Chancellor Rishi Sunak is under mounting pressure from business leaders, charities and MPs from across the political spectrum to produce a package of support after inflation hit a 40-year high, with food and energy costs among the main concerns. But wrangling continued within the Cabinet over the idea of using a windfall tax on oil and gas producers which have benefited from high global prices to fund measures to help with household bills. Ministers are "intrinsically opposed" to the levy, a senior member of Boris Johnson's Government said, although it has not been ruled out. Mr Sunak appeared to acknowledge the need for further support for the poorest in a speech on Wednesday night as "right now, we have a collective responsibility to help the most vulnerable in our society". But he wants to avoid inflicting further damage on the public finances, which have already been battered by the billions pumped in to the Covid-19 pandemic response, or introducing any stimulus measures which could further increase inflation. Recommended Live updates: PM 'dithering' on windfall tax, says Starmer Brexit has increased risk of danger foods reaching UK, watchdog warns Business leaders urged him to act, with Confederation of British Industry director… Read full this story
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