Conservative Party conference 2021: Chancellor Rishi Sunak suggests further tax rises may be needed

By Jessica On Oct 4, 2021

Rishi Sunak has suggested he may have to introduce further tax rises as the economy emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, declaring: “Our recovery comes with a cost.”

Speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, the chancellor sought to emphasise that the party remains committed to fiscal responsibility, despite unprecedented government borrowing amid the coronavirus crisis.

Live updates from the Conservative Party conference

“There can be no prosperous future unless it is built on the foundation of strong public finances. And I have to be blunt with you. Our recovery comes with a cost,” Mr Sunak said in his speech.

“Our national debt is almost 100% of GDP. So, we need to fix our public finances. Because strong public finances don’t happen by accident.”

And on the prospect of tax rises, the chancellor told delegates: “Whilst I know tax rises are unpopular, some will even say un-Conservative, I’ll tell you what is un-Conservative: unfunded pledges; reckless borrowing; and soaring debt.

“Anyone who tells you that you can borrow more today and tomorrow will simply sort itself out just doesn’t care about the future.

“Yes, I want tax cuts. But in order to do that, our public finances must be put back on a sustainable footing.”

Seeking to emphasise his desire for fiscal responsibility, Mr Sunak said he believes borrowing more for future generations to foot the bill is “immoral”.

Analysis by Kate McCann, political correspondent

For a chancellor who came into office on the cusp of a global pandemic which forced his hand on policy-making, this speech was the reset moment for Rishi Sunak.

Setting up the differences between Labour and the Conservatives on economic policy, a well-rehearsed path walked by most chancellors over the years, Mr Sunak’s speech was all about setting the scene for how things will work in the years ahead.

There was a tough message for those who may not be ready to hear it on the cost of the pandemic and how difficult rebalancing the nation’s finances is going to be.

There was a nod to the direction this chancellor believes the government needs to take to make that rebalancing a reality while delivering on the so-called levelling up agenda too. Jobs, wages and skills were at the heart of this speech.

But for anyone expecting a rabbit out of the hat moment, they would have been left asking – “was that it?”

“I believe that mindless ideology is dangerous. I’m a pragmatist. I care about what works, not about the purity of any dogma,” he told the conference.

“I believe in fiscal responsibility. Just borrowing more money and stacking up bills for future generations to pay is not just economically irresponsible, it is immoral.

“Because it’s not the state’s money, it’s your money.”

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