Dan Roberts and I argued at greater length than is eventually broadcast, about whether the LibDems are introducing too much complexity into the tax system with their 10k proposal. Dan’s argument was, effectively: doing this makes it a nightmare for journalists, commentators and those putting the manifesto under the spotlight, to work out whether it [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Taxation’
12 Apr
Further manifesto reactions
Stephanie Flanders: there’s nothing new in it. Everything carefully costed, trying to reinforce the message that they are the safe pair of hands. The IFS has a note but it mostly reflects on the past 13 years (better public services, worse efficiency, some of that probably unavoidable, the future difficult) in a way that is [...]
24 Mar
VAT is not the same as income taxes
One of the many thought provoking ideas put out in Policy Exchange’s latest report is that VAT is really no better than income tax; both simply reduce the value of your income, either by raising the prices of the things you want to buy (VAT), or taking income directly. To quote directly: “Suppose a worker [...]
23 Mar
Speaks volumes about the Spectator
What I get in my inBox from them: How nice of them to help out the good folk at Octopus Investments. Sounds a bit like squid … I reiterate a point I will tirelessly make: the absolutely best way of guranteeing a sub 35% result for the Conservatives on polling day will be to carpetbomb [...]
15 Mar
A good reason to equalise CGT and Income Tax rates
Owing to my own good fortune, I have some experience of the advantages that the wealthy get, over the poor. From an email sent to me giving investment advice: “Consider Capital Gains at 0/18% rather than Income tax at up to 50%” Oh, you think. – but people getting involved in Capital gains take a [...]
5 Jan
Conservatives on the back foot on marriage
Conservative plans to favour marriage in the tax system are clearly distributionally regressive: but abandoning them puts them at risk to attack from the Right. They should still abandon them,
9 Dec
The PBR: there’s really not much to say
Darling’s probable last Pre Budget Report was less illuminating or dramatic than expected. Hardly worth all the tweeting
30 Nov
Even better, you can watch it on telly
The video of Nick and Vince’s relaunch of the Mansion tax and other goodies is online.
14 Oct
VAT – a Truly Great Tax, but Regressive
VAT is a very efficient tax, but unfortunately very regressive. Over to you Mark
7 Oct
Tory maths: not so much better than Labour maths after all?
Not so sure now that Osborne has been as straight with the People as he wants us to think
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