Pressure ramped up on Hunt and Sunak over taxes

LEADING Conservatives will put pressure on Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt to cut taxes at this week's party conference.

- David Williamson

Figures including ex-prime minister Liz Truss and former home secretary Dame Priti Patel will urge the Government to pursue growth.

They have joined fellow MPs in signing a pledge to never again vote for an increase in overall taxes.

It comes after the respected Institute for Fiscal Studies reported that tax levels are now at their highest since records began some 70 years ago and are unlikely to fall.

The Chancellor has pledged to bring an end to the "vicious circle of ever-rising taxes" through reform of benefits and getting to grips with the cost of public services.

Departments will be instructed to identify savings by scaling back routine tasks performed by staff such as doctors, teachers and the police.

But Mr Sunak and Mr Hunt will face calls for urgent action at the Manchester conference.