![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/tory-esther-mcvey-threatens-to-vote-against-budget-tax-rises-in-challenge-to-pm/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/0_Esther-McVey.jpg&description=Esther McVey, who served as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions between 2015 and 2018, told the Commons that if the government has enough cash for HS2, it should not need to raise taxesEsther McVey said she will not back tax increases unless HS2 is scrappedA former Tory cabinet minister has vowed to oppose government tax rises unless HS2 is scrapped. Esther McVey dubbed the rail scheme an "unnecessary vanity project" as she pledged to break ranks over the Autumn statement. Ms McVey, who served as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions between 2015 and 2018, told the Commons that if the government has enough cash for HS2, it should not need to raise taxes. It comes after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt - who will outline the government's financial plans tomorrow - admitted that taxes will have to go up to deal with the dire state of the economy. It comes amid calls to scrap the high speed rail project, which critics believe could now cost a massive £155.5 billion due to rising inflation. Questioning Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, who was standing in for Rishi Sunak at PMQs today, Ms McVey called on the government to rule out tax increases if HS2 is not ditched. She fumed: "Given that we have the highest burden of taxation in living memory, it is clear that the Government's financial difficulties are caused by overspending and not due to under taxing. Dominic Raab said there would be 'difficult decisions' to make in the Autumn statement tomorrow ( Sky News) "Does the Deputy Prime Minister therefore agree if the Government has got enough money to proceed with HS2 at any cost, then it has sufficient money not to increase taxes? "If however, it has so little money it has to increase taxes, which is a last thing for a Conservative government to do, then it doesn't have sufficient money for HS2? "So can I gently urge the Deputy Prime Minister not to ask Conservative MPs to support any tax rises unless and until this unnecessary vanity project is scrapped? Because I, for){kind=link}
Esther McVey, who served as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions between 2015 and 2018, told the Commons that if the government has enough cash for HS2, it should not need to raise taxes
A former Tory cabinet minister has vowed to oppose government tax rises unless HS2 is scrapped.
Esther McVey dubbed the rail scheme an “unnecessary vanity project” as she pledged to break ranks over the Autumn statement.
Ms McVey, who served as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions between 2015 and 2018, told the Commons that if the government has enough cash for HS2, it should not need to raise taxes.
It comes after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt – who will outline the government’s financial plans tomorrow – admitted that taxes will have to go up to deal with the dire state of the economy.