RISHI Sunak faced fresh pressure for tax cuts, with one Dorset Conservative MP accusing him of “throwing red meat to socialists” via his £15billion cost-of-living support package.

The Chancellor’s proposals, including a £5billion tax to be levied on oil and gas giants, were broadly welcomed by Conservative MPs in the House of Commons on Thursday.

But several sounded a note of caution about the fiscal approach Mr Sunak must follow in future, including Richard Drax.

The South Dorset MP said: “Can I warn (Mr Sunak) that throwing red meat to socialists by raising taxes on businesses and telling them where to invest their money is not the Conservative way of encouraging those who create our prosperity and jobs to do just that.

“And does he agree with me that by setting this bar, we’re in danger – were we ever to lose power – of allowing the socialists to raise it, which they would do with relish, again and again and again.”

Mr Sunak replied: “I do believe a pragmatic and compassionate Conservative Government would act to provide support to the most vulnerable at a time of acute need, and a fiscally responsible government would look to try to fund as much of that as possible in as fair a way as possible.”