Rishi Sunak says Tory manifesto being unveiled tomorrow WILL include tax cuts amid expectations of further 2p drop in National Insurance and scrapping of Stamp Duty for first-time buyers – as PM admits it’s ‘got harder’ to afford a home under Conservatives

Rishi Sunak promised tonight that the Tory manifesto will include tax cuts, as he tried to get them from his party general election campaign back on track.

The Prime Minister, rocked by a huge row over his decision to skip a D-Day event, confirmed he would ‘continue to cut taxes on people’.

“You will see that in our manifesto tomorrow,” Sunak said BBC Panorama.

It is expected that the Tories will unveil a pledge to cut National Insurance by a further 2p if they win the general election.

This follows previous reductions in the employee rate of the tax by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt both in his spring budget in March and in his spring budget Autumn statement last year.

The Conservative manifesto will also include a pledge to permanently abolish stamp duty for first-time buyers on the first £425,000 of a property’s value.

Mr Sunak admitted tonight that it had become ‘harder’ to afford a house under the Tories.

Rishi Sunak tonight promised Tory manifesto will include tax cuts as he tried to get his party’s general election campaign back on track

The Prime Minister, rocked by row over skipping a D-Day event, confirmed he would ‘continue to cut taxes on people’. “You will see that in our manifesto,” he told BBC Panorama

“It has become more difficult and I want to make sure it becomes easier,” the Prime Minister said.

“And what we’re going to do is not just build homes in the right places and do that in a way that’s sensitive to local communities, but make sure we’re helping young people into great jobs so they can save for that deposit.

‘I’m going back to the tax authorities, because it’s important…’

BBC presenter Nick Robinson – who is conducting interviews with all party leaders ahead of July 4 – intervened, saying most young people are not worried about the deposit, stamp duty or tax cuts, but cannot afford their parents’ house to leave.

Mr Sunak replied: ‘No, when I speak to people it is the deposit that is the biggest challenge because many people earn enough to cover a mortgage payment but the struggle is saving for a deposit.

‘That has always been challenge number one in recent years.’

The Prime Minister had previously dismissed suggestions that he could have resigned amid outrage over his early departure from last week’s D-Day commemorations.

Mr Sunak vowed to continue ‘until the last day of this campaign’ as he tried to dampen rumors he could quit before election day on July 4.

During a campaign visit in Horsham, West Sussex, which has a Tory majority of 21,127, the Prime Minister told journalists he would not stop “fighting for the future of our country”.

Asked whether he was thinking about resigning, Mr Sunak told broadcasters during a visit to the Dog and Bacon pub in Horsham: ‘No, of course not.

‘I am energized by the vision we are putting forward for the country.

‘This campaign is not even halfway through and I notice that there is enormous support for the policies we are putting on the table.’

About the rumors, he also told reporters during the campaign: “People are going to say what they’re going to say.”

“There are a lot of people who want to write me off, write this off, say this campaign or the election is a done deal.

“That’s what they’ve been saying since I got this job, right?” Not since this election campaign.’

Mr Sunak added: ‘The reality is I will not stop fighting for the people’s votes, I will not stop fighting for the future of our country.’

The prime minister also struck a renewed conciliatory tone over his departure on D-Day, telling reporters he had “absolutely no intention of hurting or upsetting anyone.”

“I just hope people can find it in their hearts to forgive me,” he added.

“And look at my actions as Prime Minister, both to support our armed forces with an increase in defense spending.

‘But also make sure that there is a minister around the cabinet table who deals with veterans’ affairs, and ensures that this is the best country in the world to become a veteran.’