British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attends a Conservative Party rally, after calling a general election, in London, Britain, May 22, 2024.
Isabel Infantes | Reuters
LONDON – British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak released a Conservative Party official Election manifesto On Tuesday, he announced aid for first-time homebuyers and promised more tax cuts.
The pledges come as the Conservatives appear set to defeat rival Labor in the general election scheduled for July 4, while Sunak personally has been criticized several times during the election campaign.
Sunak apologized for skipping D-Day celebrations in France early last week, and was also accused of misleading British voters by claiming Labor would increase taxes by £2,000 ($2,547) per working family.
On Tuesday he pledged to cut another two pence from National Insurance – a British tax on workers’ income – and reiterated his plan to reinstate National Service, which would require 18-year-olds to complete a 12-month community or social programme. A one-year military training period.
He also said the Conservatives would look to halve immigration and then “reduce it every year”, and also promised a “Help to Buy” scheme for first-time property buyers amid the UK’s housing crisis.
Both Sunak and Labor leader Keir Starmer top economic growth, costs of living and taxes in their campaign messages. A Labor victory would mark its first parliamentary majority in 14 years. Polls have to sometimes Expectations indicate that the Labor Party will win the general elections after the Conservatives’ support rates declined following a series of scandals during the era of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
CNBC’s Jenny Reed contributed to this article.
