Budget 2021: Rishi Sunak insists he is lowering taxes and that is the fairest way out of the pandemic

Rishi Sunak has said his intent as chancellor is to “lower taxes for people” and insisted that was the fairest way of coming out of the pandemic.

The chancellor also said those with “the broadest shoulders” will be paying the majority of taxes and the Universal Credit changes he announced yesterday would help those who are paid the least.

Mr Sunak told Sky News’ Kay Burley: “My ambition is to lower taxes for people, that’s what I would like to do as chancellor.

“We had to take some corrective action as a result of the crisis and the response we took to it but hopefully now it is done and, as we demonstrated yesterday, our intent is that work pays, we reward people’s efforts and I’m delighted we could make a start on that yesterday.”

In yesterday’s budget, Mr Sunak announced the “taper rate” – the amount of Universal Credit (UC) withdrawn for every pound someone earns – will be cut from 63p to 55p.

This will give those who receive it 45p in every pound instead of 37p, but it only applies to people eligible for the taper – those with responsibility for a child or a limited capability for work, which is about half who claim UC.

Mr Sunak said cutting that taper rate is a “very clear statement of my and my government’s intent”.

But Labour’s shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves told Sky News: “I don’t think the tax burden at the moment is falling fairly.”

The chancellor added that National Insurance is a “progressive tax” and he is “comfortable with where it is” after confirming yesterday the tax will rise by 1.25%.

But he admitted rising inflation is one of the many issues he has to “grapple with” as chancellor.