Comments on: Boris and family ~ messing about on the river

By: Field

Field — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 18:41:01 +0000

Yes, a good question from Boris. But of course the government have the Tories by the short and curlies on tax as seen in Des Browne’s reply which was, translated: “Go on then – if you think you’re hard enough, you say which taxes you are going to change.”

I think the Tories certainly do need to look at tax. There are now strong arguments for having a flat tax rate (20% perhaps) and shifting some of the tax base more on to property (no one can evade that) and sales.

The alternative of waiting for New Labour to screw up on the economy hasn’t happened yet and might never happen. So tax reform is probably essential to build up the Tory vote. However some provisos since this is obviosly a high risk strategy:

1. Tax obviously can’t be viewed in isolation from benefits. I think there is now a strong argument for a Basic Personal Income. This BPI would be available to all adult citizens. It would cut out a lot of the absurd complexity of the benefits system. For those on PAYE it could be paid through tax allowances.

2. Any increase in property tax should not apply to people in their current homes. This is something that needs to be introduced gradually so that when people move they make rational decisions, knowing how much they will have to pay in property tax.

3. There may now be an argument for a local sales tax to pay for local government (i.e. above and beyond central government grant). I think pensioners who tend not to be so active on the expenditure front would naturally benefit from eventually replacing the council tax with this tax.

Tax is never going to be easy but I do think the Tories need a radical approach which promotes personal responsibility, the work ethic, a tax system that people understand and slimline tax administration.

Rate This: 0 0

By: Nora

Nora — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 17:03:35 +0000

It’s gravity, not fertility.

Rate This: 0 0

By: EWenman

EWenman — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 13:13:47 +0000

Hmm… big family, eh? Fertility must be in the genes.

Rate This: 0 0

By: Macarnie

Macarnie — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 08:25:14 +0000

If my eyes do not deceive me children-wise, the apple does not fall far from the tree

Rate This: 0 0

By: Melissa

Melissa — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 08:02:36 +0000

*salutes*

Prophet Whyles

Rate This: 0 0

By: kevin b

kevin b — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 07:12:23 +0000

Blinding question Boris. And wot a revealing reply, dear prudence.

Good old Red Gordon, champion of the poor – the deserving poor of course, not those feckless chavs buying Burberry on their benefits and another fing that really gets on my breasts is- (Foams at mouth and wanders off spittle-flecked pinstripe suited into Whitehall ranting and raving…)

Rate This: 0 0

By: colin whyles

colin whyles — Mon, 04 Jul 2005 22:42:50 +0000

Boris, you forgot to mention the further 17.5% if your constituent spends his money, plus the % taken if he puts it into a pension fund, plus the 80% is he buys petrol. The sum total is much greater than the modest 40% you stated.

I was once told that at the start of last century you worked for the Chancellor throughout January and the rest of the year for yourself. My accountant assures me that we now work until at least the end of July. Hurray! Next month I work for myself!

Rate This: 0 0

By: melissa

melissa — Mon, 04 Jul 2005 18:13:46 +0000

Thank you Mr Scollypops as ever

Rate This: 0 0

By: Vicus Scurra

Vicus Scurra — Mon, 04 Jul 2005 16:56:29 +0000

This week’s caption competition – thanks Mellyplops.
“The Henley and district Captain Beefheart Fan Club’s re-enactment of the Battle of Trafalgar was going very well until Boris admitted that he had forgotten to bring the oars”.

Rate This: 0 0

By: Scaryduck

Scaryduck — Mon, 04 Jul 2005 16:47:19 +0000

Of course, Boris’s next follow-up question on this matter ought to be: “Would Mr Browne care to desist his blathering on what is clearly an unfair system, and step outside and settle this mano-a-mano?”

That’ll sort it.

Rate This: 0 0