Liz Truss – live: Grant Shapps joins Tory revolt over tax cut as Gove denies being ‘rebel leader’
After Michael Gove, former transport secretary Grant Shapps has also criticised the government’s plans to cut high earners’ income tax, calling it “politically tin-eared”.
Mr Shapps attacked the proposal to scrap the 45p tax band, saying that PM Liz Truss and Mr Kwarteng’s plans have “managed to alienate almost everyone” and suggesting the proposal may not pass a vote in the Commons.
“I don’t think the House is in a place where it’s likely to support that,” he told the BBC.
His fellow ex-cabinet minister Michael Gove had earlier said Ms Truss’s plans to pay for vast tax cuts with increased borrowing were “not Conservative” as he threatened to vote against the mini-Budget.
“My other worry is if you are going to make tax changes, a 45p cut that will benefit millionaires but not ordinary people is not the right priority at this point.”
It comes as Ms Truss admitted she should have “laid the ground” ahead of the government’s mini-Budget, which triggered dramatic market turmoil.
