British PM race: Rishi Sunak tables radical tax vision
Tax cuts have become the dominant issue in election campaign
LONDON: As the voting process for the new Conservative Party leader formally opened with postal ballots being mailed out to Tory members from Monday, Rishi Sunak vowed to cut the basic rate of income tax by 20 per cent in a few years if he is elected Britain's Prime Minister.
The 42-year-old former Chancellor, who is trailing his rival Liz Truss in the opinion polls and bookmaker's odds, said his "radical vision" would mean a 20 per cent tax reduction the "largest cut to income tax in 30 years".
Tax cuts have become the dominant issue in the election campaign and while Truss has pledged cuts from day one, Sunak has sought to focus on a more measured approach in order to curb soaring inflation.
"What I'm putting to people today is a vision to deliver the biggest income tax cut since (former Tory Prime Minister) Margaret Thatcher's government," said Sunak.
"It is a radical vision but it is also a realistic one and there are some core principles that I'm simply not prepared to compromise on, whatever the prize, he said. Under the proposals, Sunak said he would build on his previously announced 1p cut to income tax in April 2024. A further 3p off by the end of the next Parliament, around 2029, will be paid for through economic growth.
Sounding a warning note and an indirect attack at his rival's tax pledges, the British Indian former minister added: Firstly, I will never get taxes down in a way that just puts inflation up. Secondly, I will never make promises I can't pay for. And thirdly, I will always be honest about the challenges we face.
"Because winning this leadership contest without levelling with people about what lies ahead would not only be dishonest it would be an act of self-sabotage that condemns our party to defeat at the next general election and consigns us to a long period in Opposition.
His campaign team said the number one priority for Sunak, if elected Tory leader and British Prime Minister on September 5, will be to tackle inflation and he has the right plan to do that by getting borrowing under control and implementing supply side reform in order to improve productivity.