Rishi Sunak’s cost of living gamble
Spectator (UK)JUN 2022
Sunak's measures are not truly conservative, and are inadequate. Plans to increase national insurance, lend to companies and expand state intervention (plus his resistance to cutting green levies) puts the economy and the British people at risk.
The Chancellor is loading costs onto taxpayers with a buy now, pay later approach. The opposition under Starmer would ease living costs by taxing those who can afford it - the oil and gas companies profiteering from soaring demand.
Sunak is being politically strategic. He wants to avoid excessive spending and raise taxes now in order to be able to decrease them near the end of parliament, in the hopes of garnering support ahead of the general elections.