Neil MacGillivray: Is BoJo's tax promise good news or a 'red bus'?

Tax ‘tipping point’

clock • 4 min read

Should Boris Johnson end up as prime minister, it will be interesting to see if he delivers on his tax promise, writes Neil MacGillivray - though more fascinating still could be such a change's impact on Scottish tax policy

When Boris Johnson announced that, if he becomes the next prime minister he would increase the 40% tax threshold from £50,000 to £80,000, there was a degree of scepticism as to whether he could deliver on what at first appears to be an exceptionally generous promise. Might this just be another exaggerated claim similar to the infamous advert that exiting the EU would lead to another £350m a week going to the NHS? There have been no red buses in sight just yet but, then again, little in the way of detail has been revealed - other than the cost to the Treasury being in the region of £9.6bn...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Tax planning

Turning tax year-end regret into a new tax year opportunity

Turning tax year-end regret into a new tax year opportunity

The most common regret is leaving things too late

Sophie Hall
clock 24 June 2026 • 3 min read
Why does Britain keep shooting itself in the savings crisis foot?

Why does Britain keep shooting itself in the savings crisis foot?

'Private pensions are no longer simply a retirement savings vehicle. They have become a growing source of tax revenue'

James Floyd
clock 24 June 2026 • 4 min read
'Bolder moves on taxation' likely if Burnham takes prime minister role

'Bolder moves on taxation' likely if Burnham takes prime minister role

Changes to CGT would have ‘clear implications for wealth planning’

Sophia Panayi
clock 22 June 2026 • 4 min read