This is an excellent interview with Keir Starmer by Beth Rigby.
Q: You said you'd raised taxes on the top 5% of earners when you were running to be Labour leader…. Do you acknowledge that part of the trust issue is also about these [pledges]
A: totally disagree…I'll tell you why. I think it's more imp to stand in front of voters & say, I'm… https://t.co/0LHFN74SqX
— Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) May 27, 2024
In it she tackles Starmer on why he abandoned the pledges he made to become Labour leader. Then she hones down on just one of them, which was his pledge to increase tax on the top 5% of income earners, suggesting that there should be no problem with doing that.
Starmer's response is staggeringly illogical. Using the excuse of the mess the Tories have made of the economy, he claimed that he can no longer afford to do this, even though we know very well that the top 5% of income earners have, almost invariably, done well out of that mess. Unsurprisingly, they won from all the Tories did, even the debacles.
Starmer refused to budge, persisting with his claim. In her questioning, body language and tone Rigby made clear her bafflement and then contempt for the answer she had been given, making it obvious that she thought. it incredible.
It was incredible in the literal meaning of that word. It made precisely no sense at all.
And this man claims he wants to run the country in the interests of working people.
I think he should add ‘a few' into that claim. It would seem he want to run the country in the interests of a few working people, who happen to already be top of the economic pile.
And in anticipation of any possible responses from Starmerites, the top 10% of earners in the UK pay tax at lower overall rates than anyone else, not least because of low rates on capital gains and on the companies they own.
They also enjoy massive tax subsidies, including much of the £70 billion of pension tax relief given in the UK each year.
And they do not pay national insurance on their investment incomes.
Tackling those issues could raise almost £50 billion a year without touching on income tax rates or work disincentives, so his argument is totally hollow. Of course he can afford to raise these taxes.
Details are in the Taxing Wealth Report.
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But he can’t afford to tax rich people – the main stream media would turn against him & he is relying on this rabble to get LINO into power.
He must stay on message which is – strong and stable (perhaps we could call him “Andrex man?”)
He could also try taxing US corporations (& the US gov come to that). Factlet: Hands up those that like paying the London congestion charge? No hands.
Well you will be delighted to know that the US embassy owes £12.5 million in fines – & refuses to pay. US corps each year take HMRC to the cleaners for many many billions of £s. Starmer will take no action. He is an “owned” man, ditto most of his cabinet & the main owners are US-related organisations.
Starmer’s obvious contempt for the electorate is more apparent with each passing day. I predict a very low turn out come the election.
If only BBC also asked such a relatively innocent question – say about taxing the top 5%, or making same fair tax rate between earners unearned income – everytime he and his colleagues are interviewed.
He/they just couldnt sustain the line that the top 5% havent benefitted form the Tory mess up.
“Tackling those issues could raise almost £50 billion a year without touching on income tax rates or work disincentives, so his argument is totally hollow. Of course he can afford to raise these taxes.”
Thank you.
Now the question is, what do we (as voters) do about this mendacity? We absolutely need the Tories out. But we cannot let this stand.
I wish I knew
Vote for othr parties – but only the Greens and Nationalists are getting anywhere near these issues
Slightly OT but there were several enlightened comments on another generally poor Guardian article on Starmer and economics. Re taxes paying for spending:
“ Ha, don’t believe the government, who are the very peddlers of the ideology you believe. Try this: https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/04/29/tax-does-not-pay-for-government-spending/. Or if you don’t believe him directly, try the collection of quotes from the central banks’ websites themselves: https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/01/06/central-bankers-on-the-ability-of-banks-to-create-money-out-of-thin-air/
Wake up and demand better from your lying government!!”
Thanks
Rivhard,The Canadian government has been adding some taxes including the most recent measure to increase the inclusion rate in capital gains