TORIES BUDGET BUST-UP

Chancellor steals Labour's plan to grab North Sea profits | Leader of Scots party vows to snub vote on oil cash policy

- PAUL HUTCHEON, ANDREW QUINN

THE Tories are ripping themselves apart after pinching Labour's flagship policy on a windfall tax on North Sea oil and gas megaprofits.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt humiliated Scots Tory leader Douglas Ross in yesterday's Budget by announcing the super-tax would apply for another year despite opposition from within his own party.

Hunt and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak were dubbed the "Chuckle Brothers of decline" by Labour leader Keir Starmer after a lacklustre Budget that failed to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, cash-starved public services or the stagnating economy.

Hunt hoped to use his tax and spending plan - including a 2p cut in National Insurance as a springboard for a general election later this year, but he ended up brutally exposing Tory divisions.

Ross had campaigned hard for the windfall tax to be put into reverse and used it as a political dividing line with Labour and the SNP.

Hunt delivered a massive blow to Ross's credibility by trying to copy Labour's policy of extending the tax - a decision he said will raise £1.5billion but which opponents say could cost 100,000 Scottish jobs.

Ross said after the Budget: "I'm deeply disappointed by his decision to extend the windfall tax for a further year... the budget announcement is a step in the wrong direction.

"As such, I will not vote for the separate legislation needed to pass the windfall tax extension and will continue to urge the Chancellor to reconsider.

Under pressure, Hunt later admitted he "understands there are local concerns" over the windfall tax on North Sea oil profits.

He added: "We'll be engaging with the oil and gas industry to talk about those concerns.