Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email

       Please enter a valid email address

       Please enter a valid email address

       SIGN UP

       I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice

       Thanks for signing up to the

       View from Westminster email

       {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

       Jeremy Hunt has sought to give Tory MPs an early Christmas present with another hint he could cut taxes ahead of a general election next year.

       The chancellor suggested he could have more money to play with as the government pays less interest on its debt.

       Mr Hunt said ministers would “cut the tax burden if we are able to” in an interview with Bloomberg Television.

       However, he cautioned he would not do anything that risked fuelling inflation again. Mr Hunt is under intense pressure from MPs in his own party to cut taxes as they scramble to try to save their jobs.

       With Labour around 20 points ahead in the polls, some Conservatives feel the move is one of the few ways they can avoid wipeout at the election.

       RECOMMENDED

       After approving blessings for same-sex couples, Pope asks Vatican staff to avoid 'rigid ideologies'

       Undo

       HMRC branded ‘disgrace’ by senior Tory over treatment of Kaye Adams

       Undo

       URUHIME MOMOKO

       A woman in her 40s drank "Ceramide" and her skin became…URUHIME MOMOKO| Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       Superfood Reviews

       Do This Everyday to Ease Eczema Flare-UpsSuperfood Reviews| Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       Powered by Taboola Powered by Taboola

       Mr Hunt said: “If debt interest payments go down then potentially that gives me more headroom and I could use that in lots of different ways but I would never use it in a way that would compromise the battle against inflation.”

       Promoted stories

       VoIP | Search Ads

       Goodbye Cell Phone, Hello VoIP. Why Everyone Is Switching To VoIPVoIP | Search Ads Search Now

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       “We would like to bring down the tax burden in a way that is responsible.”

       Mr Hunt announced what he said was the largest series of tax cutting measures since the 1980s in the autumn statement.

       But he came under fire when it emerged the overall tax burden was still on course to hit a post-war high.

       His latest comments on tax come a day after the government received an end of year boost as official figures showed the rate of inflation has fallen further than expected.

       But there was also bad news, as statistics revealed government borrowing was higher than forecast in November.

       Mr Hunt gave the interview as he struck a post-Brexit banking deal with Switzerland aimed at easing UK finance firms’ access to the country’s market and vice versa.

       It come as the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) urged Mr Sunak and Mr Hunt to consider a range of side and supplementary deals with the EU to ease ongoing trade friction.

       Almost two-thirds of UK exporters say selling to the EU has become even harder in the past year, according to the BCC’s latest Brexit report.

       The leading business group called for a series of agreements with Brussels – on carbon taxes, VAT arrangements and food checks – to soften the impact of Boris Johnson’s trade deal.

       More about Jeremy Hunt Chancellor MPs Tax Inflation borrowing

       Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

       29Comments

       1/ 1Hunt gives Tory MPs early Christmas present - a hint of tax cuts

       Hunt gives Tory MPs early Christmas present - a hint of tax cuts

       Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt (Maja Smiejkowska/PA)

       PA Wire

       Promoted stories

       Interactive Brokers

       Start today!Interactive Brokers| Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       BuzzDaily Winners

       Immerse Yourself in our Boundless Gaming Universe (Sign Up Free)BuzzDaily Winners| Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       Hong Leong Finance

       Maximise your holiday budget. Great rates with HLF FASTPAY.Hong Leong Finance| Sponsored Sponsored

       Learn More

       Undo

       Read More Comments

       Collapse Comments

       ？ Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

       Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

       Subscribe

       Already subscribed? Log in