Parties blast Tory plans to freeze income tax for rich
THE Tories were accused of a plot to “balance the books on the backs of the poor” after Sir Michael Fallon said the rich would escape income tax hikes on their watch.
The Defence Secretary declared voting Tory on Thursday was “the only way” for top earners to protect their pay packet.
But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has accused the Conservatives of being in “complete chaos” after Prime Minister Theresa May refused to back her minister’s comments.
The SNP, meanwhile, claimed Sir Michael had “let the cat out of the bag”.
“We are not in the business of punishing people for getting on,” Sir Michael said.
“On the contrary, we want people to keep more of their earnings. The only way they can be sure their taxes won’t rise is to vote Conservative.”
Asked if high earners could confidently vote Conservative, knowing that their income tax would not go up, he said: “Yes.”
His comments go further than the Tory manifesto, which pledges to keep taxes “low”.
Campaigning in Yorkshire, Mrs May insisted her pitch to voters “hadn’t changed” and it was her “firm intention” to reduce taxes for ordinary people.
She said: “What people will know when they go to vote on Thursday is that it is the Conservative Party that always has been, is and always will be a low-tax party. It is our firm intention to reduce taxes for ordinary working families.”
The clash was seized on by Mr Corbyn, who said the Conservative leadership was in disarray.
“I think there’s complete chaos going on at the top of the Government,” he said.
“One minister says they’re going to give no more tax rises, indeed possibly tax reductions for the very wealthiest, then they can’t answer the question about tax rises for the rest of the population, and then they can’t answer the questions about funding social care.”
The SNP’s economy spokesman, Stewart Hosie, said: “Tory plans for a tax freeze for the richest in society were clearly airbrushed out of their manifesto, but Michael Fallon has let the cat out of the bag.
“Tories are planning to balance the books on the backs of the poor, pensioners and ordinary hard working people whilst protecting the richest in our society.”
Scottish Lib Dem and former business minister Jo Swinson said: “The Conservatives are in utter mayhem over their tax policy.”