Philip Hammond has broken the 2015 Tory manifesto commitment not to raise National Insurance contributions. It was there in black and white not once but four times:

“A Conservative Government will not increase the rates of VAT, Income Tax or National Insurance in the next Parliament”

“we will not raise VAT, National Insurance contributions or Income Tax”

“commit to no increases in VAT, National Insurance contributions or Income Tax”

“we can commit to no increases in VAT, Income Tax or National Insurance. Tax rises on working people would harm our economy, reduce living standards and cost jobs”

Today Hammond hiked NIC payments for self-employed people from 9 percent to 10% in 2018 and up again to 11 % by 2019. Two 1% tax rises in two years for the self-employed. Tory manifesto promise broken…