Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Emily Atkinson

VAT cut ‘proposed by Downing Street to ease cost of living squeeze’

Downing Street (Organization) Steve Barclay Inflation No 10
Bloomberg via Getty Images

Downing Street is working on plans to cut VAT in a bid to ease the cost of living burden on struggling British households, reports suggest.

The Times reported on Thursday that No 10’s chief of staff Steve Barclay had suggested the temporary reduction in the 20 per cent rate of tax in the hope of easing tax bills for millions and blunting the spiralling rate of inflation.

It comes after modelling from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that the rate of inflation in the UK, at 9.1 per cent, had reached its highest point since at least February 1982.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Why Kamala Harris should pick Tim Walz as her running mate
This isn’t rocket science. The Minnesota governor is the obvious choice – allow me to make the clear case for Walz
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Moms think more about household chores − and this cognitive burden hurts their mental health
When you think about housework, you likely think of actions: scrubbing the dishes, running errands, chopping vegetables for dinner. And it’s not news to say that mothers often shoulder the burden for most of those activities.
The Conversation
The Conversation
Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple review – seeing Springsteen’s sidekick take on apartheid is an air-punch moment
He’s raised a ruckus with the Boss, smashed segregation in South Africa and sparkled in The Sopranos – this entertaining documentary showcases a wild life
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Can the Olympics attract Gen Z eyeballs while preserving its traditions?
The Olympics has been the world’s premier sporting event for more than a century.
The Conversation
The Conversation
Deadpool & Wolverine: Marvel Jesus, potty mouths and bloody cameos – discuss with spoilers
The satirical superhero match-up broke rules and box office records, but what kind of Marvel cinematic universe has it left us with?
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Museums closed Native American exhibits 6 months ago. Tribes are still waiting to get items back
Native American artifacts have remained out of public view but still very much in the hands of some of the nation’s largest museums some six months after institutions closed and covered exhibits in response to new federal regulations
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play