BORIS Johnson could axe the hated sugar tax as he goes to war on the nanny state.
Mr Johnson on Tuesday pledged to review levies on products high in salt, fat or sugar amid fears they unfairly clobber low-income households.
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The move — a victory for The Sun’s Hands Off Our Grub campaign — could mean the end for the sugar tax, which has seen fizzy drink prices hiked by as much as ten per cent.
BoJo also said that, if he becomes PM, he would oppose extending the tax to milkshakes and targeting puddings until after a review is completed.
And sources reckoned he could also overturn proposals from Theresa May to ban under-16s energy drink sales.
Mr Johnson said: “The Sun’s campaign has been right on the money and it’s time to take a proper look at the continuing creep of the nanny state and the impact it has on hardworking families across Britain.
“Once we leave the EU on October 31, we will have a historic opportunity to change the way politics is done in this country. A good way to start would be basing tax policy on clear evidence.”
Meanwhile in the battle for No 10:
- BOJO revealed a plan to turn six British cities into tax-free zones
- BOTH leadership contenders struck a hard line on the Irish backstop during a tough hustings event in Belfast
- EX-Tory leader William Hague backed Jeremy Hunt, slamming Mr Johnson’s Brexit by October 31 vow
- MR Johnson’s campaign was accused of breaching data rules over a recent telephone hustings event.
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The nanny state attack will pile pressure on rival Mr Hunt — who as Health Secretary led the sugar tax campaign.
Sources close to Mr Hunt said the latest policy blitz highlighted “complete chaos” in Mr Johnson’s team.
They pointed out milkshake tax proposals were included in a Green Paper authored by current Health Secretary Matt Hancock, a BoJo supporter.
Hunt fury at debate
MR Hunt on Tuesday accused the BBC of “caving in” to Boris Johnson by scheduling its head-to-head TV battle for July 16.
The Foreign Secretary claimed most Tories will have already voted.
He said it will have “zero influence” on the contest, which ends on July 22, and was “very disrespectful to members of the public”.
But Mr Hancock’s allies claimed the proposal was inserted only on the demands of Theresa May’s advisers.
Daniel Pryor, of the Adam Smith Institute, hailed plans for a review.
He said: “It’s about time someone stood up to the killjoys who want to ban Tony the Tiger, plain package your crisp packet and force you to pay more for your sugary drinks.”
Treasury chief secretary Liz Truss, another Boris supporter, added: “We shouldn’t punish people on low incomes who want to enjoy a treat.
“Instead of taxing people we should be making it easier to live a healthy life. Bye-bye nanny state.”
Boris said he wanted to set up six free ports across the UK, currently illegal under EU law. Taxes and tariffs would not apply so goods could be imported and exported without any extra burdens.
Mr Johnson said: “We could do free ports, tax-free zones. We don’t do them because we’re members of the EU.
“It would be a massive boost to this economy, but only once we come out. I want to have about six of them.”
The leadership rivals were quizzed in Belfast on the Irish border — and both said the controversial backstop must go.
Favourite ‘unstable’
By Steve Hawkes
MARXIST Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has branded Boris Johnson too “unstable” to be PM.
He said the turmoil surrounding the Tory big-hitter’s personal life meant it was “almost impossible” to guess what he would do if he gets the keys to No10.
He added: “The unstable nature of Boris means anything can happen.”
“I think that’s one of the deepest worries that all of us have for the future of the country and the economy – and that includes I think many Conservative MPs.”
The astonishing blast came just days after Labour let rip at Whitehall officials over anonymous briefings about Jeremy Corbyn’s health.
Mr Johnson’s leadership campaign was engulfed in crisis two weeks ago when police were called to his flat following claims of a blistering row with his girlfriend Carrie Symonds.
But the Tory frontrunner has also shifted his position in recent days on tax policy and public sector pay.
Before the campaign, critics accused him of dangling the possibility of a second referendum to ‘moderate’ Tories to win their support –and the chance of suspending Parliament to Eurosceptics calling for a Hard Brexit.
A ‘Team Boris’ source said: “Jeremy Corbyn and his Marxist-loving acolytes are turning to personal attacks because they know a Conservative Party led by Boris Johnson would see them assigned to the dustbin of history.
“This is because only Boris is committed to delivering Brexit on October 31 with or without a deal.”
Mr Johnson went on to criticise No Deal pessimists. He said: “What is this defeatism? I prophesise very confidently that we will have a successful Brexit.
“Planes will fly, there will be clean drinking water”.
Meanwhile ex-Tory leader Lord Hague said a No Deal could break the party. He said: “Serious mistakes in the coming months could be terminal for the world’s most enduring political force.”
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