Chancellor rejects introduction of tax on HFSS

The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak has rejected the introduction of a new tax on junk food; claiming it would hit those on the lowest incomes hardest. Mr Sunak was reportedly under pressure from colleagues to introduce the tax on high fat, high sugar foods ahead of the Budget. The Chancellor is understood to have contended that countries with similar taxes on HFSS foods have shown no reduction in rates of childhood obesity.

A source told ‘The Daily Mail’ that the Chancellor found the introduction of the tax was the move of a ‘nanny state’ which ‘doesn’t work anyway.’

It comes after the introduction of the Health and Social Care Levy which will bring taxes to the highest sustained level since the Second World War.