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Robert Jenrick: I Can Unite the Tory Party – and Cut 2p Off Income Tax

October 18, 2024

Conservative leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick has pledged to unite a divided party and introduce economic policies that would see a 2p reduction in income tax.

Speaking on GB News, Jenrick outlined his vision for a more cohesive Conservative Party, while emphasising his business background as a key driver of his economic strategy.

“I’ve got friends across the party, and I believe that our party has to be a broad church,” Jenrick stated. “I want it to have all the traditions of our party… and I want to unite the party, that is my nature.”

Jenrick criticised recent internal party conflict, calling it a “disgrace” and blaming factionalism for the loss of good councillors and MPs. “That can never happen again,” he said, adding his desire to bring an end to political infighting.

Economic Vision

When asked about his economic policies, Jenrick highlighted his business roots, explaining that his upbringing in a small family business shaped his understanding of what it takes to support economic growth. “My dad left school at 16… I used to help him in his shop. I know what it takes to grow businesses and support our economy,” he shared.

He stressed the need for a return to higher economic growth, claiming that the party had failed to deliver on promises of a strong economy. “We’ve lived through a period of low economic growth, and that’s got to change,” Jenrick said.

Among his key policy proposals, Jenrick promised to create a robust plan to grow the economy by focusing on key areas such as:

Welfare Reform: He vowed to help people move off welfare and into work to ensure a sustainable workforce, avoiding reliance on foreign labour.
Energy Strategy: Jenrick called for investment in nuclear power stations and affirmed that gas “is here to stay” to ensure businesses have access to cheap, reliable energy.
Infrastructure Development: He emphasised the importance of encouraging construction of factories, offices, and data centres to support business competitiveness on a global scale.

Jenrick also criticised the current tax burden, arguing that high taxes stifle growth. He proposed a reduction in government spending, specifically rolling back the welfare bill to pre-COVID levels, which he claims would make it possible to cut 2p from income tax. “It is possible to have a smaller state and a more competitive economy,” he concluded.

As Jenrick positions himself as a unifying candidate with a clear economic agenda, his leadership bid rests on bridging divides within the Conservative Party and delivering on promises of lower taxes and higher growth.