Hunt confirms millions of workers to get £1,000 a year wage boost & announces freeze on hiring woke bosses in big speech
JEREMY Hunt today confirmed workers will bag a £1,000 a year wage boost as he admitted taxes are “too high” in Britain.
In a major speech on the second day of Tory Conference in Manchester, the Chancellor vowed to reinvigorate Britain’s economy by cracking down on benefits “shirkers” and continuing to reduce inflation.
Mr Hunt also pledged to shrink the size of the state by imposing a hiring freeze on Whitehall fat-cats and drastically shrinking the number of woke government equality and diversity bosses.
Hiking the national living wage to £11 per hour means full-time workers will see their annual earnings rise by £1,000 next year.
The Chancellor said: “Today I want to complete another great Conservative reform, the national living wage.
“We promised in our manifesto to raise the national living wage to two-thirds of median income – ending low pay in this country.
“At the moment it is £10.42 an hour and we are waiting for the Low Pay Commission to confirm its recommendation for next year.
“But I confirm today, whatever that recommendation, we will increase it next year to at least £11 an hour. A pay rise for over two million workers.”
Alongside boosting the living wage, Mr Hunt admitted Britain’s tax burden is “too high” and the size of the state too large.
But to the bitter disappointment of backbenchers he refused to commit to slashing rates ahead of next year’s general election.