Tories not being honest about tax rises |

Monday 15th June 2009 | 14:24

Tories not being honest about tax rises

The Conservatives have won approval for their honesty on spending cuts, although the Phi100 believe that tax rises have yet to be addressed in a similarly frank fashion

In article for today’s Times, George Osborne sought to be frank about the spending cuts that a future Tory administration would implement, saying: ‘if you talk honestly to the public about the spending decisions that need to be taken, they will respect you and support you.’

This move is applauded by the PoliticsHome Phi100 panel, who believe it is a politically effective strategy.

But there is also scepticism about whether the subject of tax rises is being addressed by the Conservative party with a similar degree of honesty.

Eighty five per cent of the Phi100 – including strong majorities on the left and the right – believe that Osborne had made the right political judgement in his article.

In an article for the TImes today, George Osborne writes:

"We should have the confidence to tell the public the truth...that existing plans show that real spending will have to be cut, .. and that many government departments will face budget cuts. These are statements of fact and to deny them invites ridicule."

Do you think the Conservatives have made the right political judgement about embracing the "c" word and using this more forthright language?

Next stop: tax rises

However, almost two thirds of the panel (sixty two per cent) feel that the Tories now needed to be more upfront about the possibility of future tax rises.

While fifty five per cent of right leaning panellists do have confidence that the Conservatives are telling the public the truth, strong majorities of left leaning, Lib Dem and non-aligned panellists are doubtful.

Overall, only twenty eight per cent of the Phi100 reckon that the Tories are being truthful in this regard.

Do you think the Conservatives currently "have the confidence to tell the public the truth" about the other likely aspect of future spending plans: tax rises?

A non-aligned think tank head said: ‘They seem to be bent on trying not to this side of an election - in a sense coming clean on cuts helps divert attention from taxes.’

A right-leaning strategist said of tax rises that ‘we have not ruled them out’.

Another right-leaning panellist argued that: ‘Tax rises are inevitable whoever wins power - the rises would obviously be lower under the Conservatives.’

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