CUT TAX OR LOSE GREY VOTE

Angry pensioners' pre-Budget warning to Hunt

- David Williamson and Jonathan Walker

Millions of retired people have been 'ravaged by inflation'

TORIES have been warned they face a furious backlash from pensioners if they fail to cut income tax in the Budget this week.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has lowered his sights and is now edging towards a further reduction in National Insurance.

But it will not help the over-65s, after the number liable to pay income tax almost doubled since the Conservatives came to power.

More than a million older people have been dragged into paying because of the continuing freeze on personal allowances.

Mr Hunt had been considering a 2p basic rate tax cut, but his dwindling kitty means he may not be able to afford it.

Nearly all planned reductions are said to have been shelved and there is talk in the Treasury of a further cut to National Insurance, which is not paid by over-65s.

Angry campaign groups say pensioners have been "ravaged by rampant inflation" and will be hit with "stealth taxes" unless action is taken. The backtracking has caused friction between the Chancellor and PM Rishi Sunak, who is aware older voters will play a major part in deciding the outcome of the next general election.

Dennis Reed, of pensioner campaign group Silver Voices, warned Mr Hunt "won't win a single older voter back" if cutting National Insurance is "all he does".