Politics Update #88 – Conservative Conference 2023 – Tax reform and the ElepHunt in the Room

How long can Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt manage the frustration from much of their party on tax cuts? The subject invites a hesitance from leadership it didn’t before the Truss era, but reform proponents are outlining policies (detailed in this note) they feel the party could comfortably adopt before the election: the changes are costed and supporters argue they also advance other Conservative aims: rollback of bureaucracy, anti-wokeness and an embrace of family, entrepreneurship and Brexit opportunities. However, as warmly as this approach to tax has been received by conference-goers, there’s unease at Jeremy Hunt’s priority list and his own timeline for tax cuts. What will change first, Hunt’s place in the government or the enduring Conservative support for lower taxes?