10p tax solution

The Answer

Brilliant David Taylor has the answer to the 10p tax disaster.

In an EDM tabled tonight, he maps out a targeted solution that would restore the loss to those in genuine need. The cost will be £650 million - a fleabite in Government spending terms.

Frank Field and the others who forced a climb-down want clear answers not the flannel and obfuscation that lost the seats of 300 Labour Councillors. Restoring the 10p in full is not an option because it would unfairly benefit the very well-off. The Taylor solution is a winner. Details in the Guardian tomorrow.

Grab it, Gordon.

EDM 1477 COMPENSATION FOR ABOLITION OF THE 10 PENCE TAX RATE

06.05.2008

Taylor, David

That this House warmly welcomes the Government's recently announced commitment to compensate those individuals who have lost out since 6th April 2008 because of the abolition of the 10 pence tax rate; is very concerned that the details of the plan so far available in relation to the mechanism for reimbursement suggest a risk that it could be incomplete, delayed and inaccurate; fears that the use of a mix of winter fuel allowance, tax credits, minimum wage and other changes to measures to reimburse all those who are adversely affected is unnecessarily confusing and prone to significant error and take-up problems; understands that there is a preferable method using the income tax system itself in a way not dissimilar to how pensioners get extra tax allowances; notes that a decision, for all adults under 65 years, to add an extra amount, capped at £1,200 of 50 per cent. of income over £5,200 to the 2008-09 personal allowance, and for this extra to be progressively withdrawn at the rate of £10 for every £100 of income over £7,600, should fully compensate those with incomes from £5,200 up to £19,600 adversely affected by the 10 pence rate abolition; believes this method has the benefits of speed, relative simplicity, being retrospective and fully and accurately reimbursing all those, and only those, who otherwise might lose up to £240 per year; commends this cost-effective scheme to the Government for consideration; and urges it to announce its conclusions on this issue well before the Pre-Budget Report 2008.

A fourth term

Yes of course it’s possible to win a fourth term. Here is the plan. Gordon Brown survives until the D-Day of January 1 2010. By then he will have rebuilt his authority and he can resign with dignity and honour. Cameron and the shadow cabinet will be shop soiled and jaded. The calamites of the Old Etonian mayor will terrify the public from the prospect of an Old Etonian PM.

Labour draft in an exciting fresh new team of able politicians whose talents have never been recognised. The press will be fascinated and bowled over by the fresh new talent. The new cabinet’s honeymoon will be at its peak at a General Election at Easter 2010.

The Prime Minister will be Gordon Prentice. Brilliant, resourceful, brave and committed. The charismatic MP for Pendle secured a four seat gain for Labour in the council elections. He dominates the Public Administration Committee with his forensic creative skills. The nation will love him as a principled idealistic antidote to the Etonian fop.

Chancellor of the Exchequer will be David Taylor. His accountancy and verbally creative skills are unparalleled in the Commons. He has gifts of courage, intelligence and integrity that have been sharpened and not dulled by parliamentary experience.

The Home Secretary will be Ann Cryer. More than any other MP she has braved the difficult challenges of race relations in areas where other polticians fear to go. She is humane, dedicated, compassionate and wise. Her lack of guile will charm the nation.

Alan Simpson will be the Foreign Secretary. He has exceptional charm and mental agility. The clearest thinker on the main foreign affairs challenges of the environment, he will speak for a generation of voters who are alarmed at the global threats of future calamities.

The Justice Minister will be Bob Marshall Andrews. Urbane, literate and a brilliant advocate, he regularly reduces frontbench ministers to gibbering wrecks with his wit, knowledge and skills. His brilliance will dazzle the nation and he will be a great reformer.

I invite your suggsetions for the other cabinet posts.

Exciting isn't it?

Comments

[Tony]

I could go with the suggestions - and its interesting that 45% of Labour voters think that GB should step down .. and this would bring a new generation to the fore ..

what bugs me is a report in the Times where it says (regarding the 10p rate change and GB's response to Frank Field)

'they were told that he was searching actively for as many losers as possible' -

does that imply he didn't know ? that the abolition of the 10p rate was just a 'merry wheeze' and the effects were unknown? Oh good plan and how out of touch is that ?

[paulflynn]

It's a calamity. Alongwith with others I raised it a year ago - with specific examples. I did not believe that Labour Government would do it. The conviction was from Government was that the losers had already benefited from other Government measures or would benefit in future. I hope the Government will seize David Taylor's solution with both hands.

[Alwyn ap Huw]

Paul Flynn as Secretary of State for Wales?

[Roger]

Gordon Brown tells me on TV that we are now all £120 better off. I lost £230 as a result of the abolition of the 10p rate so by my reckoning whilst the better off are 'getting help with higher fuel costs' etc (Prime Ministers words) with this additional cash handout, me and a about a million others are still £100 short and left with no help for these bigger bills. Any wonder I feel conned! But we are not fooled.

[David]

How did you lose out, Roger? It was freely acknowledged that a million would be only partly compensated but there is pledge to put that right. There is no con.