Dooby doo

[cheekbones3]

It appears the Labour won't be raising global tax rates if they get into power again, although other tax rises will probably happen somewhere in the system.

The Tories say they will lower taxes while spending as much as Labour by saving on "wastage".

The Lib Dems say they will increase tax for the very high earners, and will replace council tax with a local income tax.

Labour: I'm happy with the increased spending on services, although I think it could be directed better, and I wish that they would be more open about wanting to raise taxes instead of hiding behind measures such as changes in taxes on pensions or not increasing personal allowances along with inflation etc., and also one of my bugbears, the squeeze on local authority funding which forces council taxes higher and effectively shifts the blame away from the national government.

Conservative: I can only see that they can severely cut services to lower taxation, as I don't think sacking most of the Civil Service and hospital managers (much as I think there are too many of these) is a particularly viable thing to save costs in the future. Maybe they would squeeze the local authorities even further and hit us with even nastier council tax?

Lib Dem: Progressive taxation and increased spending are absolutely fine in my book, and the removal of council tax and replacement with something based on ability to pay is a very good idea, and removes the problem of pensioners getting screwed for owning a big house which they probably worked bloody hard to enjoy in their old age. As for the tax income of richer areas versus poorer ones, some sort of national capping and redistribution according to need may be in order.

Comments?

Comments

[ghostsmut.livejournal.com]

yes. the tories will sell the post office and privatise the NHS a few years into their government if they get in. that's how they'll raise the money to "lower" taxes.

Lib Dems- yay. rich people should be taxed to fuck. and then killed.

Labour - they'll win again so whatever they say is what will be happening!

Lib Dems have it about right for me.

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

If we're going to kill them, should they not raise inheritance tax first?

[andrewducker]

Well, I've already decided to vote Lib Dem...

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

Good :O)

Which constituency are you in?

[andrewducker]

Edinburgh East and Musselburgh.

Lib Dems have 12% here, vs 43.6% for Labour. I have, however, ceased to care, and shall vote for them anyway.

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

Aye - one can only try.

[deililly.livejournal.com]

Still pondering.

If you know how a local income tax would work in place of the current council tax do tell though. Bit confused.

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure exactly - I believe it will be based on the individual's ability to pay instead of on the property, so it will be much better for pensioners, and those on benefit etc. Also, if your are a high earner, the combination of income tax with this local tax will be capped at 50% so they don't get absolutely shafted. As for the actual amount per person, this is probably just going to be based on individual need.

[deililly.livejournal.com]

It sounds like a good idea in theory to me though trying to remember how the poll tax worked....ooh my head!

(I wish they would make an idiots guide for this stuff. I really can't get anything sensible out what they say or the whizzbang soundbite pamphets. Getting quite cross really!)

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

I can't remember the poll tax, but I think was something like a flat fee for everyone, which really doesn't sound very fair to me.

[deililly.livejournal.com]

I only remember the hassle of trying to get people to sign their electoral register forms. Loads of people removed themselves from the lists to try avoid the tax. Nightmare job that was.

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

Aye - at long last the levels of payment or getting towards where they used to be under the rates system, although it's a slow process. See Edinburgh Council's figures of expenditure and collected arrears to see problems in action...

[deililly.livejournal.com]

Are they still chasing folk for poll tax now? I remember it went on for years....

This is quite funny the two comment conversations we are running - sex and taxes! :P

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

Quite a lot of outstanding council tax too.

And yes - sort of illustrates my mindset quite well! Intellectual pursuits, with a good dollop of sex thrown in :O)

[deililly.livejournal.com]

Wonder if this means I am improving my mind? :P

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

Don't see why not!

[deililly.livejournal.com]

Well thinking about the sex part is easy but I think I may struggle with the intellectual pursuits part :P (I think my brain turned to mush when I graduated...)

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

Mine did that long before graudation...

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

You can tell by my spelling!