Prime minister faces questions from MPs after Lee Anderson’s defection and controversy over Frank Hester as poll says voters want new leader for election
After PMQs, at about 12.30pm, a Treasury minister will be in the Commons to answer an urgent question tabled by Labour about the decision announced by HM Revenue and Customs yesterday to close its tax self-assessment helpline for six months a year.
The decision caused an outcry. But the minister responding to the UQ should have an easy time because this morning HMRC has announced that it has changed its mind.
Following feedback from concerned stakeholders, the changes to the self-assessment, VAT and PAYE helplines that were announced will be halted while HMRC engages with stakeholders about how to ensure all taxpayers’ needs are met as HMRC shifts more people to online self-service in the longer term.
Our helpline and webchat advisers will always be there for those taxpayers who need support because they are vulnerable, digitally excluded or have complex affairs.
The Telegraph has been told that at one meeting held in the past few days, Ms Mordaunt remained the preferred candidate for the party to rally around but Mr Tugendhat ‘s name has also been floated.
Mr Tugendhat, who sits in the cabinet as security minister, did better than expected in the Tory leadership race following Boris Johnson’s resignation in 2022, running an energetic campaign before being knocked out in the third round.
The Conservative party, if it changes leader for the fourth time within two years, the British public will go, ‘What on earth is going on with you? You are clowns,’ and we will be booted out of office, not just politely, to an extent that we will have less than 100 MPs …
I like Tom [Tugendhat], I like all my colleagues, apart from the idiots who say some of the things like that [that there should be a leadership contest].
Continue reading…Prime minister faces questions from MPs after Lee Anderson’s defection and controversy over Frank Hester as poll says voters want new leader for electionAfter PMQs, at about 12.30pm, a Treasury minister will be in the Commons to answer an urgent question tabled by Labour about the decision announced by HM Revenue and Customs yesterday to close its tax self-assessment helpline for six months a year.The decision caused an outcry. But the minister responding to the UQ should have an easy time because this morning HMRC has announced that it has changed its mind.Following feedback from concerned stakeholders, the changes to the self-assessment, VAT and PAYE helplines that were announced will be halted while HMRC engages with stakeholders about how to ensure all taxpayers’ needs are met as HMRC shifts more people to online self-service in the longer term.Our helpline and webchat advisers will always be there for those taxpayers who need support because they are vulnerable, digitally excluded or have complex affairs.The Telegraph has been told that at one meeting held in the past few days, Ms Mordaunt remained the preferred candidate for the party to rally around but Mr Tugendhat ‘s name has also been floated.Mr Tugendhat, who sits in the cabinet as security minister, did better than expected in the Tory leadership race following Boris Johnson’s resignation in 2022, running an energetic campaign before being knocked out in the third round.The Conservative party, if it changes leader for the fourth time within two years, the British public will go, ‘What on earth is going on with you? You are clowns,’ and we will be booted out of office, not just politely, to an extent that we will have less than 100 MPs …I like Tom [Tugendhat], I like all my colleagues, apart from the idiots who say some of the things like that [that there should be a leadership contest]. Continue reading…