Sajid Javid joins calls for tax cuts after revolt against Boris Johnson

theguardian.com:

Sajid Javid has said he would like to see the government “do more on tax cuts”, adding to the pressure on Boris Johnson from senior Conservatives after the damaging revolt over his leadership.

The health secretary said he thought Conservative MPs were prepared to get behind the prime minister, and argued it would be “grossly unfair” to change the rules to allow another vote on ousting him.

But he also added his voice to other senior Tories calling for tax cuts, which Johnson had promised as he addressed his MPs in an attempt to save his leadership on Monday.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Wednesday, Javid said: “I’d like to see us do more on tax cuts and I’m someone just like, I think, every member of the government, all [of] my colleagues, we want to see taxes as low as possible.

“I’m pleased that there have been targeted tax cuts already. The recent budget, I think I’m right in saying, (means) some 70% of people, those that are lower paid, will pay less national insurance than before.”

When it was put to him that overall the tax burden was rising, he cited the challenges of the pandemic. But he added: “But I would like to see cuts where they’re possible. And I know that this is something the government is taking very seriously and I know that it’s something that the chancellor will look at.”

Johnson and his chancellor, Rishi Sunak, will give a speech on the economy next week, but it is not clear that they will outline any specific or immediate tax cuts beyond outlining a broad direction of travel.

A No 10 source made clear that the economy speech would not include new personal tax cuts as demanded by many backbenchers, saying: “It will not be anything fiscal. It’s a very difficult balance because while everyone