Philip Hammond greets the Queen as political row over his £145m Budget tax raid on the self-employed grows
Perhaps the Chancellor was checking on Her Majesty’s employment status as they met at the memorial this morning
PHILIP Hammond escaped the controversy surrounding his first Budget to see the unveiling of a new Iraq War memorial this morning.
But after being spotted greeting the Queen at the service in Westminster perhaps the Chancellor was checking on Her Majesty’s employment status.
It comes after he woke up to fierce criticism of a £145million hike in National Insurance payments for the self-employed.
And the Prime Minister is refusing to rule out a retreat, after Theresa May’s official spokesman failed to deny four times there would be a review into the measure.
Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith told Sky News he hoped the Chancellor would "reflect" on the decision in the period before the autumn Budget.
He said: "I would like to see this kept under review ... I would like to see the ball kept in play.
"This doesn't land until next year, so there is plenty of scope to look at how this actually affects them and to listen to business representatives."
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Stevenage MP Stephen McPartland tweeted: “These families and businesses are the backbone of our economy. The Chancellor needs to do a U-turn and quickly.”
Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers told the Grimsby Telegraph he was not "overjoyed" by the NIC hike, while Berwick MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the NICs announcement was "going in the wrong direction".
She said: "We need to halt this particular decision now. I think we need to put this on hold so we can have a proper review and think in a holistic way."
Tom Tugendhat is calling for a "re-think”, while Bromley & Chislehurst MP Bob Neill said: "It needs to be kept under review.
“We need to keep an eye on it because if it does start squeezing the genuine White Van Man, that is something we need to look at."
Their comments come after Conservative former minister Andrew Murrison expressed concern that electricians, plumbers and plasterers would be among those hit.
Jacob Rees-Mogg said the Chancellor should be "very cautious", adding it was "a very short-sighted, pasty-tax style approach for the Treasury to take".
And Nigel Mills, Tory MP for Amber Valley, said: "Any tax rise that discourages any kind of activity is not an attractive one, especially when we are quite reliant on self-employment."
But Mr Hammond, who has defended the controversial NICs increase, escaped the furore to join Elizabeth II, Theresa May and former PMs David Cameron, Tony Blair and Sir John Major for the moving service at Horse Guards Parade.
They were paying tribute to the armed forces and civilians who served their country during the Gulf War and conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, ahead of the unveiling of a national memorial.
Prince Harry marked a sombre tribute to the start of the ceremony, quoting "A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace," from the Bible, as acting and former servicemen watched on.
The Royal Family and former leaders then joined fellow attendees in bowing their heads for the Lord's Prayer and a rendition of the Last Post, culminating in two minutes' silence.