Sunak Resists Calls for Pre-Election Tax Cuts Ahead of Tory Conference

The prime minister said he’s prioritising on controlling inflation, which he said is effectively a tax that eats into people’s pockets.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak leaves Media City in Salford, Manchester, England, on Oct. 1, 2023. Stefan Rousseau/PA

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has resisted calls from senior Tories to cut taxes before the next general election.

Speaking to broadcasters ahead of the Conservative Party annual conference on Sunday, current and former ministers Michael Gove and Dame Priti Patel suggested voters need to feel lighter tax burden before the election, but Mr. Sunak refused to make the commitment, insisting the current priority is to halve inflation, which stood at 6.3 percent in August.