Backbench MPs want tax cuts, believing they are an elixir that will magically revive a torpid economy and move Britain from the bottom to the top of the OECD league table.
As religious convictions go, it's up there with Mormonism's golden plates that the angel Moroni told Joseph Smith were buried in a hill. Except that believing in golden plates doesn't hurt anyone. The most recent prophet of freewheeling Thatcherism minus the fiscal responsibility, Liz Truss, harmed millions of Britons before going down in flames.
Along with Kwasi Kwarteng, she caused the "idiot premium" that made government borrowing more expensive, punching a hole in the public finances. She also kicked individual borrowers in the guts, especially those seeking home loans.
Hunt swept in as the Tory saviour who restored the markets' faith. He emphasised the traditional Tory virtues of prudence and fiscal responsibility. He did it again when facing the gruesome twosome of Esther McVey and Philip Davies - the poison ivy version of Richard and Judy - on their GB News show. Breathing fire and brimstone, McVey asked if he shouldn't feel "embarrassed, ashamed" to have "the highest levels of taxation in modern history"? "It's not what I want at all," insisted Hunt, before stressing the need for a "responsible approach". That's telling them!
This story is from the March 13, 2023 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 13, 2023 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Wilson and Jones set up surprise showpiece final
Kyren Wilson eased into his second World Snooker Championship final after completing a win over qualifier David Gilbert at the Crucible Theatre and will face Welsh qualifier Jak Jones in something of an unlikely Championship decider.
Ipswich return to Premier League after two decades
Dominant Ipswich Town secured promotion back to the Premier League after an absence of over two decades by beating a forlorn Huddersfield Town 2-0 thanks to goals from Wes Burns and Omari Hutchinson. It heralded back-to-back promotions for the Tractor Boys and confirmed the visitors' relegation to League One.
Saka and Rice step up to earn nerve-shredding win
A scoreline that would have been predicted, but from a match that shredded nerves. Arsenal may not know if they will be Premier League champions, but they certainly know what it's like to be pushed to the edge in a run-in. Bournemouth more than did their bit in a 3-0 Arsenal win that, for a few hours at least, put them four points clear of Manchester City but with two more games played.
Haaland's haul puts City three matches from glory
After a glimpse of Manchester City's stylish past came an illustration of their powerful present. David Silva was on the pitch at the Etihad Stadium before kick-off, his first return since his 2021 departure allowing the City faithful to pay tribute to an old favourite. Erling Haaland took the field after that, scored four goals in under an hour and left City only requiring three more wins to clinch a record fourth consecutive title.
Biden's 'xenophobia' claim rejected by Indian minister
India has dismissed US president Joe Biden's assertion that \"xenophobia\" was causing the economies of certain south Asian nations to stall. Foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar told a roundtable hosted by The Economic Times newspaper that India's economy “is not faltering”. India has historically been a society that is very open, he said.
Battle to keep vital eastern fortress out of Putin's hands
The Kremlin wants a victory to shout about as Ukraine's shortage of weapons has allowed Russia's troops to advance
Burst water main leaves 31,000 homes high and dry
Around 31,000 properties were yesterday without water in East Sussex due to a burst water main. Southern Water said the disruption in St Leonards-on-Sea and some areas of Hastings is expected to continue into today.
Man attacked at cashpoint loses his hearing in one ear
A 70-year-old man has lost his hearing in one ear after he was violently robbed while withdrawing cash from an ATM.
Tributes paid to 'amazing' son killed in sword attack
The family of a boy killed in a sword attack in London on Tuesday have paid tribute to their \"most loved and amazing son\". Daniel Anjorin, 14, was killed while walking to school in Hainault in an incident that saw four others hospitalised.
Spacey hits back at actor's new groping allegations
A former actor has accused Kevin Spacey of groping him ahead of a new Channel 4 documentary investigating several claims against the Hollywood star.