Tax cuts can fuel Conservative hope for election as voters are yet to switch their affections to Labour

CUT taxes — win votes.

It is the only shot left in the locker for a Conservative government that are 20 points behind in the polls after 13 chaotic years in power.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt did his best yesterday as he produced the biggest tax-cutting boost for growth and jobs in modern times.

There was a two per cent cut in NI contributions, a boost for the state pension and minimum wage, a crack down on workshy welfare scroungers and extra billions to spur growth.

If it works, there will be more money for proper eye-popping tax cuts in his Spring budget — and a chance to open clear blue water between Tories and Labour.

But an awful lot must go right between now and then for that scenario to successfully play out.

Official forecasts warn that taxes will still be rising and growth lower than forecast after what will be 14 years of Tory rule.

Those predictions are notoriously inaccurate.

Britain has done far better economically than countries such as Germany, France and Italy.

The acid test will come when voters assess whether they feel better off since 2010 — or at least since the pandemic knocked every world economy off balance.

They might begin to see that Labour has little or nothing to offer as an alternative.

Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves did her best yesterday, but her promise to boost public spending by growing the economy is magical thinking.

She has yet to come up with something more credible than borrowing £28billion a year for a green revolution.

Voters may have turned their backs on the Tories, but they have yet to switch their affections wholeheartedly to Labour.