Getting ahead of the pitchforks

Capstan

You need to add a fourth category, the public servant who is blind to the discomfort of the citizen and who wastes money on empire building, pointless initiatives and vainglorious IT projects.

Publius

My local council has just announced a rise in Council Tax that is many times the rate of inflation. I complained, out of impotent rage. I knew it would be utterly pointless, and merely serve to wind me up further. Sure enough I received a smug and arrogant reply, and had to rush for the blood pressure pills.

Meanwhile the pet projects continue unabated.

Alf Tupper

I agree that politicians need to go against type, but in the different sense that we desperately need all this pre-positioning - which ultimately stifles political will and initiative - to go away.

We need the people who run this country to say and to do things, not because it will sit happy with the audience, but because they are convinced they are speaking and acting in the best interests of the nation?

Alan

There is no need to 'clamp down on tax avoidance' as it is perfectly legitimate.

A better tack might be just to say 'we'll vastly simplify the tax system'. Brown has made it too labyrinthian such that there are a myriad of holes through which income can be pushed tax-free. He was as much a Maxim machine gun of woolly initiatives at the Treasury as he has been at Number 10.(Either through being a halfwit or not standing up to civil servants more often.) Why take lots of money off people only to give them most of it back with tax credits? Simply have an extra relief added to your personal allowance if you start a family or whatever. HMRC is a mess thanks to Brown.

With a far simpler tax regime both evasion and avoidance would be less prevalent. Hell, even the Guardian do avoidance to the tune of 300million pounds a year.

C Powell

"So, for example, Cameron should emphasise that he’ll clamp down on tax avoidance"

Tax avoidance is perfectly legal e.g. I avoid tax if I open an ISA or buy wine in France rather than here. It is tax evasion which is illegal. Please try and understand the difference; it's an important one.

The left would like to obliterate the distinction between avoidance and evasion, just as the term "tax haven" is being used to describe any country with lower taxes than ours. But these are a good thing just as a tax cartel - like any cartel - would be a bad thing. And a tax cartel is exactly what governments like ours, which have pissed away awesome amounts of our money, would like because we would have no choice, no way of saying and showing with our actions "Enough!" So a bit more clarity is needed and don't use the framework for debate set up by your opponents. Set your own framework.

But if the Tories were serious in wanting to make tax avoidance pointless, they would make tax legislation simpler and cut out the endless forest of rates/allowances etc which make it worthwhile to set up the complicated schemes which are then criticised. A vastly simpler tax code would also be fairer and more transparent.

David Ossitt

I think too many have a jaundiced view of the electorate.

I am convinced that the lies, the deceit, the arrogant incompetence of this hatchet faced mob of 'pretend labour' members of parliament will be what 'will bear the brunt of public anger'.

It is human nature to be partisan; to protect your side against those in the opposite corner to contradict their point of view but still have respect for them and their opinions.

But not now; not with this shower of bull-shitters, has any government in modern times been as loathed as this shower.

The publics anger is where it should be it is knocking on their door.

drakes drum

But, even if he had a 'landslide' Cameron could and should offer cabinet places to Labour and Lib Dem MP's. The Frank Fields and Vince Cables of this world- thus introducing a government of all the talents.

He would do that from a position of strength and the criticism that would come would be neutered by having other parties working with him.

Frank Field actually doing the unthinkable. Cable actually showing if he has 'got it' and others, would be a major plus.

Ben Elford

I'm curious to know why a headline referring to pitchforks is illustrated with a picture of manure forks.

A Freudian slip?

Alf Tupper

Ben Elford.

Same shit. Different hay.

Max Kaye

It is every citizen's moral obligation to avoid taxes.

The last thing one should do is encourage the beastly state by feeding its endless appetite for our hard-earned money.

Hysteria

Some folk turning to violence is a distincy possibility - seriously.......

Paul B

Im with those who advocate a simplified tax system. A flat rate system would be my ideal, with thought given to abolishing NI & substanially raising the starting rate/personnal allowance. I believe it would harvest more money than the current system, it would make hard work worthwhile, and it would go some way to stop tax evasion in the black economy which is huge imo, although I cannot prove that.

I also believe we are likely to see some very angry and possibly violent demonstrations, for that reason its imperative DC is honest with the public, prior to, and immediatly after he (hopefully) wins the next GE. He needs to level with Great British public in same way Boris opened the books to Londoners, a complete audit of all spending and how we can no longer afford the spending, especially if are going to have tax rates that not too punative. Give us a choice, I know which way the vote will go. The GBP are not stupid, they will understand and will support the Government & Police when the invietable (SWP/Class War/Troops out & other useful idiots/cannon fodder those parsatical scumbag organistations manage to latch onto) clashes take place in T Square and elsewhere.

oldtimer

The other day some one was enquiring whether the old fashioned gas lamps were still around in Whitehall - the ones with that conveniently placed bar against which the ladder would be placed. These, if they have not already been removed as a safety precaution, would be much more readily to hand for stringing up the wayward as opposed to spiking them with manure forks or pitchforks,.

Of course MPs fit exactly into the category you have defined. To his credit Cameron has posed the idea of reducing the number of MPs (to 500?) and ending their gold plated pension arrangemnets. This would go down well and be an effective riposte to would be Labour mischief makers.

Paul B

Oldtimer, I belive those gas lamps- now converted to electricity- still exist in Lord North Street,SW1, just off Smith Square, long time home to Conservative Central Office and just behind Westminster Abbey. A beautiful part of London, and well worth a day out walking around the area, Many houses have blue discs/badges on, which I find interesting. The architecture in the area, is quite different from the rest of London, and all the more interesting for that. There are some good watering holes as well which add to its attraction!!

Incidentally a Victorian sink estate, they called them Rookeries, existed in Old Pye Street, which is just north of the area. It was demolished & successfully refurbished by George Peabody-Peabody Estates- a private philantropist, and the estate he built still exists to this day, and puts many a modern day developments to shame. We could learn lessons from him and other like minded persons from that time.

oldtimer

Thank you Paul B for that vital information. It is good to know that, as a deserved bonus, there are places at which we can all celebrate after the main event!

Verity

Old Timer - Are you referring to what Devil's Kitchen refers to as "air tap-dancing"?

David Ossitt

Paul B

It was demolished & successfully refurbished by George Peabody-Peabody Estates- a private philanthropist, and the estate he built still exists to this day,

Paul; there are all over Yorkshire towns and villages built for their workers by the philanthropist of the day.

Salt built the largest mill in the world and a fine stone built town 'Saltair' to house his work force.

Most of the chocolate companies in York did similar and they all still stand today.