Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond is reported to be preparing tax raids on better off, and older taxpayers to fund giveaways for younger voters in the coming November budget.
Under the new plans, voters under 40 could get targeted tax breaks which may include deep discounts to national insurance contributions. To make the change cost-neutral to the government, it is said pensioners could lose their tax relief.
The shake up — which follows the massive backlash against the Conservative party during the snap election as a proposed ‘dementia tax’ targeted older voters who are generally more likely to vote Tory — comes among swirling Westminster rumours that Mr Hammond could be fired by PM May.
The Daily Telegraph reports the Chancellor could be the first man in the office to be fired since Norman ‘Tax Terminator’ Lamont was given the sack in 1993, and is consequently fighting to keep his job. An ardent remainer, perceptions of the Chancellor’s effectiveness have been tainted by his regular interventions over Britain’s progress in leaving the European Union, and even his refusal to assist in the process.
In addition to saving his own skin, the move against the Conservative’s traditional power base is also said to be informed by a desire to future-proof the party by attempting to ingratiate itself with young voters, and to keep them sweet for the decades to come. The Daily Mail reports “whispers” that the Conservatives could even move to wipe out student debt — a policy taken from the Corbyn old Labour playbook.
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