Calamity PM Liz Truss backs groaning Tory millionaires calling for scrapping inheritance tax

Former prime minister flash-in-a-pan backs a charge led by mega-rich Nadhim Zahawi, who said he was 'haunted' by the prospect of his estate being taxed on his death

Liz Truss says she wants to see the inheritance tax abolished (

Image: Getty Images)

Flash-in-a-pan Prime Minister Liz Truss has added her voice to disgruntled Tory millionaires demanding that inheritance tax be scrapped altogether.

Ms Truss, who still has a fan base among Tory MPs despite the economic turmoil she unleashed during her 49 days as leader, said the tax should be scrapped.

She joins the mega-rich Nadhim Zahawi, who said he was "haunted" by the prospect of having his estate taxed after his death.

And wealthy former cabinet member Jacob Rees-Mogg also rallied against it.

They are among more than 50 Tory MPs who want Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to abolish it in his autumn statement - but the Treasury says only a small proportion of estates pay it.

Nadhim Zahawi says he is "haunted" by the prospect of his estate being taxed upon his death (

Picture:

Alastair Grant/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

A spokeswoman for Ms Truss would support scrapping the requirement, saying it penalizes people who 'work hard to make money'.

Mr. Zahawi - whom Mr Sunak sacked in January after it emerged he had settled a multi-million pound tax dispute while Chancellor - said: "Inheritance tax is that other specter that haunts us alongside death.

"In addition to being morally wrong to take someone's property when they die, it also creates all sorts of ineffective and damaging distortions in our personal finances and in the economy in general."

He added: "The Prime Minister and the Chancellor are doing an admirable job of helping people through a global inflationary spike and war on our continent.

"By abolishing inheritance...