Via Samizdata, food for thought: So, here’s the text of one of HMRC’s standard letters. My constituents are rightly complaining about them after having been scared witless that they, decent law-abiding individuals and families who had in fact paid, were about to have property seized and sold by the state. […]
Read MorePost Tagged with: "Tax"
David Cameron under pressure to block EU demand for £400 per British family – Telegraph
Via David Cameron under pressure to block EU demand for £400 per British family – Telegraph. British officials said Mr Cameron would seek to form an alliance with leaders from countries including France, Germany, Holland and Sweden to fight the planned rise. Last night a Downing Street source said: “The Commission […]
Read MoreProposed 2012 EU budget to increase UK contribution by £680 million
Via Open Europe: The European Commission has today tabled its proposal for the 2012 EU budget. The proposal will see the EU budget increase by 4.9%, or €6.2bn – more than two percentage points above inflation. This would take the budget from €126.5bn in 2011 up to €132.7bn in 2012, […]
Read MoreConservativeHome’s Platform: Steve Baker MP: Who drafts Government bills?
I have written on ConservativeHome about what appears to be a provision for exempting MPs from tax avoidance law: I am furious. Who could possibly think that special tax treatment for MPs is a good idea? Who could possibly think that MPs would get away with it if they tried […]
Read MoreThe politics of petrol
Via today’s Order of Business, the Opposition attempt to put the boot in and we kick back: 3 OPPOSITION DAY (13th allotted day) [Until 7.00 pm] FUEL PRICES AND THE COST OF LIVING Edward Miliband Ed Balls Ms Angela Eagle Maria Eagle Kerry McCarthy Ms Rosie Winterton That this House […]
Read MoreThe Revenue and Growth Effects of Britain’s High Personal Taxes
The 50p tax rate is costing the government money by discouraging work and driving high-income earners overseas. In a ranking of the marginal tax rates of the 86 largest economies in the world, Britain comes 83rd, and increasing numbers of businesses and high earners are leaving the country. This paper […]
Read Morefairfueluk.com and the advice of a referee
I am glad to support www.fairfueluk.com in their campaign: The Fair Fuel UK campaign aims to force the Government to abandon the next increase in fuel duty planned for April – this could mean another 5 pence on a litre of fuel (which means a further 23p/gallon). We also want them […]
Read MoreIs there any reason to believe taxes can usefully be raised further?
The following chart is taken from How Should Britain’s Government Spending and Tax Burdens be Measured? by David B Smith, IEA, Jun 2009: It seems to show an upper limit to the tax which can be extracted from the economy: about 40% of GDP. Further, there has been little change in taxation […]
Read MoreReflections on conference
This conference left me with a sense of the Party’s sincere humanity and compassion. Our aims include lifting the poor out of poverty through the best possible means: work, education, strong families and wealth creation. I happened to have dinner with John Hayes MP who set out an inspirational vision […]
Read MoreHow to transform a nation in ten steps
Brought forward. I was challenged last night to advocate flat taxes. Here’s one of my previous posts which does so. Another is here (you will have to forgive the oversize graphs). The Georgian recipe for “an amazing transformation”: Low and flat taxes Legislative commitment to reducing the government’s fiscal footprint […]
Read More
