EIGHT top Tories are fighting to be Britain’s next PM and are busy setting out their stalls should they win the keys to No10.
Tax has become the central battleground in the leadership race which tonight will see at least one candidate knocked out in the first vote.
Penny Mordaunt lays out her pitch for PM this morning
Rishi Sunak has positioned himself as the economically sensible choice – while rivals jockey to be the biggest tax cutter.
But other areas like Brexit and defence spending are also becoming key wedge issues in the hotly-contested campaign.
Here is an overview of what each candidate is pledging:
RISHI SUNAK
Key pitch: No tax cuts until inflation under control
The former Chancellor has laid out his stall as the candidate for economic responsibility while rivals go gung-ho on tax cuts.
He has promised to cut taxes only when inflation has been brought under control, warning to do so now would just hike prices higher.
Key policies:
- Cut taxes when inflation is down and public finances are repaired
- Plough on with the planned rise to 25 per cent corporation tax
- Keep the Rwanda immigration policy to cut small boats crossings
- Keep defence spending at current levels with no increase
- Publish a manifesto to protect women’s rights
- Open the door to scrapping the BBC Licence Fee in the future
Rishi Sunak is pledging fiscal responsibility
NADHIM ZAHAWI
Key pitch: Slash Whitehall to pay for huge tax cuts
The current Chancellor has put bumper tax cuts at the heart of his campaign to be PM.
Mr Zahawi has probably laid out the most policy proposals of the slate of wannabe PMs so far.
Key policies:
- Cut the basic rate of income tax to 19p next year and to 18p in 2024
- Scrap the planned rise in corporation tax
- Abolish VAT and green levies on energy bills for two years
- Extend the council tax rebate to bands E and F
- Keep the Rwanda immigration plan
- Keep the 2050 target to hit Net Zero
- Hike defence spending
- Ban drug dealers from driving for two years
- Increase pay for junior teachers by 9 per cent
- Slash civil service headcount by 20 per cent
Nadhim Zahawi wants bumper tax cuts
KEMI BADENOCH
Key pitch: Pull funding for Mickey Mouse degrees
Rising star Kemi Badenoch has signalled she wants tax cuts but is refusing to enter the “bidding war” among candidates to slash them the most.
Instead she is serving up a platter of red meat policies that are going down a storm with many Tory MPs.
Key policies:
- Cut taxes and rein in spending
- Opposes Net Zero 2050 target
- Open to the withdrawal from the Euro court
- Reduce funding for Mickey Mouse degrees
- Scrap the Online Harms Bill
- Reduce the amount spent on foreign aid
Kemi Badenoch is the rising star candidate
LIZ TRUSS
Key pitch: Tax cuts on day one as PM
Liz Truss is also pledging to cut taxes on her first day in office if she wins the contest.
The Foreign Secretary – who is yet to formally launch her campaign – has also vowed to publicly recognise China’s persecution of Uighurs as a genocide.
Key policies:
- Reverse NICs hike and cut taxes from day one
- Reform the Euro court and leave altogether if not possible
- Publicly recognise the genocide in China
- Reduce the size of the state in comparison to the private sector
Liz Truss wants tax cuts on day one
PENNY MORDAUNT
Key pitch: Halve VAT on fuel immediately
The Trade Minister says she is the candidate that Labour would fear most in a general election.
She has promised to slash taxes and help families by solving the childcare crisis.
Key Policies:
- Immediate 50% cut to fuel duty
- Establish a taskforce to address the “paralysis” in the NHS
- Appoint a cabinet minister with responsibility for family policies
- Repeal 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars
Penny Mordaunt is in second place so far
TOM TUGENDHAT
Key pitch: Hike defence spending on day one
The Foreign Affairs Committee Chair has painted himself as the “clean slate” candidate for a new and improved low tax, defence focused Tory Party.
He has pledged to slash fuel duty and raise hike up defence spending.
Key Policies
- Spend 3% of GDP on defence
- Establish an Institute of Technology in every major town and city
- Keep the Rwanda deportation policy
- Reverse the NI rise
Tom Tugendhat wants increased defence spending
JEREMY HUNT
Key pitch: Cut corporation tax at first Budget
The former Health Secretary has pitched himself as the candidate to win back trust from his party and the country.
He has pledged to be a decisive leader who slashes corporation tax and is strong on national security.
Key Policies:
- Reduce corporation tax to 15% in one go at the Autumn budget
- Keep the Rwanda deportation policy
- Spend 3% of GDP on defence
- Bring back family doctors and keep the NICs rise
Jeremy Hunt wants to decrease corporation tax
SUELLA BRAVERMAN
Key pitch: Leave Euro court and deliver Brexit
The Attorney General has pitched herself as the flagbearer for the Tory right.
She has promised to crack down on wokery, slash taxes and shrink the size of the state.
Key Policies
- Suspend the UK’s aim to reach Net Zero 2050
- Leave the European Court of Human Rights
- Cut VAT on energy
- Change the Northern Ireland Protocol so the EU has no say over taxes in Northern Ireland
Suella Braverman says she is the one true Brexiteer
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