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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Ross Hunter

Liz Truss to publish her own 'alternative budget' ahead of Jeremy Hunt

THE UK's shortest serving prime minister is to publish her own alternative budget.

Liz Truss’s Growth Commission - which was set up in July - is set to propose a series of “exciting” economic policies on November 14.

This is just one week before the chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s own official budget announcement in the autumn statement. 

The proposals published within a report are expected to be similar to those Truss and former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s attempted to implement as part of their disastrous mini-Budget, advocating for tax cuts and deregulation.

Despite spooking financial markets to the extent that the pound fell to its lowest ever level against the dollar and causing a crisis within pension funds which forced the Bank of England intervene, Truss appears to maintain the belief that large-scale tax cuts are the route to improved economic growth for the UK.

However, Hunt has said he will not be cutting taxes next month although may do so ahead of a General Election next year.

Co-chair of the Growth Commission, Doug McWilliams, said: “This report is a detailed challenge to the conventional thinking which has proved unable to rise to the challenge of fixing the UK’s low growth problem thus far.

“The Growth Commission is looking at the full economic effects of a range of policies from taxes to regulation.

“Our analysis will be the first to quantify in detail all the costs of a variety of policies and present clear alternatives for policymakers to consider.

“At a time when politicians of all parties are at a loss to explain how to generate growth, this is why it is so important to be putting forward an alternative that does provide answers, backed by leading economists from around the world.”

While Truss’s proposals may be greeted enthusiastically by some on the right of her party, further economic suggestions from the former prime minister are not being welcomed by everyone.

Veteran SNP MP Pete Wishart said on X/Twitter: “This is the funniest thing you’ll see all day.

“Imagine for a moment letting Liz Truss anywhere [near] budget making again.”

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