Ex-Chancellor Sajid Javid wades into Budget tax row as he ‘likes’ a tweet warning that Britain is ‘overtaxed’
- Government currently trying to figure out if Budget on March 11 will go ahead
- Cabinet reshuffle, resignation of Sajid Javid has put timing of Budget in doubt
- Downing Street facing pressure to cut taxes and Mr Javid waded into row today
Former chancellor Sajid Javid today weighed into a pre-Budget tax row as he suggested the government should be looking to cut levies on hard-working families next month.
The Budget is supposed to be taking place on March 11 but last week’s cabinet reshuffle has cast doubt on whether it will go ahead.
Rishi Sunak, the new Chancellor, is now working on the big fiscal address but Downing Street is still unable to say whether it will be pushed back.
Mr Sunak’s predecessor today piled the pressure on Mr Sunak to announce a wave of tax cuts when he gets to his feet to set out his financial vision for the country.
Mr Javid made clear his thoughts on what direction the government should be heading in as he liked a tweet posted by the Guido Fawkes website which pointed out that the UK’s tax burden is the ‘highest it has been for a generation’.
The tweet concluded by stating that ‘Britain is overtaxed’.
Mr Javid made clear his thoughts on what direction the government should be heading in as he liked a tweet posted by the Guido Fawkes website which pointed out that the UK’s tax burden is the ‘highest it has been for a generation’
Rishi Sunak (second from the right), the new Chancellor, is now working on the big fiscal address but Downing Street is still unable to say whether it will be pushed back
Tory MPs calling for tax cuts is a familiar sight ahead of every budget deloivered by a Conservative government.
But the fact that Mr Javid has broken cover so quickly after leaving the government is likely to raise eyebrows as he looks to reposition himself as a backbencher.
Mr Javid resigned as chancellor last Thursday he refused demands from the PM’s top aide Dominic Cummings to sack all of his staff.
His decision to walk then prompted his Treasury deputy Mr Sunak to be swiftly elevated to the second most powerful job in the government.
Mr Sunak reportedly faced immediate pressure from Number 10 to tear up his predecessor’s tight spending rules while Downing Street also started to create a new ‘joint’ economic team which will help make key decisions, taking control away from the Treasury.
However, any decision to splash the cash at the next Budget will likely make tax cuts impossible.
The shake-up at the Treasury has cast doubt on whether the Budget will still go ahead on March 11.
The Prime Minister’s deputy spokesman today refused to say whether Boris Johnson believes the UK’s tax burden is too high or too low.
He said: ‘I will refer you to the upcoming budget and anything of that nature will be part of that.’
Pushed on the issue again, the spokesman said: ‘Any changes to tax would be a fiscal matter which would be as part of a Budget.’