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Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith has called for benefits to be immediately increased in line with inflation to help the poorest cope with the cost of living.
The senior Tory MP also called for tax cuts for those in work to help “the squeezed middle”.
“During the course of this spike, we should make sure we bring those benefits that are relevant to those people who are in need up to be able to afford to pay bills that are going to be higher,” Mr Duncan Smith told Sky News.
Universal Credit and other benefits rose by 3.1% last month, in line with the CPI rate of inflation last September.
This week, inflation hit a 40-year high of 9% in the 12 months to April.
Amid spiralling prices, the government is under pressure to take further action, with splits over the potential to raise money through a “windfall tax” on the profits of oil and gas companies.
The Sunday Times has reported the chancellor is “attracted” by the idea of a “pro-investment” form of the levy, which would offer different rates of tax depending on how much a company was prepared to invest in the UK.
A Treasury source pointed to previous comments made by Rishi Sunak, in which he said no options were off the table provided they lead to “significant investment back into the UK economy” and support “energy security”.
But there is hostility to the idea of “windfall tax” within government, with several cabinet ministers known to be against the idea.
Tories divided on next steps
Former Tory minister John Redwood told Sky News that “Labour’s windfall tax” was not needed because North Sea oil and gas “already pays double tax”.
He called on the Treasury to use increased VAT receipts to raise benefits and cut broader tax rates.
Another former minister said the…
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Source : skynews
