Dan Wootton: Rishi Sunak must follow his own advice and slash fuel duty and spike National Insurance hike

When Covid resulted in the government – incorrectly in my opinion – locking down the country for many months on end, the Chancellor would often proclaim that changes in circumstance had to result in changes in policy.

That’s why it’s so frustrating to see the intransigence from Rishi Sunak at an equally perilous moment, as the country faces down a historic war and an unprecedented once-in-a-generation cost of living crisis.

April is shaping up as a month from hell for ordinary, hard-working Brits struggling to get life back on track after two years of economy-destroying lockdowns, with inflation causing prices to soar.

How on earth can a Conservative government countenance introducing tax hikes at that very moment?

Not only does it not make any sense practically, it makes a mockery of the Tory’s pledge to be a low-tax party.

Fuel Duty and National Insurance hike must be slashed.

War means Rishi’s plans must change.

Here’s what the Chancellor said to the House of Commons when extending the furlough scheme in November 2020:

“And they will now, no doubt, criticise the government on the basis we have had to change our approach. But to anyone in the real world, that’s just the thing that you have to do when circumstances change. We all hope for the best, but make sure we plan for any eventuality.”

Well, Chancellor, I throw it back to you today.

“To anyone in the real world, that’s just the thing that you have to do when circumstances change. We all hope for the best, but make sure we plan for any eventuality.”

We all hoped Russia wouldn’t declare war on a sovereign Ukraine, threatening global stability and exposing a fundamentally flawed energy strategy here in the UK and throughout Europe.

But that is what’s happened – and Brits, who are already struggling to make ends meet after two years of the economy being shattered thanks to lockdowns and unaffordable energy and fuel prices, cannot be expected to pay MORE in taxes at this time. No way.

As I’ve been campaigning for on this show for many weeks, the National Insurance hike must be spiked during next week’s Spring Budget statement.

The outrageous green levies that make up 25 per cent of our energy bills must be immediately reduced, to hell with Greta Thunberg and the Extinction Rebellion extremists who insist Net-Zero matters more than anything else.

And fuel duty must be cut too, just like Ireland has already done.

Otherwise, Brits are going to be paying two pounds a litre for fuel and 4000 pounds for annual energy bills before the year is out.

An inconceivable prospect.

Rishi, circumstances have changed. It’s time for you to recognise that