Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Overtaxed? Oh, dear

Sue Doughty, the ex Liberal Democrat MP for Guildford, laments that their Local Income Tax policy was difficult to sell on the doorstep to working couples whilst pensioners were very enthusiastic. This could have cost her the elcetion. Good. Local Income Tax remains a ridiculous policy, redistributing wealth from one middle class, middle income couple to other middle class, middle incomes couple with parents needing long term care or those with University students.

Are people starting to feel overtaxed? That's not going to be good for the Liberal Democrats or Labour in the future!!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

The way I read It, I would have to pay the local income tax ontop of what I currently pay. Hardly "fair" (as the Lib Dems said) when I earn under £13,500 a year.

Add on the fact that higher oil prices means that a full tank of petrol costs a lot more now, it's not surprising that incomes can't stretch as far as before.

Anonymous said...

Can't understand why Letwin did
not make more play out of the
diminuition/non existence of
disposable income during the election.
The local shops in my vicinty have
had 1/2 filled shelves since well before Christmas, and have all had their heating turned off to reduce costs during this period.
The pincer movement of council tax
and income taxes have left
everyone I know with no more recourse to their credit cards,
and this at a time when individual credit debts are at record amounts.

dearieme said...

Please tell me where you live, anon. One reason I avoid shops is that they are almost universally grossly overheated. Swelter as you shop - no thanks!

Anonymous said...

To Dearieme,
I live in Fife,right next door to Broons constituency.
The same applies there.
Like yourself im not keen on to much heat so i avoid council offices and cant afford to shop
anyway.