Rishi Sunak has outlined plans for a 2p national insurance cut, marking a significant move to revitalise the Tory General Election campaign.
Speaking at the launch of the Conservative manifesto at Silverstone motor racing circuit, the Prime Minister framed himself as a successor to Margaret Thatcher, emphasising tax reduction in an effort to counter Labour’s persistent 20-point lead in the polls.
Sunak proclaimed the Conservative vision of “lower immigration, lower taxes and protected pensions” as essential to a “secure future.”
In contrast, Sir Keir Starmer argued that Sunak’s promises lack financial backing, warning that they would lead to “five more years of chaos” under Conservative rule.
The Conservatives had already reduced employees’ national insurance from 10% to 8% in the March budget, following a similar reduction in autumn 2023. This move is expected to cost nearly £10 billion annually by 2028-29.
The manifesto includes a further 2p reduction, aiming to eliminate national insurance altogether to prevent double taxation on workers, who also pay income tax.
Additionally, the Tories pledged to abolish the main rate of self-employed national insurance by the end of the current Parliament.
Sunak’s manifesto sets a target to reduce employee national insurance to 6% by April 2027, projected to cost £10.3 billion by 2029-30. This reduction, coupled with previous cuts, is estimated to save the average worker earning £35,000 around £1,350 in total taxes.
The party also confirmed its promise not to increase income tax or VAT rates.
The combined package of national insurance cuts for employees and the self-employed, along with other tax measures such as the “triple lock plus” for pensioners, changes to child benefit, stamp duty, and capital gains tax, is expected to cost the Exchequer £17.2 billion annually by 2029-30.
Sunak assured that these cuts would be funded by controlling the “unsustainable” rise in welfare spending.
In his speech, Sunak committed to reducing migration, promising to “halve migration as we have halved inflation and then reduce it every single year.”
The manifesto proposed requiring migrants to undergo health checks before arriving in the UK and possibly paying a higher immigration health surcharge or buying insurance if they are likely to burden the NHS.
It also outlined a “binding, legal cap” on work and family visas, to decrease annually throughout the next Parliament.
While the manifesto stops short of suggesting the UK might leave the European Convention on Human Rights, it affirms a commitment to a relentless process of deporting illegal migrants to Rwanda, with regular monthly flights starting in July.
Sunak emphasised, “If we are forced to choose between our security and the jurisdiction of a foreign court, including the ECHR, we will always choose our security.”
Acknowledging the difficulties in home ownership under Conservative rule, Sunak promised measures to help people get on the property ladder, including building 1.6 million new homes by expediting planning on brownfield sites in inner cities and eliminating flawed EU regulations.
The Prime Minister has faced a challenging period following his decision to leave the 80th anniversary of D-Day commemorations prematurely.
Additionally, he is striving to reverse the dire polling predictions for the Conservative party.
Sunak admitted to public frustration with his party and his leadership, but he asserted that the Conservatives remain the only party “with the big ideas to make our country a better place to live.”
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