CHANCELLOR Jeremy Hunt will tomorrow deliver his make-or-break Budget.
But will he slash 1p or 2p from income tax or National Insurance for millions of workers — a move meaning he must find an extra £9billion in savings and smaller tax hikes?
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When we asked The Sun’s Cabinet — a panel of readers in “Secretary of State” roles who take our leaders to task — about personal tax cuts, fewer than half backed them. But they all wanted stamp duty reduced to aid house sales.
There was unanimous support for our Keep it Down campaign to freeze fuel duty, while raising the cost of ciggies to £16 a packet plus lower business rates to help small firms got the thumbs up.
Here’s what our Cabinet said . . .
HEALTH SECRETARY
Trainee GP Dr Bhasha Mukherjee, 28
‘Tax break would make me work more shifts’
MEDIC Bhasha reckons a tax break is just what people need to boost morale at work.
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She said: “It would be great because it would incentivise people who are working to do more hours and spend their money more. That way, you can empower the economy.
“Right now, the way that we’re taxed, you’re almost de-incentivising working. If you work hard, you end up essentially being taxed more.
“That’s definitely been a reason for me to not take on extra shifts, because I know whatever extra income I get, I’m going to get taxed on it.
“I do think there is a benefit in tax cuts. But is this just something the Tories are using to get voters and we’re going to have to go back on it?”
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Bhasha, originally from Derby, but who lives and works in north London, agrees with cutting public spending, including getting the NHS to stop wasting money.
240304 Fuel Duty Freeze – Ryan Sabey
TRANSPORT SECRETARY
London cabbie Grant Davis, 60
‘I’m looking for a cut in fuel duty not a freeze’
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SIMPLY freezing fuel duty is not enough, says Grant, of Bromley, south London.
He says of the Chancellor: “He’s got to realise just how tight the purse strings are for the majority of the country.
“I’m looking for a cut in fuel duty, not a just a freeze.We all know how important transport is for business and, if the fuel comes down, it means more people have got more money in their pockets.
“For me, that’s going to be key to what he can do, not just for businesses but for families.
“I would also like to see a reduction in VAT on energy bills for households. We’re all seeing that net zero is going to be catastrophic for the country in the medium and long term.
“The majority of people would feel better if the economy was booming, everyone was feeling good and had money in their pockets.
“Once everyone’s got more money and businesses are thriving, then we can look at introducing a green tax here or there.”
DEFENCE & FOREIGN SECRETARY
Ex-Army captain Hugh Andree, 50
‘Rich people don’t need to save 2p in the pound’
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TAX cuts won’t ease personal hardship, insists Hugh.
He explains: “Rich people do not need to save one or two pence in the pound. It will make no difference to them!
“I’d like to see the Chancellor increase the tax threshold by one per cent to support those who are really suffering due to the cost-of-living crisis.
“In 2023, the Chancellor promised an additional £11billion for defence over five years, if the fiscal and economic circumstances allow.
“The threat to security should dictate spending, not fiscal and economic circumstances. Not since the end of the Cold War has investment in defence and our armed forces been so important!”
Hugh of Battersea, south-west London, adds: “The Chancellor doesn’t want to get a reputation of being yet another politician who continually breaks promises. I’d like to remind him that we have less ammunition now than we have had for decades.”
BUSINESS SECRETARY
Plumber Manesh Vekaria, 37
‘I’ll work 24/7 but want help to grow my firm’
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PLUMBER Manesh wants the Chancellor to do more for small businesses.
He became self-employed just before the pandemic and now has six staff at his firm in Harrow, Middlesex.
And he would love to see cuts to corporation tax and business rates.
But Manesh is undecided who to vote for – and has not forgiven Rishi Sunak for raising corporation tax from 19 to 25 per cent when he was Chancellor – hitting some small firms in the pocket. He says: “I am happy to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, because I want to grow my business. If you don’t help the little businesses, there will be no big companies.
“Business rates need to come down. They are too expensive and many small firms are struggling to pay them.
“The likes of Facebook, Amazon, who don’t pay taxes and yet earn millions off the back of all of us, need to contribute more.”
EDUCATION SECRETARY
Ex-teacher Carrie Ann Booth, 42
‘There has to be more funding for schools’
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THERE are fears over curbs on public spending to fund any 2p cut in tax or national insurance.
But our Sun Cabinet “Education Secretary” Carrie Ann Booth believes Jeremy Hunt must put MORE money into schools. Former science teacher Carrie Ann, from Carlisle, says: “There has absolutely got to be more funding for state schools.
“It’s the only way we are going to start making a dent in the teacher retention and recruitment crisis.
“There’s just not enough money to train our teachers, to keep our teachers and to keep our schools staffed.”
Carrie Ann, whose daughter Roxy, eight, is at a state primary, adds: “It would be an absolute crying shame for our state education to get any worse than it already is.
“Coming from a fairly working class background, I’d like to see richer earners taxed more, along with businesses and companies.”
HOME SECRETARY
Ex-detective Jonathan Taylor, 63
‘Income tax cut won’t help public sector at all’
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FORMER detective Jonathan reckons tax cuts will give people more disposable income.
He says: “Certainly tax cuts will help, but the Chancellor is probably going to be looking at National Insurance and maybe inheritance tax.
“We’d all love more disposable income but that’s not going to help the public sector at all, because everybody is talking about pay rises – doctors, nurses, teachers, the armed services and even the police.”
Jonathan, of Taunton, Somerset, says police forces needs costly new procedures following a report into Wayne Couzens, the cop who kidnapped, raped and murdered Sarah Everard.
He adds: “A lot of money needs to be spent on the vetting process for police officers. It’s something that’s never been in place.
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“When I joined the police, they simply made sure you didn’t have a criminal record.
“We’ve got to start using technology and that’s going to cost a lot of money.”
