RISHI Sunak today refused to rule out yet more tax-rises for millions of hard-pressed Brits from next year.
The tight-lipped Chancellor wouldn’t say whether hikes to either council tax or income tax are in the pipeline.
He defended putting up National Insurance to plug the £12 billion NHS and social care budget black hole.
Mr Sunak insisted piling yet more tax burden on struggling Brits was “not something we did lightly”.
He added: “It’s not something we want to do, and ideally we wouldn’t have to do anything like that again.”
Asked if council tax could go up to further fund social care, he said it would be wrong to “pre-empt” a decision due later this year.
And he said: “What people should know is we want to put more money into social care, that’s why we took the decision we did.”
The Local Government Association says councils need to find an extra £8 billion by 2024/25 because of the UK’s ageing population.
It has warned a potential double-digit tax rise might be needed to pay for more care, adding £500 to family bills.
Mr Sunak was also pressed on the possibility of income tax going up before the next election.
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He side-stepped the question, replying: “Recently we did make a significant announcement on tax and it was a difficult decision to make.
“But we took that decision because we wanted to make sure the NHS got the significant funds it requires to help recover strongly from coronavirus.”
The chancellor, who will deliver his maiden speech to a Tory conference as chancellor today, is under pressure on multiple fronts.
He and the PM have come under fire for breaking their manifesto pledge not to put up taxes during this term in office.
Credit crunch
Mr Sunak is also facing intense pressure to U-turn on plans to end the £20 uplift to Universal Credit at the end of this month.
There have been warnings the move could push almost a million people, many of whom are working on low wages, into poverty.
Ministers have previously admitted some could even face the choice between heating and eating amid spiralling energy prices.
But the chancellor insisted the uplift was only “to help people deal with the most acute phase of Coronavirus” and must now go.
He insisted the poorest families can access other help including £500 million in grants and the warm homes scheme.
Mr Sunak hailed the UK’s economic recovery from the pandemic and low unemployment rates which have defied expectations.
Today he will “double down” on support for businesses by announcing an extension to the £500 million jobs support scheme
The chancellor said he is “throwing literally the kitchen sink” at helping get more Brits into higher paid jobs.
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