Britain’s governing Conservative Party hopes tax cuts can lift ailing election fortunes

By PAN PYLAS
Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — British Treasury chief Jeremy Hunt is heading to Parliament to announce tax cuts for millions of workers. His Conservative Party is hoping the move Wednesday can turn the political dial ahead of a general election in the coming year. Even though the British economy has hit one definition of recession and public finances are stretched, Hunt has been under pressure from his colleagues to use his annual budget statement to cut taxes. With poll after poll showing the Conservatives losing heavily to the main opposition Labour Party in a general election, the government hopes putting more money in people’s pockets during a cost-of-living crisis would boost the Conservative Party’s dire ratings.