RISHI Sunak has refused to rule out MORE brutal tax hikes this year as the cost of living crisis continues wreaking havoc on household finances.
Speaking this afternoon at a Q&A with the public in Morcambe, the PM insisted he's still at Tory at heart and it's his "wish" to slash taxes.
But he added the "worst thing" he can do is "promise a bunch of things that sound great" only to fail at delivering them.
"We had a massive pandemic that shut the country down," Mr Sunak said.
"And then we've got this war going on, which has had an enormous impact on inflation.
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"That means that public finances are not where they need to be."
Brits will find out how much taxes, the price of beer, cigarettes and fuel are changing on March 15, when Jeremy Hunt unveils his Spring Budget.
As energy prices soar and inflation bites, the Chancellor will present the unvarnished state of the nation's precarious finances.
At today's "PM Connect" event - the first of a series of public Q&A sessions - Mr Sunak said he's keeping tight lipped about the Budget.
But he also hinted that income tax cuts are very unlikely.
Brits currently suffer from the highest tax burden since WWII.
"In the end we can cut your taxes, but it takes a bit of work to get there," Mr Sunak vowed.
"The easiest thing in the world is for me to just promise you the earth - but I wouldn't be being straight with you."
The PM was in Morcambe this afternoon to promote the latest round of successful Levelling Up funding bids.
Around 100 projects across the UK received a share of £2.1bn funding, including £672million for better transport links, £821million on community work and £594million for heritage sites.
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In Lancashire £50m will be given to help build Eden Project North, an eco-attraction that will be built along Morecambe Bay.
The site will be similar to the Eden Project in Cornwall, with four "shell-like" domes surrounded by outdoor gardens.
It hopes to "reimagine the British seaside resort for the 21st century".
Meanwhile, the PM's own constituency is receiving a £19million Levelling Up cash injection.
The money will boost the Catterick Garrison town centre project in his upmarket North Yorkshire constituency, bringing a new square along with cycling and walking routes.
