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Tory MPs are urging Boris Johnson to rethink the national insurance hike as he tries to win their backing over Partygate.
The Prime Minister has met wavering backbenchers in a bid to shore up support ahead of the publication of Sue Gray's report into claims of lockdown breaches at No 10.
Sources say several have pressed him to delay the national insurance increase and ease the cost of living crisis facing millions of families.
The Prime Minister has met wavering backbenchers in a bid to shore up support ahead of the publication of Sue Gray's report into claims of lockdown breaches at No 10
Number 10 is concerned about the contents of Sue Gray's report, who has been investigating Boris Johnson's conduct and alleged lockdown parties in Downing Street
The MPs are thought to want Mr Johnson to be 'more Conservative' – in return for backing him to lead them into the next election.
The campaign for Chancellor Rishi Sunak to put off the tax grab is rapidly gathering momentum.
The British Chambers of Commerce and the Institute of Directors both yesterday called for it to be scrapped. They have been inundated with calls from members concerned that the 1.25 percentage point rise in national insurance contributions would damage the economy and stop firms taking on staff.
In a string of developments last night:
The IoD business group launched a campaign to 'scrap the jobs tax', accompanied by a petition; The BCC urged Mr Johnson to commit to no further costs on business for the remainder of this parliament; Tory former chancellor George Osborne said the hike was coming at a time when 'real incomes are shrinking'; The Commons Treasury committee warned the increase would worsen inflation and had been rushed through with no regard for family finances; It emerged that the PM will acknowledge 'serious mistakes' over Partygate as he battles to keep his job; The Government was said to be 'paralysed' as the wait for Miss Gray's report dragged on for another day; Leaked emails appeared to contradict Mr Johnson's claim that he did not intervene to order an animal rescue from Afghanistan.Supposed to help fund health and social care, the £12billion tax grab takes effect from April. However, there are concerns that most of the money will be spent on the NHS treatment backlog and that it will come in just as families face rocketing energy and council tax bills.
On Tuesday, the Mail revealed that Lord Frost, the PM's former Brexit chief, had added his support to calls for the hike to be scrapped. Some Cabinet ministers have insisted that the rise will still go ahead even though the PM appeared to leave the door ajar for a rethink in a television interview.
Official figures this week suggested the Government now had 'headroom' to cancel the tax increase after borrowing around £13billion less than expected.
It was claimed that the PM was 'receptive' to pleas from MPs and had left them believing he would embark on a 'massive gear shift' to
