Furious Scottish Tories Warn They Won't Be "Sacrificial Lambs" On Windfall Tax

A major row is brewing between Downing Street and Tories in Scotland over the prospect of the Government announcing on Tuesday that it is extending the windfall tax on energy companies as part of the Budget.

Conservative party figures north of the border are furious over the possible move, with one source saying the group feel like "sacrificial lambs".

Douglas Ross, the MP for Moray and Tory leader in Scotland, urged Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to scrap the potential announcement in eleventh hour phone calls with Government Whips this morning. 

The Telegraph reported on Monday night that Ross confronted Sunak about the possible extension of the windfall tax at a reception of Tory MPs that day, and that he had briefly been put on resignation watch.

PoliticsHome understands that extending the windfall tax is among options that have been considered by ministers as a way of raising the funds needed to cut taxes at the Spring Budget, which Hunt will deliver in the House of Commons this afternoon.

Tories north of the border strongly oppose the move as it would affect energy giants operating in the North Sea off the coast of Scotland, which they regard as being key contributors to the Scottish economy, and risks deterring investment in the region.

It is believed that if the Government does decide to extend the levy, it may not plan to put it into legislation until after the next general election.

This has prompted suspicion among hostile Scottish Tories that it would be an announcement designed by the Government to convince the Office for Budget Responsibility to adjust its economic projections and give Hunt more money to spend on reducing tax levels.

The timing of the row, which threatens to escalate after