HEALTH Secretary Matt Hancock has sparked fears that Brits could be slapped with a new fat tax on milkshakes and other sugary products.
Boris Johnson vowed to axe plans for a Milkshake Tax when he ran for Tory leader.
Matt Hancock sparked fears that Brits could be hit with ‘fat tax’ on milkshakes and other sugary products
But Mr Hancock refused point-blank to rule out extending the hated sugar tax to other products such as sugary milk drinks, speciality lattes and juice-based drinks.
Pressed on whether he could at least rule out a Milkshake Tax, Mr Hancock pointedly dodged the question and simply repeated his election mantra: Fifty thousand more nurses.
But he did bin recommendations from Public Health England to ban eating and drinking on public transport.
He said: Having spent quite a lot of time on public transport over the last five weeks, Im not sure thats one that were going to go to.
In July, Mr Johnson vowed to axe government plans to extend the sugar tax further saying the fat-busting plan would clobber hard-up Brits.
Chris Snowden, from the Institute of Economic Affairs, warned ministers of the consequences of breaking the PMs clear promise.
It is only a few months since Boris Johnson said that a tax on milkshakes would clobber those who can least afford it. He was quite right.
Any extension of the hated sugar tax would be a kick in the teeth for people on low incomes and a breach of trust with those who have lent him their vote.
The Health Secretary put himself on a collision course with doctors after saying healthy people who worry about being ill should not be put off using GP services to check out what is bothering them.
Leading health professionals have warned that a rise in the number of people simply worrying about their health are clogging up GP and other NHS services – preventing those most in need from receiving the necessary care.
