A former cabinet minister has warned that a leaked document showing that Treasury officials have advised against tax cuts and proposed mass immigration to boost economic growth has tipped the hat to Labour’s plans for government.
Senior Conservatives believe that Whitehall officials are now secretly planning for a Labour government with the Tories still about 20 points in the polls and apparently heading to a record defeat in their 346-year history.
The internal Treasury document showed officials advised Rishi Sunak that tax cuts would have only a “low impact” on boosting economic growth.
Meanwhile, the leaked documents show the Treasury claimeed increasing immigration and planning reform would do more to grow Britain’s economy.
It comes as Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is planning his Budget for early March which is expected to include a series of tax cuts as the Conservatives try to win back public confidence.
A former Cabinet Minister said that it is not surprising that civil servants in the Treasury were pushing for maintaining higher taxes.
The former minister said: “The Treasury orthodoxy is alive and well. It is no exaggeration that the future of the Conservative Party depends on Jeremy Hunt standing firm against it and cutting taxes for hard-working families across the country.”
The ex-minister added: “This is the Treasury preparing for the Labour Party getting into government, and trying to make sure that they have sufficient headroom to increase spending.
“It is a load of nonsense and shows why we must be resolute in our work over the next few months. Why would any Conservative Chancellor want to not cut taxes just say that Labour have an easy ride?”
Meanwhile, another ex-minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg said that the Treasury was wrong.
Sir Jacob, a former Business Secretary, said: “The Treasury thinks that uncontrolled immigration leads to growth whereas history shows us that low taxes help.”
The Treasury documents leaked to Bloomsberg have revealed a battle behind the scenes at the Treasury as Mr Hunt prepares for the most important Budget for the Tories in a decade.
Labour have suggested they might cut taxes but when challenged Starmer has refused to say which ones he would reduce.
He and his shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves have also pushed their plan for a £28 billion green deal on climate change but not said where the money is coming from.
