Talk

of a rise in national insurance to pay for social care has not gone down well with Sir Bernard Ingham, who was Margaret Thatcher’s formidable press secretary. ‘Hardly a day goes by without hearing ideas for new taxes to improve our health, if not our pockets. Salt, sugar and snack taxes are the latest. I’m surprised ex-Health Secretary Matt Hancock didn’t dream up a cuddle tax. But then, perhaps not.’