Boris Johnson heaps pressure on Theresa May by demanding Trump-style tax cuts as he sidesteps divorce controversy
The former Foreign Secretary said tax cuts would give Britain a boost after Brexit
BORIS JOHNSON aped Donald Trump last night by demanding Theresa May reward strivers by CUTTING taxes.
It came as the Tory heavyweight condemned the waste and spiralling bills connected with the high speed rail link HS2 - but avoided commenting on reports about his personal life.
Writing in his weekly newspaper column in the Daily Telegraph he said: “When it comes to championing HS2 - the so-called high speed rail scheme, I’m afraid my sword rather sticks in my scabbard.”
Avoiding the controversy over his private life and the split from his wife Marina, the under-fire Tory instead demanded the party promise to “liberate and energise people”.
And he said: “Instead of canvassing tax rises we should say that tax henceforward will not go up.”
He piled pressure on Theresa May and the Chancellor by saying cutting tax would increase revenues and generate the £20 billion needed for the NHS by generating more economy activity.
He said: “I know it is not fashionable to point this out, but the United States currently boasts economic growth rates far in excess of this country.
“And that growth is being driven not just by the US government’s decision to cut taxes and regulation, but perhaps even more by psychology.
“By the sense that the government wants to cut taxes.
“Do we send out that signal here in this country? I am not so sure."
The attack comes over growing fury in Tory ranks at Downing Street and the Treasury for turning the party into one that bans or taxes. Theresa May announced plans to up the plastic bag charge in her recent trip to South Africa.
Philip Hammond last week abolished a £435 million tax cut for the self-employed.
On Sunday Mr Johnson, 54, was heavily criticised by fellow Tory MPs for comments accusing the Prime Minister of wrapping a "suicide vest" around the UK with regards to her attempt to negotiate Brexit.
And there was no mention in his column of reports he was "growing close" to PR executive Carrie Symonds after The Sun revealed on Friday the former Foreign Secretary and his wife Marina had split up.
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