In his pooled TV interview boris johnson It declined to fully confirm whether the planned increase in National Insurance Contribution (NIC) would definitely go ahead in April. He defended it relatively tenaciously, but he shrugged himself off a bit, which shows that a last-minute rule change isn’t 100% ruled out.
Conservative parliamentarians and right-wing newspapers such as the Daily Mail are becoming increasingly vocal (see .) 10.40 am) In his call that it be abandoned. (The Labor Party has always opposed this.) Ending the national insurance hike would be embarrassing, but it would be surprising that Johnson hasn’t at least begun to consider the possibility, if he faces a no-confidence vote soon. Have to do, this last ditch can be the kind of concession needed as a career-saver.
Jonathan Blake, The BBC correspondent who conducted the interview asked Johnson at least five times to have a firm guarantee that NIC growth would go ahead in April. He never got it. In answer to your initial question, johnson said:
What we have to do is look at all the ways we can meet the cost of living… that’s the cost of fuel.
Asked if the tax hike could be deferred, Johnson said:
It is making sure that we tackle inflation by getting people to work, tackling problems in supply chains, putting people to work with welfare, helping our economy run smoothly.
So there was no guarantee of NIC going ahead, blake suggested. johnson Answered:
Just on that specific issue, look at where we are, look at what we’re investing in. And don’t forget what I think is the number one priority for the people of this country; The NHS has done an amazing job but it is under a lot of pressure.
blake Tried at least twice. johnson The NIC did not make a full commitment to growth, but he insisted that his government would find more funding for the NHS. He said:
What I’m telling you is that we have to invest that money. We have to make that investment in our NHS…
I am telling people that if you want to fund our wonderful NHS, we have to pay for it. And this government is determined to do so.
Earlier in the Downing Street lobby briefing, the PM’s spokesperson gave a strong reply. When asked whether the government was committed to increase the NIC in April, he said yes. He also justified this partly on the grounds that there was a need to fund wage increases for NHS staff. He told reporters:
This levy is first and foremost to tackle the massive backlog we have seen due to this global pandemic. It then seeks to address the long-standing problem of fixing our social care system that unfairly punishes a small [proportion of people], It also helps with wage increases for NHS staff, which the public at large wants to see. So this is the right way to tackle this long standing problem.
The spokesperson took a different line when it came to calling for the abolition of VAT on domestic fuel bills. Johnson has argued against this in the past, saying he would target help to those most in need rather than introducing VAT cuts, which would particularly benefit those with larger homes, but today the spokesman firmly Indicated that a VAT deduction was on the card, saying the government was “considering all options”.
Ministers are reportedly considering a mixed package to help households with fuel bills, combining a measure that would help everyone (potentially cutting VAT) with specific support for those ( potentially extending the hot home exemption).
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