A Conservative government will have to focus its efforts on trying to avoid tax rises, rather than tax-cutting, in a battle to restore order to the public finances that could take more than one parliament, according to Ken Clarke, the shadow business secretary.
The former chancellor’s gloomy prognosis on the prospect of short-term tax cuts if David Cameron were elected will increase the pressure on the Tory leader to clarify the status of pledges he has made. Party officials rushed this week to dismiss reports that Mr Cameron had mothballed pledges to cut inheritance tax and to offer a tax break to married couples.
