Comments on: Untangling the debt http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2008/12/alistair-darling%e2%80%99s-damp-squib/ Tribune - Comment, news and reviews from Britain's democratic left Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:05:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 By: Damian Hockney http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2008/12/alistair-darling%e2%80%99s-damp-squib/comment-page-1/#comment-7316 Damian Hockney Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:58:53 +0000 http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2008/12/04/alistair-darling%e2%80%99s-damp-squib/#comment-7316 Davinder, I agree with you in the event that you have not already imposed VAT on something, but surely you cannot remove VAT completely on goods or services where you have previously levied them? You can lower it, but cannot remove it. At the time when this happened over a decade ago, and I checked with the European office in London, they were categoric...and two days later Labour changed its pledge from scrapping the recently imposed VAT on domestic fuel to reducing it to the lowest allowable level. Davinder, I agree with you in the event that you have not already imposed VAT on something, but surely you cannot remove VAT completely on goods or services where you have previously levied them? You can lower it, but cannot remove it. At the time when this happened over a decade ago, and I checked with the European office in London, they were categoric…and two days later Labour changed its pledge from scrapping the recently imposed VAT on domestic fuel to reducing it to the lowest allowable level.

]]> By: Damian Hockney http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2008/12/alistair-darling%e2%80%99s-damp-squib/comment-page-1/#comment-19836 Damian Hockney Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:58:00 +0000 http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2008/12/04/alistair-darling%e2%80%99s-damp-squib/#comment-19836 Davinder, I agree with you in the event that you have not already imposed VAT on something, but surely you cannot remove VAT completely on goods or services where you have previously levied them? You can lower it, but cannot remove it. At the time when this happened over a decade ago, and I checked with the European office in London, they were categoric...and two days later Labour changed its pledge from scrapping the recently imposed VAT on domestic fuel to reducing it to the lowest allowable level. Davinder, I agree with you in the event that you have not already imposed VAT on something, but surely you cannot remove VAT completely on goods or services where you have previously levied them? You can lower it, but cannot remove it. At the time when this happened over a decade ago, and I checked with the European office in London, they were categoric…and two days later Labour changed its pledge from scrapping the recently imposed VAT on domestic fuel to reducing it to the lowest allowable level.

]]> By: Martin Rosen http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2008/12/alistair-darling%e2%80%99s-damp-squib/comment-page-1/#comment-7008 Martin Rosen Sat, 06 Dec 2008 12:11:43 +0000 http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2008/12/04/alistair-darling%e2%80%99s-damp-squib/#comment-7008 An excellent indictment of this government, which blindly follows where its blind leader leads. I think the suggestion of the removal of th ceiling on National Insurance is a poor one. NI is just Income Tax by another (and deceitfully misleading) name. It has been used by Brown as a means of increasing Income Tax whilst pretending he is maintaining his pledge not to do so. NI should now be abolished entirely and incorporated into Income Tax. This would reduce administration both in HMRC and in companies around the country, and present a proper view of taxation. It would also, of course, achieve Prem and Austin's objective of increasing taxation for high earners. An excellent indictment of this government, which blindly follows where its blind leader leads.

I think the suggestion of the removal of th ceiling on National Insurance is a poor one. NI is just Income Tax by another (and deceitfully misleading) name. It has been used by Brown as a means of increasing Income Tax whilst pretending he is maintaining his pledge not to do so. NI should now be abolished entirely and incorporated into Income Tax. This would reduce administration both in HMRC and in companies around the country, and present a proper view of taxation.

It would also, of course, achieve Prem and Austin’s objective of increasing taxation for high earners.

]]> By: Martin Rosen http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2008/12/alistair-darling%e2%80%99s-damp-squib/comment-page-1/#comment-19835 Martin Rosen Sat, 06 Dec 2008 12:11:00 +0000 http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2008/12/04/alistair-darling%e2%80%99s-damp-squib/#comment-19835 An excellent indictment of this government, which blindly follows where its blind leader leads. I think the suggestion of the removal of th ceiling on National Insurance is a poor one. NI is just Income Tax by another (and deceitfully misleading) name. It has been used by Brown as a means of increasing Income Tax whilst pretending he is maintaining his pledge not to do so. NI should now be abolished entirely and incorporated into Income Tax. This would reduce administration both in HMRC and in companies around the country, and present a proper view of taxation. It would also, of course, achieve Prem and Austin's objective of increasing taxation for high earners. An excellent indictment of this government, which blindly follows where its blind leader leads.

I think the suggestion of the removal of th ceiling on National Insurance is a poor one. NI is just Income Tax by another (and deceitfully misleading) name. It has been used by Brown as a means of increasing Income Tax whilst pretending he is maintaining his pledge not to do so. NI should now be abolished entirely and incorporated into Income Tax. This would reduce administration both in HMRC and in companies around the country, and present a proper view of taxation.

It would also, of course, achieve Prem and Austin’s objective of increasing taxation for high earners.

]]> By: Davinder Kohli http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2008/12/alistair-darling%e2%80%99s-damp-squib/comment-page-1/#comment-7002 Davinder Kohli Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:23:01 +0000 http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2008/12/04/alistair-darling%e2%80%99s-damp-squib/#comment-7002 Another nice article. Any chance of either of you becoming the Chancellor? Damian Hockney: There is nothing in the EU accession treaty to prevent the government from exempting certain items. Food and children's clothing are expemt and the government has already reduced the VAt on domestic fuel. So it can exempt it. The main argument that people need cash in their pocket is quite right and I fear that Brown has missed the opportunity, but it is still not too let and can be rectified in March. Another nice article. Any chance of either of you becoming the Chancellor?

Damian Hockney: There is nothing in the EU accession treaty to prevent the government from exempting certain items. Food and children’s clothing are expemt and the government has already reduced the VAt on domestic fuel. So it can exempt it.

The main argument that people need cash in their pocket is quite right and I fear that Brown has missed the opportunity, but it is still not too let and can be rectified in March.

]]> By: Davinder Kohli http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2008/12/alistair-darling%e2%80%99s-damp-squib/comment-page-1/#comment-19833 Davinder Kohli Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:23:00 +0000 http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2008/12/04/alistair-darling%e2%80%99s-damp-squib/#comment-19833 Another nice article. Any chance of either of you becoming the Chancellor? Damian Hockney: There is nothing in the EU accession treaty to prevent the government from exempting certain items. Food and children's clothing are expemt and the government has already reduced the VAt on domestic fuel. So it can exempt it. The main argument that people need cash in their pocket is quite right and I fear that Brown has missed the opportunity, but it is still not too let and can be rectified in March. Another nice article. Any chance of either of you becoming the Chancellor?

Damian Hockney: There is nothing in the EU accession treaty to prevent the government from exempting certain items. Food and children’s clothing are expemt and the government has already reduced the VAt on domestic fuel. So it can exempt it.

The main argument that people need cash in their pocket is quite right and I fear that Brown has missed the opportunity, but it is still not too let and can be rectified in March.

]]> By: Davinder Kohli http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2008/12/alistair-darling%e2%80%99s-damp-squib/comment-page-1/#comment-19834 Davinder Kohli Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:23:00 +0000 http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2008/12/04/alistair-darling%e2%80%99s-damp-squib/#comment-19834 Another nice article. Any chance of either of you becoming the Chancellor? Damian Hockney: There is nothing in the EU accession treaty to prevent the government from exempting certain items. Food and children's clothing are expemt and the government has already reduced the VAt on domestic fuel. So it can exempt it. The main argument that people need cash in their pocket is quite right and I fear that Brown has missed the opportunity, but it is still not too let and can be rectified in March. Another nice article. Any chance of either of you becoming the Chancellor?

Damian Hockney: There is nothing in the EU accession treaty to prevent the government from exempting certain items. Food and children’s clothing are expemt and the government has already reduced the VAt on domestic fuel. So it can exempt it.

The main argument that people need cash in their pocket is quite right and I fear that Brown has missed the opportunity, but it is still not too let and can be rectified in March.

]]> By: Damian Hockney http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2008/12/alistair-darling%e2%80%99s-damp-squib/comment-page-1/#comment-6995 Damian Hockney Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:29:49 +0000 http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2008/12/04/alistair-darling%e2%80%99s-damp-squib/#comment-6995 Austin, very interesting piece, even in areas where I disagree with you! But can the UK government abolish VAT on domestic fuel? I remember when Labour were challenged on this 10 years ago, they changed the wording of an earlier pledge to "cut to the lowest allowable level" because the EU will not allow us to abolish it. But am I wrong? Austin, very interesting piece, even in areas where I disagree with you! But can the UK government abolish VAT on domestic fuel? I remember when Labour were challenged on this 10 years ago, they changed the wording of an earlier pledge to “cut to the lowest allowable level” because the EU will not allow us to abolish it. But am I wrong?

]]> By: Damian Hockney http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2008/12/alistair-darling%e2%80%99s-damp-squib/comment-page-1/#comment-19831 Damian Hockney Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:29:00 +0000 http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2008/12/04/alistair-darling%e2%80%99s-damp-squib/#comment-19831 Austin, very interesting piece, even in areas where I disagree with you! But can the UK government abolish VAT on domestic fuel? I remember when Labour were challenged on this 10 years ago, they changed the wording of an earlier pledge to "cut to the lowest allowable level" because the EU will not allow us to abolish it. But am I wrong? Austin, very interesting piece, even in areas where I disagree with you! But can the UK government abolish VAT on domestic fuel? I remember when Labour were challenged on this 10 years ago, they changed the wording of an earlier pledge to “cut to the lowest allowable level” because the EU will not allow us to abolish it. But am I wrong?

]]> By: Damian Hockney http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2008/12/alistair-darling%e2%80%99s-damp-squib/comment-page-1/#comment-19832 Damian Hockney Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:29:00 +0000 http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2008/12/04/alistair-darling%e2%80%99s-damp-squib/#comment-19832 Austin, very interesting piece, even in areas where I disagree with you! But can the UK government abolish VAT on domestic fuel? I remember when Labour were challenged on this 10 years ago, they changed the wording of an earlier pledge to "cut to the lowest allowable level" because the EU will not allow us to abolish it. But am I wrong? Austin, very interesting piece, even in areas where I disagree with you! But can the UK government abolish VAT on domestic fuel? I remember when Labour were challenged on this 10 years ago, they changed the wording of an earlier pledge to “cut to the lowest allowable level” because the EU will not allow us to abolish it. But am I wrong?

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