Boris Johnson calls for Donald Trump-style tax cuts in latest swipe at Theresa May
3 min read
Boris Johnson has urged Theresa May to impose a string of Donald Trump-style tax cuts in Britain.
The former foreign secretary, who has prompted fresh Conservative splits in recent days after comparing the Prime Minister’s Chequers Brexit plan to a “suicide vest”, urged a cut in income tax, stamp duty and capital gains tax in a bid to make Britain a “happy and dynamic economy”.
Writing in his latest Telegraph column, the Tory MP challenged Mrs May to rule out any future tax rises, and blasted moves to increase public spending through new levies.
Mr Johnson said: “Instead of canvassing tax rises, we should say that tax henceforward will not go up. That's it. No new taxes and no increase in rates.
“We do need to spend more on the NHS. We must find the extra £20bn that the chancellor has rightly promised. We do need to step up our investments in the police and schools and other vital public services.
"But I am afraid I am not convinced that the answer is immediately to turn to the hard-pressed taxpayer, when Britain is now by no means a low-tax economy compared with several other jurisdictions in Europe.”
Pointing to the £1trn tax cut unveiled by President Trump last year, Mr Johnson said: "The US currently boasts economic growth rates far in excess of this country, at about 4.5%, and with record low unemployment.
"That growth is being driven not just by the US government's decision to cut taxes and regulation, but perhaps even more by psychology: by the sense that the government wants to cut taxes, wants to liberate and energise people.
"Do we send out that signal, here in this country? I am not so sure."
TORY SPLIT OVER 'SUICIDE VEST' JIBE
The intervention on taxes comes amid intense speculation that Mr Johnson - who quit the Cabinet over the Government’s Brexit policy - is considering a leadership challenge to Mrs May.
The MP is also facing heavy scrutiny of his private life following the announcement that he is separating from his wife Marina.
He sparked open warfare on the Tory benches over the weekend after accusing Mrs May of having “wrapped a suicide vest around the British constitution – and handed the detonator to Michel Barnier”.
That prompted fury from some MPs, with former Army officer Tom Tugenhadt calling on Mr Johnson to “grow up”.
The Foreign Affairs Committee chair said: "A suicide bomber murdered many in the courtyard of my office in Helmand. The carnage was disgusting, limbs and flesh hanging from trees and bushes.
"Brave men who stopped him killing me and others died in horrific pain. Some need to grow up. Comparing the PM to that isn’t funny."
Cabinet ministers also rounded on Mr Johnson, with Home Secretary Sajid Javid saying MPs should "use measured language" with Housing Secretary James Brokenshire saying: "I think he is wrong on this."
Foreign Office minister Sir Alan Duncan, a former colleague of Mr Johnson at the FCO, went further, branding the intervention "one of the most disgusting moments in modern British politics".
He fumed: "I’m sorry, but this is the political end of Boris Johnson. If it isn’t now, I will make sure it is later."
But allies of the Uxbridge MP hit back, with top Conservative Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg saying Mr Johnson's controversial remarks had been "a characteristically colourful catchphrase".
He told the Independent: "I agree with the sentiment. The criticism of Boris’s wording merely serves to highlight his point. It means more people hear of Boris’s criticism of Chequers and many will agree with him."
Pro-Brexit MP Nadie Dorries meanwhile claimed that those opposed to Mr Johnson were "terrified of his popular appeal.
She added: "He delivered the Leave vote, Remainers and wannabe future PMs hate him."
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