Danny Alexander dashes tax cuts hope

Published on Sunday 29 August 2010 18:44

The UK faces the prospect of no tax cuts for the lifetime of this parliament, after Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander, pictured below, confirmed that tax receipts formed an integral part of the coalition government's deficit reduction plans.

The Lib Dem politician dismissed the prospect of a cut in taxation ahead of the next election, scheduled for 2015. He said: "I think the tax burden is necessary as a significant contribution to getting the country's finances in order. So it will have to stay at that level for quite some time."

Mr Alexander said the government wanted to "rebalance" the tax system so that people on lower incomes paid less tax as an incentive for them to find and stay in work, suggesting higher earners would have little respite from tax to look forward to.

"We need the tax revenues from the taxes we are putting up to help us reduce the deficit," he added.