funding per pupil by March 22 – the 100th day of a new government – while the law would be changed to increase the amount migrants pay to use the NHS.
The Tories will formally begin crossparty talks to find “an enduring solution” to the social care crisis and sign off an agreement to end mobile phone black spots in the countryside.
Work will also have started on enshrining in law the additional £33.9billion the party has committed to spending on the NHS every year and on superfast broadband across the UK.
Legislation for an Australian-style points-based immigration system will be introduced, along with tougher sentences to ensure terrorists spend longer in prison, and a system to prevent vexatious legal claims against Armed Forces veterans. Other laws to be spelt out in a Queen’s Speech on Dec 19, but which will not have started their passage through Parliament, include a Minimum Service Agreement Bill to ensure commuters are not stranded during strikes.
Asked on Peston last night when the UK will come out of the transition period, Mr Johnson responded: “Well, the transition period ends as you know, by the end of 2020, but that is ample time, that is ample time.”
He said it was “nonsense” to suggest otherwise, adding: “Look at what we did in three months.”
It comes amid reports of “quite a lot of nervousness” at Tory headquarters. Their fear is that the Remain vote is coalescing around Labour because of the Conservatives’ success in presenting
‘If we’re going to get Brexit done, then Remainers will vote for the other guy, whatever he says’
the contest as a “binary” Brexit choice. One party aide told The Spectator magazine today: “If we’re going to get Brexit done, then Remainers will vote for the other guy, whatever he says.”
Recent polls have consistently shown Labour narrowing the gap on the Conservatives as the Lib Dem vote is squeezed. Pollsters believe the Tories have won back as many Brexit Party voters as they are likely to.
Conservative strategists are also worried that if Labour continues to eat away at the Lib Dem vote, the possibility of a hung parliament – and a Labour-snp coalition with Mr Corbyn in Downing Street – will become a genuine threat.
Mr Johnson said: “I believe the British people will choose to go forwards and not return to the nightmare of a broken hung parliament.”
Sajid Javid, the Chancellor, said: “There is a path to victory, but it’s a narrow path.”