Cleverly refuses to disown Truss tax chaos three times
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James Cleverly, a candidate for Tory leadership, repeatedly declined to criticize the economic turmoil that occurred during Liz Truss's time in office. This came after his proposal to eliminate stamp duty on home sales was compared to initiatives implemented by the former prime minister.
In a radio interview, he mentioned that the commitment would amount to £10 billion and likened it to the failed tax cuts implemented during Ms. Truss's administration.
Mishal Hussain, the presenter of BBC Radio 4's Today program, stated that this action was typical of what the former prime minister, who stepped down after just 49 days in office, would do.
Mr. Cleverly responded, “Are you really implying that a potential leader of the Conservative Party shouldn’t consider implementing any tax reductions in our society?”
When pushed further, he responded: "You're suggesting that since one of my predecessors put this idea forward, we should never consider it again. This mindset is why we currently face the heaviest tax burden since World War II."
When Ms. Hussain directly questioned Mr. Cleverly about whether Ms. Truss was correct, he replied, “Our taxes are too high. As Conservatives, if we don’t advocate for a less heavily regulated and taxed economy that promotes faster growth, we won’t be able to sustain the public services that people depend on.”
He stated that stamp duty "holds back the market" and encouraged his party to "be bold" in reducing taxes to establish a "truly dynamic, high-paying economy."
During the most recent general election, my party, the Conservative Party, faced criticism from the Labour Party for imposing high taxes. Mr. Cleverly stated, "If we don't begin to lower taxes, we risk hindering economic growth and jeopardizing our nation's prosperity in the long run."
Ms. Truss stepped down after her poorly received mini-budget led to turmoil in the financial markets.
In the budget announcement, she shared her intention to increase the point at which stamp duty applies on property purchases, raising it from £125,000 to £250,000. Additionally, the limit for first-time buyers before they incur stamp duty has been increased from £300,000 to £425,000.
The decision was one of the few actions to remain intact after Jeremy Hunt took over as chancellor and dismantled Ms. Truss's financial strategies in an effort to restore fiscal stability.
Mr. Cleverly, who will speak at the main stage of the Conservative Party Conference with his fellow candidates on Wednesday, plans to call for a hopeful and cheerful approach to Conservatism.
He’ll suggest, “Let’s be excited, approachable, upbeat, and hopeful.”
"Let’s promote the advantages of a Conservative government in a positive way. To regain voters’ trust, we shouldn’t pretend to be something we aren’t. The key to winning them back lies in our honesty, professionalism, and commitment to Conservative values."
What could be more uplifting than assisting others in purchasing their own homes, just like my father did? Or welcoming thousands of newborns into the world, much like my mother?
“That’s how a politician and a political party ought to be. They should have a hopeful outlook and faith in what lies ahead, while also taking concrete steps to create that future,” Mr. Cleverly will say.
