"If you've done nothing wrong" & section 7

[MrGongGong]

Fair point. I'm not sure about the notion that a party should not try to win because it may stoke up longer term problems for itself, but of course it's an allowed strategy. I "like" the latest claims from the Tories (e.g Gove, on Any Questions today) that they are now in favour of giving tax breaks to poorer people, raising tax allowances, to get "poorer people out of paying tax." As I recall, these measures were opposed by them when the Lib Dems suggested them, but now they claim them as their own idea! Hey ho - politicians eh!

Gove is lying, plain and simple
they all will lie to try and get into power
because, (with a very few exceptions) that's their primary motivation

[amateur51]

Fair point. I'm not sure about the notion that a party should not try to win because it may stoke up longer term problems for itself, but of course it's an allowed strategy. I "like" the latest claims from the Tories (e.g Gove, on Any Questions today) that they are now in favour of giving tax breaks to poorer people, raising tax allowances, to get "poorer people out of paying tax." As I recall, these measures were opposed by them when the Lib Dems suggested them, but now they claim them as their own idea! Hey ho - politicians eh!

I read somewhere that the proposed tax breaks for high earners will happen early on in the new government whereas the raising of the tax threshold for low earners will happen at the end of the 5-year term ... nice little softener for the final budget, y'see.

[ahinton]

I read somewhere that th tax breaks for high earners will happen early on in the new government wheras the raising of the tax threshold for low earners will happen at the end of the 5-year term ... nice little softener for the final budget, y'see.

If so and if confirmed before the net General Election, that'll be yet another nail in the Tory coffin. What "new government", anyway?...

[teamsaint]

I read somewhere that the proposed tax breaks for high earners will happen early on in the new government whereas the raising of the tax threshold for low earners will happen at the end of the 5-year term ... nice little softener for the final budget, y'see.

raising of the tax threshold is a bigger tax break for the top earners than it is for low earners.
added to which , as the threshold rises, those already paying zero tax (and there will be many in our low wage economy) get no further benefit.

Higher thresholds look friendly to low earners, and in some ways they are, but they actually disguise breaks for the rich. Higher tax credits, or increasing minimum wage are actually the way to help low earners.
I wouldn't trust any of the big 3 to help low earners much.

or at all, really.

[Serial_Apologist]

raising of the tax threshold is a bigger tax break for the top earners than it is for low earners.
added to which , as the threshold rises, those already paying zero tax (and there will be many in our low wage economy) get no further benefit.

Higher thresholds look friendly to low earners, and in some ways they are, but they actually disguise breaks for the rich. Higher tax credits, or increasing minimum wage are actually the way to help low earners.
I wouldn't trust any of the big 3 to help low earners much.

or at all, really.

Yes - Labour's "pledge" to raise the minimum wage to £8 by the end of its 5 years is no more ambitious than the Tories'.