Theresa May visiting a missile manufacturer in Bolton after launching her party’s manifesto in Halifax, a Labour-held seat Stefan Rousseau/PA WireSenior Conservatives are scrambling to downplay the prospect of post-election tax rises after Theresa May scrapped a promise not to raise income tax or national insurance. Mrs May used her manifesto launch today to recast Conservatism in her own image, with money for health and education, a delay to deficit reduction plans and an end to middle-class benefits in a policy platform likely to upset some traditional supporters. She said that her administration would “reject the cult of selfish individualism”. In one of the most controversial moves of the manifesto, Mrs May says that those who receive care at home will be expected to use the value of their property to contribute to the costs. Signalling a clean break from David Cameron, the prime minister…

Source: The Times May 18, 2017 11:33 UTC