Scottish First Minister, Alex Salmond, has unveiled plans to abolish council tax next year and replace it with a 3p local income tax.
The council tax is one of the most unfair and unpopular taxes in history. The arbitrary method of calculating how much someone is required to pay is matched only by the window tax of the 17th & 18th century. Sadly, cutting your council tax liability isn’t as easy as bricking up a few windows.
A local income tax means that low earners pay less and high earners pay more. Very socialist, as you would expect from the SNP, but it does link ones ability to pay with their tax burden. Of course, the CEP doesn’t have an opinion on the council tax (although individually I’m sure we all have very strong views on it) but if it is abolished north of the border it is another unequivocal demonstration of the very real benefits of having your own government looking after your own interests.
The Treasury has said that the £400m it gives to the Scottish government to cover council tax subsidies will have to stop if they abolish the council tax but the Scottish government is pressing the Scottish Chancellor and the Scottish Prime Minister to continue handing over the £400m to plug the financial hole left by replacing the council tax with a 3p local income tax. Exactly how much of a fight will Alistair Darling and Gordon Brown put up when the Scottish government is telling their constituents that 8 out of 10 of them are going to see their tax bill decrease under the local income tax as long as their MP agrees to keep giving them their subsidy?
No English MP will speak out against a £400m misappropriation of our taxes if it keeps Scottish voters happy because a happy Scotland means the union (and their salary and expenses) might last just that little bit longer and what’s good for Britain is good for British politicians.
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Typical Politicians representing England spineless cretins as usual !it is quite apparent that if you are in a position to help yourself to goodies,you just take what you want, no-one will say much ! Yet again no-one to speak up for the ordinary hard working, tax paying, average English man or woman !THE ENGLISH AT SOME POINT WILL HAVE TO HAVE A SHOWDOWN !
September 4th, 2008 at 12:49 pmRemember when the Scots complained about getting the Poll Tax a year early? Now they get a New Tax early only this time their democratically elected government keeps it promise. Why don’t we start rioting, its the only way us English will get noticed, gentle persuation doesn’t work because the British Establishment is anti-English. English independence as advocated by the Free England Party http://www.freeengland.com is the only way forward.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:16 pmI agree with most of what your saying, but first of all you must get a platform of support, numbers to grow , passion to flourish ! get rid of these crap politicians in Westminister,& go for Independence ! which in time, if your DETERMINED TO WIN THRU will follow !
September 4th, 2008 at 8:11 pm