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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Lizzy Buchan & Ashley Cowburn

Liz Truss 'planning new assault on green laws and 48-hour week' in wake of budget

Liz Truss is plotting a fresh assault on workers rights and green laws as she draws a line in the sand under Boris Johnson's time in No10.

The new Prime Minister is said to be poised to rip up regulations governing the 48-hour working week and abandon parts of her predecessor's environmental agenda, such as the bans on live exports of animals and trophy hunting.

“The nasty, uncaring Tory party is back,” an ally of Mr Johnson told the Sunday Times.

Ms Truss was holed up at Chevening, one of the Government's grace and favour mansions, over the weekend as the dust settles on her controversial mini-Budget.

The PM is already said to be considering further tax cuts in the new year, only days after Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng went on a £45billion tax-slashing blitz in his mini-Budget.

Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng on a visit in Kent after the Budget (PA)

The plan, funded by more than £70billion of increased borrowing, was met with alarm by top economists, some Tory MPs and financial markets - with the pound tumbling to fresh 37-year lows.

But Treasury officials are already drawing up further plans, including more reductions in income tax, and discounts for savers and child benefit claimants, according to the Telegraph.

Downing Street dismissed the report as "completely speculative".

Appearing on the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg programme, Mr Kwarteng did however hint at further tax cuts, saying: "There's more to come - we've only been here 19 days".

He sidestepped questions about the pound slumping on Friday after he announcing the details of the mini-Budget, saying as Chancellor "I don't comment on market movements".

He added: "We've got to have a much more front-footed approach to growth and that's what my Friday statement was all about.

"I think that if we can get some of the reforms..., if we get business back on its feet, we can get this country moving and we can grow our economy, and that's what my focus is 100% about".

The Chancellor has also set himself on a collision course with trade unions with a plan to legislate to force union members to vote on pay offers before strikes can happen.

Eleven unions are preparing court action over moves to crack down on industrial action, signalling a bruising winter of conflict.

The TUC has vowed to “throw the kitchen sink” at the PM’s pledge to restrict industrial action and roll back protections on working hours, sick pay and workplace safety.

Ms Truss is also expected to loosen visa rules to allow foreign workers to more easily come to the UK to plug labour shortages.

Labour has branded the PM's economic plans an admission of 12 years of Tory failure.

Keir Starmer arrives at Labour conference in Liverpool (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

But Ms Truss insisted she is "unapologetic" in "focusing relentlessly on economic growth" as she defended her high-risk plans to kick start the sluggish economy.

Writing in the Mail on Sunday, she said: "Growth means families have more money in their pockets, more people can work in highly paid jobs and more businesses can invest in their future.

"It provides more money to fund our public services, like schools, the NHS and the police.

"We will be unapologetic in this pursuit... everything we do will be tested against whether it helps our economy to grow or holds it back."

She brushed off criticism that the plans were irresponsible in an interview with CNN due to air later today.

Ms Truss also brushed off suggestions the measures could be fiscally irresponsible.

"I don't really accept the... premise of the question at all," she said.

"The UK has one of the lowest levels of debt in the G7, but we have one of the highest levels of taxes. Currently, we have a 70-year high in our tax rates."

Mr Kwarteng said he looks forward to "proving the naysayers wrong" over his "mission to encourage investment and drive growth".

"I want to reassure you that with our growth plan everyone wins. This is a plan that cuts taxes for all, not just the wealthy," the Chancellor wrote in The Sun.

"This is the first step towards igniting growth across the UK, with ambitious reforms to boost our economy".

It appears to be a signal that Ms Truss and Mr Kwarteng want to go further, likely in a full Budget next year.

Keir Starmer denounced the "shower" in Downing Street in speeches to activists on the eve of the Labour conference in Liverpool, accusing ministers of "taking the piss" by offering tax cuts to the rich while giving less support to poorer households.

The Labour leader set out plans for a green energy revolution to boost economic growth as a counter to the Government's policies.

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