SAJID Javid claimed it would be immoral not to put up taxes for the NHS — as millions had their pay packets plundered.
The Tories came under fire for ripping up their 2019 manifesto vow not to hike National Insurance contributions, which went up by 1.25 per cent yesterday.
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But Health Secretary Mr Javid, a former Chancellor, argued it was the right thing to do, as it would be unfair to borrow to fix the NHS instead.
He insisted the top 15 per cent of earners will foot half the cost — and was backed by the PM, who said it was “unquestionably the right thing to do”.
Mr Javid promised patients will benefit within six months with a visible improvement in quality of care.
Arguing why a tax rise is preferable to more debt, he said: “I think it not only is economically wrong and opens up more risk for the public finances, I think it is morally wrong.”
Tory MPs are worried it will shred their reputation for being a low-tax party and hit them at the polls.
To cushion the blow, NICs thresholds will be raised in July from £9,880 to £12,570.
It means anyone earning less than £36,000 will pay less tax in the long-term, while higher earners will cough up more.
Hard-pressed Brits had urged a rethink amid a cost of living onslaught.
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But flanked by Mr Javid and Chancellor Rishi Sunak yesterday, the PM insisted he needs to raise billions to clear the NHS backlog and ease crippling social care costs for the elderly.
Mr Johnson said: “We know this won’t be a quick fix, and we know that we can’t fix waiting lists without fixing social care.
“Our reforms will end the cruel lottery of spiralling and unpredictable care costs once and for all and bring the NHS and social care closer together.”
Meanwhile Mr Sunak’s personal approval ratings continued to plummet in the fallout from last month’s mini-Budget.
He is now less popular than Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer after a dramatic 24-point drop in just two weeks.
