Quiz of The Week: 4 - 10 September

Have you been paying attention to The Week’s news?

Boris Johnson
(Image credit: Paul Edwards / WPA Pool / Getty Images)

Boris Johnson this week took the biggest gamble of his premiership yet by unveiling a planned tax hike to fund adult social care and tackle the NHS backlog.

The prime minister's manifesto-busting 1.25% rise in National Insurance contributions pushes the tax burden on UK workers to the highest level since the 1950s. Furious Tory backbenchers accused Johnson of trashing the Conservatives' reputation as the party of low taxes.

But despite predictions of a “backlash” from Tory MPs, a rebellion failed to materialise in the Commons. Only five Conservatives voted against the new measures, which passed by 319 votes to 248.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

In a further roll of the dice by Johnson, the government is set to break another manifesto pledge after confirming a suspension of the “triple lock” for annual state pension increases. The controversial move was triggered by a big post-pandemic rise in average earnings that would have meant pensions increasing by around 8%. Instead, the rise will be in line with either the consumer inflation rate or 2.5%, whichever is highest.

Need a reminder of some of the other headlines over the past seven days?

To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us