No Tory tax cuts for years

Tory tax plans appeared to be in crisis yesterday after the shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Philip Hammond, announced that there would be no scope for tax cuts until the second term of a putative Conservative government. The remarks, which could mean no major cuts for at least seven years, were underlined by David Cameron warning that families would not necessarily be better off under a Tory government and threatened to undermine joy at opinion poll ratings showing Labour support at a 21-year nadir.