PM under pressure from Tory right for more tax cuts and from moderates for policies to tackle cost of living crisis
Rishi Sunak is facing discontent among his backbenchers as he heads into the one-year anniversary of his time in No 10, withThe prime minister is under pressure from rightwingers for tax cuts and more Conservative policies, while moderates are pushing for more centre-ground plans that deal with the cost of living to stop votes being lost to Labour.
However, many more Tory MPs are resigned to Sunak leading the party into the next election because of the number of leadership changes the party has already seen since 2019. Public opinion is being tested by Downing Street to figure out which tax reduction could give the party the biggest political pre-election boost, with the 2024 spring budget considered the earliest it could be announced.
There are also some nerves within the Treasury over the impact of tax cuts, with the Institute for Fiscal Studies saying last week that they could risk stoking inflation, leading to higher interest rates and recession.