The Sun’s readers’ cabinet on what should be made more expensive in the budget

CHANCELLOR Jeremy Hunt will present his make-or-break budget tomorrow.

But will he deduct 1 cent or 2 cents from income tax or from national income tax? Insurance for millions of workers – a move that means finding an extra £9 billion in savings and smaller tax increases?

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When we asked The Sun’s Cabinet – a panel of readers in the role of foreign secretary who hold our leaders to account – about personal tax cuts, less than half supported them. But they all wanted stamp duty reduced to boost house sales.

There was unanimous support for our Keep it Down campaign to freeze fuel duty, while the cost of cigarettes was increased to £16 per pack plus lower business rates to help small businesses get the thumbs up.

This is what our government said. . .

SECRETARY OF HEALTH

General practitioner in training Dr. Bhasha Mukherjee, 28

‘Tax benefit would ensure that I work more shifts’

MEDIC Bhasha believes that a tax break is exactly what is needed to boost the workforce.

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She said: “It would be great because it would encourage people who are working to work longer hours and spend their money more. This way you can strengthen the economy.

‘At the moment you are almost discouraged from working because of the way we are taxed.

“If you work hard, you are actually taxed more.

“That has certainly been a reason for me not to work extra shifts, because I know that whatever extra income I get, I will be taxed on it.

“I do think there is a benefit to tax cuts. But is this a short-term goal? Is it just something the Tories use to get votes and then move on?”

Bhasha, who is originally from Derby but lives and works in North London, also agrees with cutting government spending, including getting the NHS to stop wasting money.

TRANSPORT SECRETARY

London taxi driver Grant Davis, 60

‘I’m looking for a fuel tax cut, not a freeze’

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JUST freezing fuel duty is not enough, says Grant, from Bromley, south London.

He says of the Chancellor: ‘He must realize how tight the purse strings are for most of the country.

“I’m looking for a fuel tax cut, not just a freeze. We all know how important transport is for business and when fuel costs go down, it means more people have more money in their pockets.

“For me that will be the key to what he can do, not only for companies but also for families.

“I would also like to see a reduction in VAT on energy bills for households. We all see that net zero will be catastrophic for the country in the medium and long term.

“The majority of people would feel better if the economy was booming, everyone felt good and had money in their pockets.

“Once everyone has more money and businesses are flourishing, we can look at introducing a green tax here or there.”

DEFENSE AND FOREIGN SECRETARY

Ex-Army Captain Hugh Andree, 50

‘Rich people don’t need to save 2 cents per pound’

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TAX cuts will not ease personal hardship, Hugh insists.

He explains: ‘Rich people don’t have to save one or two cents per pound. It won’t make any difference to them.

“I would like to see the Chancellor increase the tax threshold by one per cent to support those who are really suffering from the cost of living.

“In 2023, the Chancellor pledged an additional £11 billion for defense over five years, fiscal and economic conditions permitting.

“The threat to security should dictate spending, not fiscal and economic conditions. Not since the end of the Cold War has investment in defense and our armed forces been so important.”

Hugh, from Battersea, south-west London, added: ‘The Chancellor doesn’t want to get the reputation of being just another politician who keeps delivering on promises. I want to remind him that we have less ammunition now than we have had for decades.”

CORPORATE SECRETARY

Plumber Manesh Vekaria, 37

‘I work 24/7, but want help to grow my business’

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PLUMBER Manesh wants the Chancellor to do more for small businesses.

He became self-employed just before the pandemic and now has six employees at his Harrow business, North West London.

And he would like to see cuts in corporate taxes and business rates.

But Manesh does not know who to vote for – and has not forgiven Rishi Sunak for raising corporation tax from 19 per cent to 25 per cent when he was chancellor – leaving some small businesses in the pocket.

He says: “I like to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week because I want to grow my business, but if you don’t help the small businesses, there won’t be any big businesses.

‘The rates for companies must be reduced. They are too expensive and many small businesses struggle to afford them.

“Facebooks and Amazon, who make millions thanks to all of us, must contribute more.”

SECRETARY OF EDUCATION

Ex-teacher Carrie Ann Booth, 42

‘There needs to be more money for schools’

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THERE are fears that government spending could be curtailed to fund an eventual 2 cent or national tax cut insurance.

But our Sun Cabinet ‘Education Secretary’ Carrie Ann Booth believes Jeremy Hunt should put MORE money into schools. Former science teacher Carrie Ann from Carlisle said: “There definitely needs to be more money for state schools.

“It’s the only way we can make a dent in the teacher retention and recruitment crisis.

“There just isn’t enough money to train our teachers, keep our teachers and keep our schools staffed.”

Carrie Ann, whose daughter Roxy, eight, is in a state primary, added: “It would be an absolute shame if our state education system became even worse than it already is.

“Coming from a fairly working class background, I would like to see wealthier earners taxed more, just like corporations and businesses.”

HOUSE SECRETARY

Ex-detective Jonathan Taylor, 63

‘Tax cuts won’t help the public sector at all’

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FORMER detective Jonathan believes tax cuts will give people more disposable income.

He says: “Tax cuts will certainly help, but the Chancellor will probably look to National Insurance and possibly inheritance tax.

“We would all like more disposable income, but that won’t help the public sector at all because everyone is talking about pay rises – doctors, nurses, teachers, the armed forces and even the police.”

Jonathan, from Taunton, Somerset, says police need expensive new procedures following a report into Wayne Couzens, the officer who kidnapped, raped and murdered Sarah Everard.

He adds: “A lot of money needs to be spent on the vetting process of police officers. It’s something that never was.

“When I joined the police, they just made sure you didn’t have a criminal record.

“We have to start using technology, and that will cost a lot of money.”