Chancellor insists the future's bright

BRITAIN'S "dark days" are behind us and voters can expect more tax cuts in the spring Budget, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt says.

- David Williamson

As the battle for Number 10 begins in earnest, the Prime Minister will meet voters in the North West tomorrow, with the Conservatives set to frame the coming election as a "stark choice" between Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer.

The Chancellor sought to restore the Tories' reputation as a tax-cutting party in a personal message to Sunday Express readers.

Mr Hunt insisted the economy has "turned a corner" and the Government is "changing gear".

He said: "While we had to take some difficult decisions to help pay down the Covid-19 debt and the money we borrowed to help people through Putin's energy shock, those dark days are thankfully fading into the distance."

He said taxes will come down "as soon as we get the chance", saying "that's what I hope at the upcoming spring Budget if it is affordable and responsible to do so".

Claiming there is a "stark choice in British politics today", he said the Government wanted to "get back to delivering our vision of a lower tax, entrepreneurial economy that rewards hard work".