Sunak makes election policy pitch to pensioners

If the Conservatives are reelected, Sunak says pensioners, who can currently receive 12,570 pounds ($16,080) before they must start paying income tax, will see that allowance rise by whichever is the highest figure out of inflation, average earnings, or 2.5 percent.

"I passionately believe that those who have worked hard all their lives should have peace of mind and security in retirement," said Sunak.

"Thanks to the Conservatives' triple lock, pensions have risen by 900 pounds this year and now we will cut their taxes by around 100 pounds next year … This bold action demonstrates we are on the side of pensioners."

But Jonathan Ashworth, shadow paymaster general for the main opposition Labour Party, called it "another desperate move from a chaotic (Conservative) party torching any remaining facade of its claims to economic credibility", adding that the party had inflicted the country's highest tax burden in 70 years.

The move by Sunak is being seen as an attempt to win more positive headlines for his campaign following last Wednesday's shock election announcement that reportedly caught many of his own party's members of Parliament off-guard, with several promptly announcing they would not seek re-election.

The election will see 650 seats in Parliament up for grabs, with the party that wins a majority forming the next government.

The deadline for candidate nominations is June 7, and according to the Spectator magazine, an informed voice on the right in British politics, the Conservative Party still has to find people to stand in 160 of those seats, as opposed to around 30 for the Labour Party.

Additionally, the Bloomberg news agency has reported seeing a leaked internal report that says more than 100 Conservative Party seats could be at risk from the rival rightwing, anti-immigration Reform UK party.

Reform UK has never won a parliamentary seat but had one member in the last Parliament, former Conservative Party MP Lee Anderson, who switched allegiance.

Although it is not widely expected to win seats held by Conservative Party lawmakers, Reform UK could split the right-wing vote sufficiently in enough seats to make them vulnerable to other parties.

julian@mail.chinadailyuk.com