The above numbers were quoted by Catherine McKinnell MP, shadow treasury secretary, at the ARC tax gap conference I attended this morning.
The data is based on parliamentary answers from her opposite number.
When you have a crisis in money's owing to you the golden rule in business is that the last people you sack are your debt collectors. This government has done the exact opposite.
You have to ask why. I know Labour started the policy - but by 2010 the facts had changed. The policy didn't.
Could it be that the Tories want a tax gap? Could it be they want a deficit? And could it be that's why they have been so keen to strip HMRC of resources? Is it that not collecting tax is their excuse for continuing to dismantle the state, the benefits system, the NHS, education and so much more?
I increasingly believe it is.
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As these figures came from a politician, should we actually take them at face value or dig a bit deeper?
While, if true, this information may fit our narrative, facts and figures spouted by say-anything (note, anything) politicians must be verified 1000-fold.
Remember what Rees-Mogg said: “…I stand four-square in favour of the rights of property and four-square, too, in favour of the rights of the Crown dependencies, by and large, to regulate their own affairs.” I.e. they are against the state and hence they will favour tax havens (crown dependencies)and any effort or measure that weakens the state and its ability to raise taxes. This is what Cameron and his hoons REALLY stand for. In the end the State will be so moribund, that they can leave it to their ‘buddies’ to take over all state assets and services. Welcome to the Corporate State, in a corporatised world.
Anthony, as an Italian (I believe I got that right) you’ll enjoy the two following quotes, in light of what you have written:
1. Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power.
2. The keystone of the Fascist doctrine is its conception of the State, of its essence, its functions, and its aims. For Fascism the State is absolute, individuals and groups relative.
Both quotes from Benito Mussolini. Quote 1 refers to the type of State these present Tories would support, with Quote 2 describing how they see it operating. The Gagging Law fits perfectly here!
We are definitely moving to a form of Fascism Andrew. I think the ‘style’ of it will be different to Benito’s form though. Benito made no pretense of democracy whatsover. In the 21st century version, we’ll see all the ‘rituals’ of democracy, human rights, etc, but it will be a total sham, as we are seeing in most countries already; where you have 2 or 3 major parties but they both follow the same agenda – namely furthering the interests of the ruling corporate elite.
If anything our governments (Great Britain, Australia, U.S.) are beginning to resemble the ancient Roman Republic. The Roman Republic had all the trappings of democracy – an assembly of the people, officials elected by the citizenry, officers elected to represent the interests of the people (tribunes), etc, etc, but in point of fact, everything was run behind the scenes by the Patrician class. Those who saw through the sham and tried to do something about it were dealt with. Even their wars, the Romans argued were to defend their ‘allies’.