By Tamara Cohen, political correspondent
The former business secretary Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg has referred to as for the prime minister to reduce HS2, calling it a “silly thought”.
Sir Jacob, who has expressed criticism of the rail line earlier than, stated he needed to assist it whereas in cupboard however now calls it “a horrible waste of public money, of taxpayers’ money.”
He informed Sky News: “If we are able to save any money by slicing it now we should always.
“I used to be driving up right here [to Manchester] on the M6. The M6 might do with an additional lane in both route. It is a clogged street with enormous congestion and large financial cost. And that may very well be executed for a fraction of the cost of HS2 for a railway I believe not many individuals will use.
“Theresa May ought to have minimize it when she got here in in 2017. Boris ought to have minimize it and I hope that Rishi cuts as a lot of it as can nonetheless be minimize with money financial savings as a result of a few of it’s already constructed clearly. And if all you have to do is put the electrics in you could as nicely full it.”
An ally of Liz Truss, he additionally urged the prime minister to chop inheritance tax and business taxes on the autumn assertion in November.
“The Tory celebration has all the time been the celebration of low taxation and sound money”, he stated.
“And typically there’s a stress between them. But total, we want tax cuts, and we want financial development, we additionally have to hold expenditure beneath management. And there I believe there’s a great deal of unity throughout the celebration.
“I’m unsure that indicators are convincing anymore, we have been in workplace initially with the Lib Dems, and so forth for 13 years, we do not want indicators, we want motion. And I believe the autumn assertion/funds is a time to say, that is what we’re doing on this explicit tax.
“I might be in favour of reversing the rising company tax as Liz Truss is, I’d be in favour of abolishing demise duties, which I believe is eminently reasonably priced. But we have to do issues, not promise them.”
As as to whether the prime minister’s insurance policies would lead the Conservatives to defeat, he stated: “I’ve made it very clear. I’m very supportive of the prime minister. He’s doing extraordinarily wise issues.
“I’m delighted. He’s been so clear about being on the facet of the motorist and eliminating a number of the extra excessive inexperienced measures that may have such a horrible impact on individuals’s livelihoods. This is all actually good things. Tax cuts can be the cherry on prime of the cake.”
