EXCL Tory MP calls on Philip Hammond to end austerity to win back young voters
2 min read
A Tory MP has piled more pressure on Philip Hammond ahead of next week's crunch Budget by calling on him to end austerity to help win back young voters, PoliticsHome can reveal.
In a meeting yesterday, backbencher Ben Bradley told the Chancellor he must rip up his economic strategy and invest cash in housing and social care.
The Chancellor - dubbed 'Fiscal Phil' for his determination to keep public spending down - has faced calls in recent weeks to loosen the purse strings to give the economy a much-needed boost.
Cabinet colleagues have demanded he find the money to end the public sector pay cap, as well as fund a house-building revolution.
One senior minister said they feared the Budget could be a "car crash" unless Mr Hammond manages to come up with some voter-friendly policies.
At yesterday's meeting, Mr Bradley - who has established a group of 19 young Conservative MPs with the aim of reconnecting with young voters - pressed the Chancellor to change course.
Speaking afterwards, he told PoliticsHome: “I think we are in a position now where austerity is grating on people and I think we need to move on from that. You can cut too far and I feel like now we need to start to invest again."
The group of young Tories also made the case to the Prime Minister’s chief of staff Gavin Barwell on Tuesday night at a two-hour meeting in which they discussed the party’s future.
Mansfield MP Mr Bradley suggested to Mr Barwell the party had a communication problem over its economic stance and had got too “bogged down” in the Brexit process.
He said: “People don’t even particularly associate jobs with the Conservative party which is nuts because it’s the only thing we’ve been banging on about for years.
“So clearly we are missing a trick when it comes to putting that message across in a relatable way.”
He added that the message to younger voters should be less focussed on an “ideological commitment to austerity,” and more about promoting the benefits of efficient public services.
The influential Institute for Fiscal Studies warned last month that he was "between a rock and a hard place", with political pressure to ease off on austerity while economic growth slows and the national debt continues to rise.
Mr Hammond is preparing to cut stamp duty for first time buyers and come up with millions of pounds to train up construction industry workers to help tackle the housing crisis. Campaigners also want him to freeze fuel and alcohol duties, a move which would cost the Treasury millions.
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