A month ago I wrote:
Abolishing the domicile would be the best indication of a commitment to tax justice in the UK
Now Labour has made doing so the first red-line in its potential Coalition negotiations. That's good with me.
As I wrote a month ago:
If a party really wanted to evidence commitment to equality of taxation for all in the UK it would, I think, have to start with abolishing the domicile rule. This rule, which quite literally provides the opportunity for wealthy people who do not consider the UK their permanent home to permanently avoid the obligation to pay UK tax on all their income and gains, quite clearly establishes a situation where people secure a social and economic advantage based on an accident of their birth and and / or their wealth. No one who believes in equality and that we should all be treated equally before the law could possibly believe that this is remotely related to any concept of justice. It is instead wholly related to providing an advantage to a tiny and wealthy minority at cost to all the rest in society in a way that deliberately makes clear that there is, quite literally, one law for the rich and one for everyone else. This is why I have campaigned against it for so long.
Of course getting rid of this rule has to be at the heart of any campaign for tax justice in the UK.
It's welcome to see Labour recognising that fact.
And it may mean the end of one small part of my campaigning.
Thanks for reading this post.
You can share this post on social media of your choice by clicking these icons:
You can subscribe to this blog's daily email here.
And if you would like to support this blog you can, here:
Fingers crossed for you Richard.
You should become a tax ambassador after this – putting the case for taxation and it’s benefits to all who live here.
Well it’s after 22:00 and we are now entering squeaky bum time. I’d love to stay up and watch the election but I’ve got a job to do so I’m off to bed.
What world will I wake up to tomorrow? What will I and many other innocents have to put up with for the next 5 years?
As the first rays of the sun creep around my curtains, will I awake feeling hope of fear?
I am not religious but I pray that the left leaning parties can work together if they have to, for they must.
Well, I caught the exit poll last night. I’m glad I did because although I got up with a heavy heart this morning I’d had time to reflect a bit more positvely on all this and prepare myself.
They say that we human beings are successful as a species because we are resilient and can put up with a lot of crap – whether it be floods, earthquakes or poor economics and bad politics. But because we are so resilient, the paradox is that even positive change is difficult because people get so used to what is bad that they feel more comfortable with THAT than with the prospect of change. Maybe that is what we are witnessing this morning?
I’ve heard Cameron going on about mending the union which means to me that he knows what he has done in his name and his objectives – I think maybe English voters have actually voted against the SNP than Labour – based on auld rivalry itself based in history.
I find it remarkable how we use history in this country – to keep open old wounds and conflicts so that they can be taken advantage of by power.
No doubt we will learn much in the coming months.