Ease this pain
BUDGETS rarely excite anyone beyond bean-counters and political anoraks.
But one where taxes are slashed should stir everyone’s blood.
AFPThe Tories have a last chance before the election to rebuild their lost reputation as the party of low taxes[/caption]
The Sun has called repeatedly for big cuts to Britain’s tax burden, now at a 70-year high.
When Jeremy Hunt raised rates in late 2022 we called it the “foulest medicine ever dished up by a Tory Chancellor”.
He and Rishi Sunak argued those increases were vital after Covid lockdowns hammered our finances to the tune of £400billion — and Liz Truss’s brief stint in No10 made matters worse.
But they are a clear drag on growth and punishing for households.
And Mr Hunt commendably now sounds ready to change course.
Better late than never, Jeremy.
But it will need radical action, not tinkering.
Mr Hunt has already cut National Insurance. Great.
Now slash income tax . . . and raise the pay thresholds. Make everyone better off.
And freeze fuel duty for a 14th year.
All Chancellors know that makes sense.
The Tories have a last chance before the election this year to rebuild their lost reputation as the party of low taxes, which Labour can never lay claim to.
Mr Hunt must not let it go to waste.
Bank crank
SOMETIMES a public figure seems so dim you wonder how they ever succeeded in life.
It may have been easy enough to buy a house way back when NatWest chairman Howard Davies was young and they cost a few thousand each.
But how can a top banker be so unaware their unaffordability is now off the charts?
And that young people, especially in London and the South-East, have precious little left from a £30,000 salary once they’ve paid maybe £1,200 a month for rent . . . plus bills and food.
The suggestion that it is not hard for them to “save” a 25 per cent deposit on, say, a £350,000 one-bed flat is offensive.
If only they all earned £763,000, the eye-popping salary Mr Davies enjoys.
He probably wonders why they choose not to.
Kate’s courage
DEREK Draper’s almost four-year Covid ordeal was a tragedy with no upside — except that he was blessed with a family of such unstinting devotion.
TV’s Kate Garraway has been a model of strength, courage and love since her husband became one of the pandemic’s early victims in 2020.
She remodelled their home so Derek, when he finally left hospital, could be cared for round the clock there.
She looked after him, and comforted their teenagers Darcey and Billy despite her own heartbreak, all while somehow carrying on her TV and radio work.
What an inspiration she has been.
Our hearts go out to her and the kids.
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