National Insurance: Downing Street says April rally will go ahead ‘no ifs, no but’ despite reports PM considering full turn | politics news

[ad_1]

Downing Street denied that Boris Johnson was “undecided” about a planned National Insurance increase in April.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman dismissed reports that Johnson was considering scrapping the tax increase in response to pressure from Tory MPs.

“The prime minister and chancellor are fully committed to introducing the health and social care tax in April,” the spokesperson said.

Please use Chrome browser for an accessible video player

0:17 ‘Vital’ that the COVID backlog is funded

“No, no but”

“We’ve talked before about why we’re doing this, in order to give the NHS the money it needs to tackle the backlog that has built up, as well as tackle the issue of long-term social care. So as I say, we’re committed to delivering that in April.”

Asked if this meant that the increase would come into effect, the spokesman said: “Yes.”

Earlier, Technology Minister Chris Phelp told Sky News the money was needed for the NHS and social care, and the move was a “proportionate way” to find the money.

Asked if the rally was in April, he said, “Yes, it’s moving forward.”

More about National Insurance

“It was approved by the entire Cabinet, Parliament approved it by a large majority, the money is required to fund the NHS, which is something I think is a national priority.

“It’s £36 billion over three years to fund the NHS and social care.

“We need to invest that money to make sure the NHS has the resources it needs to recover after the pandemic, and this is a proportional way of finding that money.”

Please use Chrome browser for an accessible video player

0:34 ‘Economy is doing better’ than expected – Conservative Party

The increase must be given up

His comments come after The Times reported that the prime minister is considering delaying the impending 1.25 percentage point increase for a year as “red meat” for his critics as he faces pressure over the party scandal.

Critics of the policy also argued that it would hit the public even more at a time when the cost of living continues to rise.

But speaking to Sky News, a senior Conservative MP called on the government to delay the increase.

Mel Stride, who chairs the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee, told Sky News that “for one year, the increase should be given up” because the economy is running better than the Office of Budget Responsibility had predicted.

Stride warned Treasury ministers to realize that “cost of living pressures are very widespread” and said putting plans on the shelves would be “one way to help address some of that”.

[ad_2]