Archive for tax
Nick Clegg turns media weakness into media strength
Ask a Liberal Democrat what they think about the British media and chances are you will hear a complaint about how media habits developed during years of a two-party political system that generated one-party governments die hard. That makes today’s speech by Nick Clegg on tax policy a smart move, turning those habits from a [...]
Nick Clegg returns to income tax
Later this morning, Nick Clegg will be giving a speech to the Resolution Foundation in which, after recent talk about wealth taxes, he is returning to the topic of income tax cuts. More specifically, speeding up the progress towards a basic income tax allowance of £10,000 whilst keeping the 50p rate. This is of course closely [...]
The Liberal Democrat challenges for 2012: Wealth taxation
To mark the start of 2012, we’re running a series of posts over consecutive days on the main challenges for the Liberal Democrats in 2012. I’ve already written about the four priorities for the party’s new Chief Executive, Tim Gordon, but as the Liberal Democrats are more than just the one man whilst he has [...]
Some surprising economic data
From the Mirrlees review into designing tax systems: Despite some predictions to the contrary, countries are not being forced inexorably to tax less in an increasingly globalized and competitive world economy. Between 1975 and 2008, taxes rose as a proportion of national income in virtually every OECD country. On average, the tax take rose from [...]
Get your skates on and submit a motion to Liberal Democrat conference about wealth taxes
Nick Clegg’s recent ‘open society’ speech confirmed that increases taxes on wealth in some form is very much on the political agenda. However, the default party policy option – a mansion tax – was highly controversial in the party when it was introduced (which is rather a polite term for the rolling lesson in how [...]
WATCH: Cable on bank reform, Clegg on marriage tax breaks
Vince Cable on how the government is pushing ahead with banking reform: Nick Clegg on his opposition to tax breaks for marriage:
Clegg repeats Lib Dem opposition about tax breaks for marriage, with added 1950s jibe
Via the BBC: Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has said the idea of tax breaks for married couples is wrong, and would not work. The deputy prime minister told Sky News there were “philosophical differences” with the Lib Dems’ coalition partners, the Conservatives, over the issue. He said there was a limit on what the [...]
How big business got the 50p tax rate wrong
From the Financial Times: Fears that the 50p rate of tax would hinder recruitment of top executives have been allayed, according to a survey of 50 large companies that will relieve pressure on George Osborne to accelerate plans to abolish the controversial levy in next week’s autumn statement. Only 13 per cent reported that the [...]
Liberal Democrat members support proposed changes to planning rules, just
Lib Dem Voice has polled our members-only forum to discover what Lib Dem members think of various political issues, the Coalition, and the performance of key party figures. Some 550 party members responded, and we’re currently publishing the full results. Our latest survey of party members finds a small majority backing the government’s controversial plans for the [...]
What Liberal Democrat members think of different tax policies
Lib Dem Voice has polled our members-only forum to discover what Lib Dem members think of various political issues, the Coalition, and the performance of key party figures. Some 550 party members responded, and we’re currently publishing the full results. Cut income tax and VAT but raise taxes on property: that’s the message from Liberal Democrat party [...]
