Liz Truss' emergency tax-cutting budget risks becoming an "electoral suicide note" for the Tory party, Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has claimed, as blue-on-blue attacks in the leadership race continued. The justice secretary, who wants Rishi Sunak to replace Boris Johnson as prime minister, claimed Ms Truss' plan would "do little" for the most vulnerable and could prove "politically fatal". It comes as Tory MP Mark Harper tells Sky News a meeting between the two leadership candidates to agree on new cost of living measures would not be possible because of their "fundamental difference of opinion". Writing in The Times, Mr Raab said: "If we go to the country in September with an emergency budget that fails to measure up to the task in hand, voters will not forgive us as they see their living standards eroded and the financial security they cherish disappear before their eyes. Politics Hub: 'Fundamental difference' makes emergency cost of living plan … [Read more...] about Dominic Raab says Liz Truss’ tax plans would be ‘electoral suicide’ as blue-on-blue attacks intensify
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Queen’s traditional Balmoral welcome scaled back amid mobility problems
Queen Elizabeth II's traditional welcome ceremony held each year when she takes up residence at her Balmoral Scottish castle for the summer has been scaled back in another example of established traditions being altered because of the 96-year-old monarch's advanced age and health issues. The queen has been in residence on her Scottish estate since late July, where she has been staying at Craigowan Lodge—a small country house built by Queen Victoria—while Balmoral Castle was open to the public. When the castle closes to the public in August each year, the queen takes up official residence and she receives a steady stream of guests including family members and a traditional visit from the prime minister. The monarch usually stays at Balmoral until the fall, returning in late September or early October. Each year, to mark the queen's moving into the castle, an official guard of honor is formed outside the estate gates from an armed forces regiment. The queen traditionally has … [Read more...] about Queen’s traditional Balmoral welcome scaled back amid mobility problems
‘Nobody expected to be hit with this crisis’: Hospitality businesses call for urgent VAT cut
Business leaders are calling on the government to urgently cut VAT, as they struggle with increasing costs. Many businesses are being hit by the same increases in bills as households, on top of other costs such as business rates. But they also face the challenge of trying to sell their products or services to customers who are cutting back on spending. Manchester's night time economy adviser Sacha Lord told Sky News: "I can't paint any positive picture at the moment - I'm more concerned now than I actually was during the pandemic. "Operators have taken on so much debt in the last two years, and that debt, by the way, did actually save businesses and jobs. Advertisement "But coming out of this, nobody expected to be hit with this crisis." He said that both Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss - the candidates vying to replace Boris Johnson as prime minister - are not acting quickly enough. More on Hospitality 'Fragile' hospitality industry … [Read more...] about ‘Nobody expected to be hit with this crisis’: Hospitality businesses call for urgent VAT cut
‘Conservative’ Deputy PM Claims Tax Cuts Would Be ‘Electoral Suicide’
The frontrunner in the race to replace Boris Johnson as Prime Minister Foreign Secretary Liz Truss’ plan to cut taxes would be “electoral suicide”, a chief ally of her opponent Rishi Sunak has warned. Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, has claimed that the central ethos of the Conservative party, cutting taxes, should be abandoned during the economic crisis if the party hopes to retain its majority in the Parliament for a record fifth term. “All the evidence tells us that, with inflation running high and energy bills the highest for decades, the winter will be extremely difficult. High prices and high bills will put pressure on the household budgets of hardworking people. Those pressures are well beyond the living memory of millions of voters, and will directly affect millions more,” Mr Raab wrote in The Times . “If we go to the country in September with an emergency budget that fails to measure up to the task, voters will not forgive us,” he wrote. “Such a failure will … [Read more...] about ‘Conservative’ Deputy PM Claims Tax Cuts Would Be ‘Electoral Suicide’