Likely UK leader Truss says new junk food taxes not on her agenda

Robert Besser
05 Aug 2022, 17:08 GMT+10

Liz Truss, the frontrunner to become the next UK prime minister, said she would not impose new taxes on unhealthy food items
She plans to restrict multi-buy deals on food and drink high in fat, salt or sugar
In polls of Conservative Party members who will elect their new leader and the country's next prime minister, Truss leads her rival, former finance minister Rishi Sunak

LONDON, England: Liz Truss, the frontrunner to become the next UK prime minister, said she would not impose new taxes on unhealthy food items, though she plans to restrict multi-buy deals on food and drink high in fat, salt or sugar.

Soft drinks high in sugar are already taxed in the UK, but due to the cost-of-living crisis its ban on deals, such as "buy one get one free" on food and drink high in fat, salt or sugar was to be adopted in May, but has been delayed until October 2023.

"Those taxes are over. Talking about whether or not somebody should buy a two-for-one offer? No. There is definitely enough of that," said Truss to the Daily Mail.

The British people want the government to focus on things like delivering good transport links, communications infrastructure and cutting National Health Service waiting lists, she added, stating, "They do not want the government telling them what to eat."

In polls of Conservative Party members who will elect their new leader and the country's next prime minister, Truss leads her rival, former finance minister Rishi Sunak.

The result of the election will be announced on 5th September.

In June, John Allan, chairman of Tesco, the UK's largest supermarket group, criticized the government of then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson for not being consistent on such legislation, including over anti-obesity policies.