Britain’s PM Slashes Electricity Taxes to Tackle Cost-of-Living Crisis
Government Measures to Address the Cost-of-Living Crisis
Electricity Tax Cuts Announced
July 21 (Reuters) - The government of new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will cut taxes on electricity bills, Downing Street said in a statement on Tuesday, as he attempts to deliver on his promises to ease a cost-of-living crisis.
The British government is planning to remove the value-added tax (VAT) from domestic electricity bills from October 1, the statement said.
Funding the Tax Cut Initiative
Cancellation of Digital ID Programme
The cost of this action for this financial year will be funded from the cancellation of the government's £1.8 billion ($2.42 billion) digital ID programme, Downing Street said.
Background on the Digital ID Scheme
Burnham's office had said earlier that one of his first moves as Britain's next leader will be to scrap government plans for a digital ID scheme.
The digital ID programme is a plan for all employees to hold a digital identity document, a scheme designed to tackle illegal migration but deemed a "fiasco" by a cross-party committee of lawmakers.
Prime Minister Burnham’s Vision for Britain
As Britain's new Prime Minister, Burnham wants to move quickly to show British politics can work and improve living standards after years of stagnation.
“Westminster has not been working for people for too long, with families struggling with the cost of living," Burnham said.
“That needs to change," he added.
Additional Information
($1 = 0.7442 pounds)
(Reporting by Akanksha Khushi in Bengaluru; Editing by Tom Hogue and Christian Schmollinger)
