Michael Gove proposed new taxes on the 'undeserving rich ' last night , saying the Tories will only win the general election if voters believe the party are 'warriors for the dispossessed ' . Painting a broad , positive vision for five more years in power , the party 's chief whip said the wealthiest already pay the most towards reducing the deficit , but insisted : 'We expect them to pay more . ' Official figures show that despite the economic crisis , inequality has fallen since 2010 – an achievement he said the Conservatives should trumpet rather than 'overlook ' . Tough stance : Chief Whip Michael Gove ( pictured ) proposed new taxes on the 'undeserving rich ' last night , saying the Tories will only win the the election if voters believe the party are 'warriors for the dispossessed ' He added : 'The reductions in public expenditure have been accompanied by tax reform to ensure the undeserving rich pay more . ' In a speech in London at the launch of modernising Tory campaign group The Good Right , he said that making it easier for families to buy their own homes is a 'quintessentially progressive cause ' and central to the Tory campaign . That will be seen as a strong hint that the party 's manifesto will include extensions to the Right to Buy programme started by Margaret Thatcher and the Help to Buy scheme introduced by George Osborne . Mr Gove also hailed the Government 's reforms to welfare , education and pensions . He claimed that Labour would stop social progress in its tracks if returned to power in May – propped up by Scottish Nationalists – who are 'even less progressive than Labour ' . Mr Gove insisted his intervention was not meant as a swipe at the election campaign masterminded by chief strategist Lynton Crosby . But it will be seen as backing for those who have been calling for a more upbeat tone to the campaign . Senior Tories , including Home Secretary Theresa May , have in recent weeks called for a more encouraging pitch , focused on the party 's achievements in office and compassionate vision for the future . The Chancellor is expected to use next week 's Budget to underline the Tories ' pledge to lift the threshold for basic rate tax to £12,500 , freeing more of the lower-paid from tax , and to lift the 40p bracket to £50,000 , helping the middle classes . Mr Gove 's speech repeatedly referred to 'compassionate Conservatism ' . Slow progress : He claimed that Labour - led by Ed Miliband ( pictured ) would stop social progression in its tracks if returned to power in May – propped up by Scottish Nationalists . He said : 'Only if we remind people of our commitment to social justice , demonstrate our belief in equality of opportunity and affirm that we are warriors for the dispossessed , will we be able to win arguments and elections , and then be in a position genuinely to help the vulnerable and the voiceless . ' The Government 's greatest achievement has been 'getting Britain back to work ' , he said , adding : 'In the last five years , Britain has created more jobs than the whole of the rest of the European Union put together . ' Britain 's global export trade is booming – giving George Osborne a pre-Budget boost . The latest Office for National Statistics data shows the trade deficit – the difference between imports and what the UK sells to foreign markets – dropped to just £600million in January , from a high of £2.1billion in December . Exports , which were hit by stagnation in the eurozone , rose by 5.8 per cent in the three months to January , while imports rose by just 2 per cent . Britain 's improved performance was helped by lower global oil prices , which have been responsible for the low rate of inflation , currently running at just 0.3 per cent .
Gove said rich are already paying most but 'we expect them to pay more ' He wants Tories to trumpet the fact that inequality has fallen since 2010 . Hinted their next manifesto would extend the 'Right to Buy ' programme . Social progress would stop if Labour come into power in May , Gove said . Trade deficit dropped to £600million in January from a high of £2.1billion .