Boris Johnson aims to put end to the 'nanny state'

Boris Johnson aims to put end to the 'nanny state' and its 'sin taxes' on food

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/07/02/boris-johnson-aims-put-end-nanny-state-sin-taxes-food/

Boris Johnson will end the “continuing creep of the nanny state” if he becomes prime minister, starting with a review of so-called “sin taxes” on sugary, salty and fatty foods.

The former foreign secretary wants to reverse the interventionist policies pursued by Theresa May and David Cameron in favour of a more liberal agenda.

He believes that taxes on less healthy foods “clobber those who can least afford it” and should be halted unless there is clear evidence that they work.

The policy puts him at odds with Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary who is tipped to be Chancellor under Mr Johnson, who has asked chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies to look into taxes on pizza, cakes and other foods deemed to be unhealthy.

Mr Johnson is also likely to face a battle with Dame Sally if he gets into Downing Street, as she has described herself as the "chief nanny".

Last year the Government imposed a sugar tax on soft drinks which added 8p to fizzy drinks with more than 5g of sugar per 100ml, but the drinks industry has always argued it will have no effect on public health. Mr Hancock has indicated he would be open to the idea of taxes on salty and fatty foods.

Mr Johnson has already taken aim at the Government’s proposal to extend the tax to milky drinks high in sugar - the so-called “milkshake tax” - but has gone further by saying he would halt the spread of all “sin taxes” and order a review of their effectiveness on improving public health.

He argues that people on low incomes lose a far higher proportion of their income to such taxes than people on higher incomes, and is a believer in personal responsibility rather than Government intervention.

Mr Johnson said: “It’s time to take a proper look at the continuing creep of the nanny state and the impact it has on hardworking families across Britain.

“The recent proposal for a tax on milkshakes seems to me to clobber those who can least afford it.

“If we want people to lose weight and live healthier lifestyles, we should encourage people to walk, cycle and generally do more exercise. Rather than just taxing people more, we should look at how effective the so-called ‘sin taxes’ really are, and if they actually change behaviour.”

He does not propose to make any changes to duty on alcohol or cigarettes.