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Rishi Sunak to review leadership campaign pledges | Rishi Sunak to review leadership campaign pledges |
(31 minutes later) | |
Rishi Sunak will review the pledges he made during his summer Tory leadership campaign, No 10 has said. | Rishi Sunak will review the pledges he made during his summer Tory leadership campaign, No 10 has said. |
The prime minister will examine "whether now is the right time to bring them forward," his spokeswoman said. | The prime minister will examine "whether now is the right time to bring them forward," his spokeswoman said. |
Mr Sunak lost to Liz Truss in a ballot of Tory members - but was selected to replace her by Tory MPs when her premiership fell apart. | Mr Sunak lost to Liz Truss in a ballot of Tory members - but was selected to replace her by Tory MPs when her premiership fell apart. |
He announced dozens of policies during his summer campaign, including tax cuts. | |
But his spokeswoman said the economic "context" had changed since the promises were made. | But his spokeswoman said the economic "context" had changed since the promises were made. |
"We need to take some time to make sure what is deliverable and what is possible," she added. | "We need to take some time to make sure what is deliverable and what is possible," she added. |
Unlike his summer campaign, Mr Sunak did not make any policy pledges during the four-day contest to replace Ms Truss as prime minister last month. | |
PM backtracks on £10 missed NHS appointment fines | PM backtracks on £10 missed NHS appointment fines |
Which policies will Sunak stick with or twist? | Which policies will Sunak stick with or twist? |
Treasury warns of tax rises to fill financial hole | Treasury warns of tax rises to fill financial hole |
His earlier campaign promises included a pledge to scrap the 5% VAT rate on household energy bills, and lower the basic rate of income tax by 4% before the end of the next parliament. | |
Mr Sunak also promised to keep April's 1.25p in the pound rise to National Insurance - currently due to be reversed on Sunday in the wake of Ms Truss's mini-budget in September. | Mr Sunak also promised to keep April's 1.25p in the pound rise to National Insurance - currently due to be reversed on Sunday in the wake of Ms Truss's mini-budget in September. |
He also pledged to place an annual cap on the number of refugees the UK accepts, tighten asylum qualification criteria, and withhold aid from countries that won't take migrant returns. | He also pledged to place an annual cap on the number of refugees the UK accepts, tighten asylum qualification criteria, and withhold aid from countries that won't take migrant returns. |
He has already abandoned his campaign pledge to fine patients in England £10 if they miss GP or hospital appointments. | He has already abandoned his campaign pledge to fine patients in England £10 if they miss GP or hospital appointments. |
He has also restored the ban on shale gas fracking in England that was lifted by Ms Truss. During the summer, he said he supported fracking where projects have local consent. | He has also restored the ban on shale gas fracking in England that was lifted by Ms Truss. During the summer, he said he supported fracking where projects have local consent. |
Social care changes | |
The policy review comes as Mr Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt consider tax increases and spending cuts ahead of a budget on 17 November. | |
Ahead of the statement, the Treasury has been warning that across-the-board tax increases will be required to ensure the government meets its medium-term targets on spending and debt. | |
Reports have suggested Mr Hunt could extend a freeze on income tax thresholds, as well as the windfall tax on oil and gas firms. | |
Ministers have also not ruled out real-terms cuts to pensions and benefits by raising them below the rate of inflation, a move that could save billions. | |
The government is considering delaying the introduction of a £86,000 lifetime cap on social care costs due to apply in England from October 2023, a government source told the BBC. | |
The plan includes a more generous means-test for people applying to their local council for financial support. | |
Groups representing local authorities have been calling for a delay to the introduction of the cap, with warnings of staffing and financial pressures on services. |