London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Jul 05, 2026

Ground should have been laid for tax cuts, admits Liz Truss

Ground should have been laid for tax cuts, admits Liz Truss

Liz Truss has admitted she should have "laid the ground better" for her mini-budget, after it sparked days of market turmoil.

The prime minister told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg she had "learned from that", but she was confident her tax cutting package would boost economic growth.

She added a decision to cut the top earner tax rate was a "decision that the chancellor made".

And she revealed it was not discussed with the whole cabinet beforehand.

The cut to the 45p rate has provoked outrage from opposition parties, and concern from some Conservative MPs.

Former minister Michael Gove said the cut displayed the "wrong values," and signalled he wouldn't vote for it.

He also said he was "profoundly concerned" about the decision to borrow to fund the tax cuts, calling it "not Conservative".

The government's mini-budget included £45bn in cuts funded by government borrowing, and revealed the government expects its two-year scheme to fix energy prices will cost £60bn in the first six months.

The announcements sparked days of turbulence in financial markets, with the pound falling to a record low against the US dollar on Monday, although it has since recovered.

The rocky economic backdrop is set to dominate this week's Conservative party conference, Ms Truss's first as Tory leader, where she faces the task of reassuring her MPs over her approach to boosting the flagging UK economy.

Speaking from the gathering in Birmingham, Ms Truss promised to win over "the hearts and minds" of Tory MPs to persuade them of her plan.

In an interview for the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, she said she remained committed to her approach and she was "confident" better growth would result.

"I do stand by the package we announced and I stand by the fact we announced it quickly, because we had to act," the prime minister added.

"But I do accept we should have laid the ground better. I have learned from that, and I will make sure that in future we do a better job of laying the ground."

She also defended the decision to cut the 45p income tax rate for top earners, saying it "raises very little" and made the tax system more complicated.

She added that the cut was a decision made by Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng - prompting former cabinet minister and Boris Johnson loyalist Nadine Dorries to accuse her of throwing him "under a bus".

And Mr Gove, who has served in several cabinet roles in previous governments, expressed concerns about scrapping the top rate at a time when "people are suffering".

Former deputy prime minister Damian Green warned a reception at conference that the Tories would lose the next general election if "we end up painting ourselves as the party of the rich".

Labour's shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves accused the government of conducting a "mad experiment" with the economy, calling the market turmoil a "crisis made in Downing Street".

Also speaking to Laura Kuenssberg, she said investors had been spooked by the "sheer scale of the borrowing" to fund the tax cuts, alongside the decision not to publish an official economic forecast alongside the plans.

She added that the public would "pay the price" for the turbulence, and said Ms Truss had failed to understand the "anxiety and fear" about the state of the economy.

In a bid to reassure markets, the government has said it will set out how it plans to lower public debt in the medium term on 23 November.

Pushed repeatedly on whether she planned to cut public spending, Ms Truss did not say, but added she wanted to get "value for money for the taxpayer".

She did not commit to raising benefits in line with inflation, saying that a decision would be made later this autumn.

She also rejected calls to bring forward an assessment of the government's plans from the UK's budget watchdog, currently due to be published alongside the debt plan.

She added that an assessment of the spending plans was "not yet ready".

"There's no point in publishing something that's not ready. That would just cause confusion," she added.


Watch: Prime Minister Liz Truss says she stands by plans announced in the mini-budget

Michael Gove: Cutting tax for the wealthiest "a display of the wrong values"

Rachel Reeves says the government is conducting a "mad experiment" with the UK economy


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Morocco and France Advance as 2026 FIFA World Cup Enters Quarterfinals.
Historic 2026 Tour de France Opens in Barcelona With Revamped Team Time Trial.
Global Mergers and Acquisitions Approach $4 Trillion Defying Geopolitical Tumult.
Negotiators Advance 20-Point Framework for Gaza Ceasefire and Demilitarization.
OECD Warns Middle East Conflict Will Depress Global Economic Growth.
Ukrainian Drones Strike Major Oil Terminal in St. Petersburg.
World Meteorological Organization Issues Urgent Alert Over Rapidly Intensifying El Niño.
United States Commemorates 250th Anniversary With Diplomatic Summits and Global Flotilla.
Iran Begins Days-Long Funeral for Supreme Leader Khamenei Amid Strait of Hormuz Standoff.
Technology giant reports surging carbon emissions driven by artificial intelligence infrastructure demands.
Artificial intelligence adoption accelerates workforce reductions across the technology and financial sectors.
Global technology and financial conglomerates collaborate to launch a new stablecoin standard.
United States regulators lift export restrictions on a major frontier artificial intelligence model.
Royal Society Exhibition Highlights Growing Focus on Public Trust in Science
Energy Costs and Supply Chain Risks Continue to Shape UK Business Strategy
Rapid Rise in Artificial Intelligence Adoption Reshapes UK Corporate Operations, ONS Says
UK Businesses Turn Defensive as Economic Outlook Weakens, Institute of Directors Data Shows
UK Government Faces Criticism Over Late Extension of Pub Hours for England Match
Inquest Continues Into Death of Noah Donohoe as Jury Deliberates Findings
Calls for Stronger Wildlife Attraction Safety Rules After Crocodile Enclosure Injury
City Fire Under Control After Major Blaze Sends Smoke Across Urban Area
Police Investigation Continues After Officer Killed During Road Closure Duties
Blackpool Hotel Fined £120,000 After Electric Shock Incident Involving Child
Whistleblowers Allege Delays in UK Special Educational Needs Support Services
Calls Grow for Improved Support for UK Armed Forces Personnel Facing Health Conditions
Rising UK Energy Price Cap Increase Prompts Wider Concerns Over Household Pressures
UK Businesses Remain Concerned Over Global Conflict Risks to Supply Chains, ONS Finds
Office for National Statistics Reports Rising Adoption of Artificial Intelligence Across UK Businesses
Institute of Directors Reports Deepening Pessimism in UK Business Confidence Index
England Prepare for World Cup Round of 16 Match Against Mexico in Mexico City
Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition Concludes in London After Week-Long Showcase of Research
Silverstone Hosts British Grand Prix as Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton Lead Home Crowd Expectations
Cornwall Van Dwellers Face Homelessness Risk as Council Tightens Enforcement
Police Investigate Stabbing of Iranian Journalist in London
Rare Copy of US Declaration of Independence Discovered in UK Archive
Department for Education Data Shows Persistent Literacy Gap Among Disadvantaged White Pupils
London Casino Faces Legal Action Over Alleged Tip Distribution Practices
England Records Hottest June on Record as Heatwave Disrupts Services Nationwide
UK Foreign Office Ends Overseas Education Programme for Women and Girls After Shortfall
UK Lawmakers Call for Urgent Action to Preserve Historic Outdoor Lidos
Police Criticise Extended Pub Opening Hours for England World Cup Fixture in Mexico
UK Safety Authorities Warn Parents Over AI-Generated Child Abuse Imagery Risks
Reform UK-Led Council Struggles to Attract Sponsors for Union Flag Promotion Scheme
OpenAI UK Investment Uncertainty Grows After Reported Setback on Stargate Data Centre Site
British Medical Association Warns of Severe Financial Crisis and Possible Staff Cuts
UK Devolution Debate Intensifies as Celtic Nations Prepare Breakup Contingency Plans
Starmer Signals Labour Transition as Burnham Emerges as Potential Successor
UK Government Consults International Partners on Maritime Trade Security and Energy Market Stability
Rare Revolutionary-Era Documents Discovered by UK Archives and Undergoing Authentication
UK Consumer Confidence Remains Deep in Negative Territory as Household Spending Stays Cautious
×