Tory MPs Ramp Up Calls For Tax Cuts In Confidence Vote Fallout

Senior Conservatives have renewed calls for urgent tax cuts, in the wake of Boris Johnson's narrow victory in the confidence vote on Monday, as Downing Street played down the prospects of a shift in policy.

- Heather Stewart, Rowena Mason

A string of high-profile MPs, from Steve Baker on the party's rightwing to Damian Green on its left, have backed a fresh demand from the free-market Adam Smith Institute for the government to reduce the tax burden.

"One of the best ways to help people in a cost of living crisis is to cut the taxes they pay, whether personal taxes or the tax on goods and services," said Green, a former cabinet minister. "I urge this path on the chancellor of the exchequer."

Another supporter is Penny Mordaunt, a trade minister widely tipped as a potential leadership candidate if a vacancy were to arise.

"To increase revenues and growth for the nation, cut taxes," she said.

"To improve options and opportunity for individuals, cut taxes. To balance the state and generate wealth funds for future generations, cut taxes."

The prime minister is expected to give a joint speech with Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, in the coming days, setting out their plans for boosting economic growth.

The double-header will form part of a flurry of activity, also expected to include a speech on housing policy, and the publication of the controversial bill unpicking parts of the Northern Ireland protocol.