Tories plan to merge national insurance and income tax

The Conservatives are said to be planning to merge national insurance into income tax in a major shake-up of the current tax system.

According to reports this morning, the Tories first came up with the idea last year, but pulled plans to announce it. They are now understood to be resurrecting the idea, with the aim to introduce the change in a future Parliament. The radical change would mean the end for national insurance, a big chunk of everyone's tax bill which has been around since 1911 when it was unveiled to help poorer families cope with medical bills and unemployment. Various groups have attacked it over the years, saying it is no longer fit for purpose, and according to the Independent, senior Tories inc...