Jeremy Hunt hints he will slash MORE taxes in Spring budget as he vows to reduce ‘burden’ to help struggling families
JEREMY Hunt is planning more personal giveaways for Brits, saying: “There are lots of taxes I’d like to cut.”
On the day a two per cent National Insurance fall kicks in for 20 million workers, the Chancellor said he would reduce levies “as soon as I can”.
![Embargoed to 0001 Saturday January 6 Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt watches a demonstration of how to safely climb a telephone pole during a visit to Openreach's L&D Training Centre in Crawley, West Sussex. Picture date: Thursday January 4, 2024. PA Photo. Mr Hunt announced in the autumn statement in November that from January 6, the main rate of national insurance will be cut by two percentage points to 10%.The change to the national insurance rate on earnings between ¿12,570 and ¿50,270 will save someone earning ¿35,000 more than ¿450 a year, according to Treasury figures. See PA story POLITICS Election. Photo credit should read: Daniel Leal/PA Wire](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/POLITICS-NationalInsurance-15325335jpg-JS869947257.jpg?strip=all&w=642)
He tells The Sun today: “That’s what I did in the Autumn Statement and that’s what I hope to do going forward.”
Mr Hunt left the door open to unfreezing income tax rates that have seen millions having to stump up more of their pay.
With the Tories divided over whether to cut inheritance tax, he hinted he was more likely to tackle hits to wage packets in the March Budget if national finances allow — as well as trim public spending.
Mr Hunt said: “If there’s a choice between increasing public spending or reducing the tax burden, my choice is to reduce the tax burden.
“I think people have found the pressures on family budgets very high in the last couple of years.”
The Chancellor also insisted the General Election was up for grabs, pointing to a significant economic recovery.
He said: “It’s entirely ours to win if we are sensible, prudent and continue on the path we’re going, which is to reduce taxes on working families.”
Mr Hunt brushed off Labour’s double digit poll lead and defended himself against the fact today’s National Insurance reduction pales against other recent tax rises.
Labour say that for every £10 taken in tax from the average worker, today’s cut is giving just £2 back.
Mr Hunt insisted the government had been open about the need to repay debts from the pandemic and supporting families with electricity bills.
He said his instincts were to freeze fuel duty for the 14th year in a row but warned of a battle to come, insisting it was too early to tell whether or not the 5p cut and another 2p freeze was affordable.
![Middle aged couple checking finance account together. Wife and husband fill tax form, holding current expense document in hands, sitting on kitchen, paying utility bill online](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/dsc09191-JS869990411.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
![File photo dated 16/03/2023 of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, who took control of the nation's finances a year ago on Saturday, amid political chaos and turmoil in the financial markets caused by former prime minister Liz Truss's disastrous mini-budget. His appointment on October 14 last year saw him replace Kwasi Kwarteng, who was sacked after just five weeks in the job, followed swiftly by the resignation of Ms Truss after their aggressive tax-cutting policies crashed the pound, sent borrowing costs soaring and sparked a pension fund crisis. Issue date: Saturday October 14, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story CITY Hunt. Photo credit should read: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/CITY-Hunt-06492012jpg-JS852222960.jpg?strip=all&w=960)