Michael Howard says more taxes are inevitable |
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Published
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Mon, 25 Apr 2005 01:00
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Even though the party is committed to a tax-cut of close to £4bn, Tory leader Michael Howard has admitted that increase in taxes is inevitable.
"I wish that we could undo all the damage which Labour have done in the last eight years at one fell swoop; we can't do that. We are only making promises we know we can keep," Howard said. He stressed that the people were tired of Labour policies and were ready for a change, because Tory will take action on the things, which matter, to the country and the things which matter to people. He also promised to bring about school discipline, clean hospitals, more police, controlled immigration and lower taxes. But in an about turn he has acknowledged that it would be difficult to cut down the taxes when inflation was showing no signs of abating.
| Speaking to Jeremy Paxman, Mr. Howard refused to commit on a long-term tax benefit, "I can tell you ... with certainty, what we're going to do in our first budget, and we're going to cut taxes by £4bn in our first budget. But if you're asking me what I'll be able to do three or four years out, then in truth, although we've spelled out our plans, although our plans don't need us to increase taxes at all, I can't foresee exactly what the position is going to be in three or four years time. There may be unforeseen events."
Tories believe that Gordon Brown will have to increase national insurance after the election so as to balance his spending commitments. Howard also said that if he were convinced that the private sector could do a better job in certain areas, then he would go with them.
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