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Since election rules have kicked in for the media, Corbyn's net positivity rating among the public has climbed 41 points.

Labour have made massive gains in Wales last week, and even in England they're sitting on around 38% of the vote.

Every time May gets on to a podium with the words 'strong and stable' smeared across it, most of the country will be laughing at her. This is an astonishing time in British politics, and anyone who thinks the Tories aren't bricking it clearly hasn't seen their recent media performances.

I reckon the next set of polls will show the lead down to less than 5 points. Once it's in the margin of error, it's anyone's game. Can the Tories hold together and find enough mud to sling to stop Corbyn's current momentum? Probably, but I seriously doubt they'll now get the majority May was looking for.

If punk ever happened I'd be preaching the law, instead of listenin to Lydon lecture BBC4

The man who wants to 'negotiate' with ISIS.

Don't vote for this idiot.

Please don't condescend. You aren't that clever.

Your view is heavily prejudiced by your politics. Necessities are not taxed and of course you pay a lower percentage of income in VAT if you are better off. It's called being better off.
What you are suggesting is that we should all be equalised. I would rather have a choice to spend or not spend rather than pay income tax.

Edited by Hrolf The Ganger (23 May 2017 12.27pm)

You are amusing if nothing else.... on a day like this at least that's something.

Edited by Stirlingsays (23 May 2017 12.34pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

You're not being very clever mate.

Value added tax being regressive is an economic belief/theory/proven effect and term given to such a tax system/idea yet you're in favour of it. If it was such a good idea it would've been a tax system in the western world by now or at least for a time and the tea party would be visiting Saudi Arabia right now.

Oh and I wasn't being condescending. You're being a bit stubborn don't ya think?

Oh and the better off would save more and the worker off would be even worse off, getting into debt, gap widening etc etc.

COYP

I agree with you for once, Income Tax is much fairer than VAT.

We have now sunk to a depth at which the restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men. [Orwell]

I agree with you for once, Income Tax is much fairer than VAT.

We have now sunk to a depth at which the restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men. [Orwell]

Income tax accounts for 27% of the total tax take. VAT for 18%, some of which is paid for by exempt businesses such as charities, certain cultural and sporting organisations, private residential property rental businesses and insurance companies. So not only would VAT have to increase (by quite a lot) to cover your proposed cuts in income tax, prices of things like insurance and rent would also rise to cover the increased input costs for those businesses, which again would most adversely impact the poorest.

The only stuff that's zero rated is books and basic food stuffs. Utilities have VAT on them, tampons have VAT on, white goods have VAT. Plenty of stuff you don't have much of choice but to buy have VAT on them. Are you suggesting poor people should keep their food on the doorstep to keep cool rather than buy a fridge?

I've not seen anyone say we should be equalised, but the tax system should be progressive. Income is too unequal as it is without making matters worse.

Edited by CambridgeEagle (23 May 2017 1.00pm)

An additional 5% tax on the top 5% of earners hardly seems too much. It would be broadly in line with Germany (50.5% for top earners) and lower than many other OECD countries.

Tax is a balancing act. I don't know what you earn but remaining disposable income is not a vast amount for the majority of people even when the earn 50 to 100k a year.
We need to be careful not to make pursuing a good career worthless.