Government have to find £41.2 billion in tax revenue or spending cuts in the autumn budget to meet their spending rules according to the NIES. They also state that rises in major taxation (i.e. income tax, VAT) would assist in boosting market confidence and reduce UK bond yields, which are currently at historical highs, and have been pushed higher than they were following the Truss mini budget, following the govt climb down on benefit reforms. The govt risk getting into a vicious cycle of borrowing costs rising and continuous additional tax rises or spending cuts being required just to meet rising interest payments on debt as market confidence in UK government economic competence evaporates.
I don't think either are realistic candidates to raise the additional revenue required as that sort of significant increase in capital gains would be offset by likely drop in revenue from investments in stocks in the UK as you're effectively making that sort of investment far less attractive particularly versus competitors and you would likely experience an overall drop in economic activity and revenue. Similarly you already have an extremely top-heavy tax revenue stream with income tax providing circa a quarter of all public revenue and over 60% of that provided by the top 10% of earners and 30% by the top 1%. This makes the UK extremely vulnerable as per analysis and market concerns to changes in activity and income in a very small subset of extremely mobile people.Align capital gains with income tax. Put the top rate back up to 50%. Job done.
I don't think either are realistic candidates to raise the additional revenue required as that sort of significant increase in capital gains would be offset by likely drop in revenue from investments in stocks in the UK as you're effectively making that sort of investment far less attractive particularly versus competitors and you would likely experience an overall drop in economic activity and revenue. Similarly you already have an extremely top-heavy tax revenue stream with income tax providing circa a quarter of all public revenue and over 60% of that provided by the top 10% of earners and 30% by the top 1%. This makes the UK extremely vulnerable as per analysis and market concerns to changes in activity and income in a very small subset of extremely mobile people.
As per the analysis significant increases in income tax and VAT targeting the broader population coupled with significant spending cuts would likely be the route to stabilising market confidence in the UK economy.
All Starmer and Reeves need to do is say "when we said 'we would not raise taxes on working people', this clearly meant those on the lowest incomes and our analysis shows that this group is made up entirely of the unemployed"
The fact that I could actually imagine those very words actually coming out of Starmer's mouth and it doesnt actually feel like too much of a satirical stretch says all you need to know for me![]()
On what measure are we the most socially unequal country in western Europe? The gini index is the most widely used assessment of wealth inequality and in the last assessment, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Greece and Luxembourg were all rated worse than the UK and Germany had exactly the same score as us.We're the most socially unequal country in western europe, so tax the poor?
Abolishing the triple lock and merging NI into income tax are other things that would help a lot.
I think this sort of bo**ocks is why Labour are i believe the most unpopular government after a year in power in recent history. The Tories are "the nasty party".
I think this sort of bo**ocks is why Labour are i believe the most unpopular government after a year in power in recent history. The Tories are "the nasty party".
All the "the adults are in charge now" only to all fall out over disability benefits within months and leave their chancellor crying on national TV during PMQs.
All the "tory sleeze" only to fall over themselves for freebies as soon as they got into power, Lord Ali stuff and then (and this is f***ing brilliant) appointing a *checks notes* ah yes, an ANTI CORRUPTION MINISTER who has had to resign due to being CHARGED WITH CORRUPTION OFFENCES.
And "we're socialists don't you know, we won't put up taxes on working people"....followed by endless changes in the definition of "working people" and a failed attempt at cutting benefits.
"isn't it great not to have a right wing party in power "....followed by Kier Starmer going down in history next to Enoch f***ing Powell by delivering an "island of strangers" speech....
"The tories left us a £22 bn black hole" followed by "we need to find £41 bn in the autumn budget"
And now this........the sheer arrogance of the blatant hypocrisy is what angers people.
Out of the 1000 or so politicians that are elected in this country over the four parliaments I doubt there is more than 10 that could be trusted with either power or money.
The fact that we even have a 1000 politicians, especially after the cull of MEPs, is actually quite disgusting IMHO.
And that's before we count the local councillors, mayor's and the SPADs and over hanger ons.
Politics most be one of our biggest growth industries.
Here's the man himself, in the earlier years, explaining what a gravy train politics is for people: low level politician in EU parliament requiring no qualifications is paid the equivalent of a £250K job at Goldman Sachs for 4 days work a week....This, people act like there is anyone not at it. One of my biggest complaints about Farage and these air of "he cares", I mean come on now, the bloke is as big if not bigger grifter than them all and they are all at it, seemingly.
Its nothing to do with putting a flag in the sand with a party anymore and lying about the opposition, we might as well be frank and say they all stink and none of them have a plan for this country.
Here's the man himself, in the earlier years, explaining what a gravy train politics is for people: low level politician in EU parliament requiring no qualifications is paid the equivalent of a £250K job at Goldman Sachs for 4 days work a week....