Progress Party leader Sylvi Listhaug wants a majority to cut food VAT. She says food VAT is next and prices must be reduced, which will affect those with little means and large families with poor finances. Listhaug is confident that a VAT cut will reach customers because grocery chains have guaranteed it.
The Conservative Party's financial policy spokesperson Nikolai Astrup says the party is always open to discussing proposals that strengthen people's personal finances. However, the Conservative Party does not consider a food VAT cut at the moment, viewing it as a poorly targeted measure that benefits those who have the most, and it is unclear how much of the gain consumers would retain. Astrup believes tax cuts would be the best measure to cut personal finances, specifically cutting income tax sharply.
The Conservative Party believes a cut in food VAT is a poorly targeted measure, and that is why it is not something we are considering now. It would mean most for those who have the most, and it is unclear how much of the gain consumers would retain.
Listhaug disagrees with Astrup that a tax cut would be the best way to ease people's personal finances, arguing it would not be as targeted. Listhaug wants to get the other bourgeois parties and the Centre Party on board for a majority to implement a VAT cut. The Progress Party is holding a national board meeting this weekend.
The Conservative Party will cut income tax sharply. That would be the best measure, so people themselves can use it on what they want. Unfortunately, we have not seen any initiative for such measures from the Støre government.