![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/what-sunak-and-hunt-really-hope-to-achieve-with-this-grim-autumn-statement/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/TELEMMGLPICT000316509244_2_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf0Rf_Wk3V23H2268P_XkPxc.jpeg&description=It is going to be grim for Conservative MPs today when Jeremy Hunt sets out his Autumn Statement much of which will be in direct opposition to the growth plan set out by his predecessor Kwasi Kwarteng just six weeks ago. Hunt's long-awaited announcement will include £30 billion of spending cuts - although Hunt will pledge to support core public services such as the NHS, schools and the police - and £25billion of tax rises. If even half of the tax measures trailed over the past two and a half weeks are correct, plenty of Tory MPs will be following the example of former cabinet minister Esther McVey, and threatening to oppose the tax rises unless the £100billion HS2 rail link is scrapped. Don't forget the personalities at play here: in July when Hunt was running to be Conservative leader, he said that McVey would be his deputy, describing her as his "John Prescott" who connected him to the party's supporter base. Well, Hunt does not need McVey now. And perhaps he does not need those same supporters who he said McVey was so closely allied to as he presents an Autumn Statement primarily intended to restore the UK's standing in the international markets. Absolutely shocking year It has been an absolutely shocking year for the Conservatives who have dumped a landslide-winning prime minister with a populist appeal and replaced him with two successors who do not. The Government has appeared all over the place on its central tax and spend policies. This chaos is highlighted by the fact that Labour is currently in favour of cutting the base rate of income tax from 20 per cent to 19 per cent; and the Tories (afte Hunt reversed much of Kwarteng's Sept 23 mini-Budget) are not. Vote Labour, if you want to cut your income tax. Conservative MPs will be willing to accept tax rises as short-term medicine after the markets caught a cold about the UK's prospects. But they will be getting jittery if they are allowed to continue for some years past the expected election in 2024. Today's){kind=link}
Today’s announcement has to be the beginning of a Conservative fightback – this is how the PM and Chancellor believe it could play out
It is going to be grim for Conservative MPs today when Jeremy Hunt sets out his Autumn Statement much of which will be in direct opposition to the growth plan set out by his predecessor Kwasi Kwarteng just six weeks ago.
Hunt’s long-awaited announcement will include £30 billion of spending cuts – although Hunt will pledge to support core public services such as the NHS, schools and the police – and £25billion of tax rises.
If even half of the tax measures trailed over the past two and a half weeks are correct, plenty of Tory MPs will be following the example of former cabinet minister Esther McVey, and threatening to oppose the tax rises unless the £100billion HS2 rail link is scrapped.
Don’t forget the personalities at play here: in July when Hunt was running to be Conservative leader, he said that McVey would be his deputy, describing her as his “John Prescott” who connected him to the party’s supporter base.