The VAT dividing line is growing deeper
Peter Hoskin 7:29pm
Is this a pledge we can count on? After the Lib Dems suggested they wouldn't increase VAT earlier, the Labour Chief Whip has told ITV's Lucy Manning that his party won't either. If so, it's quite a turnaround from when both Darling and Cable refused to rule out VAT hikes during last week's Chancellor's debate.
I wouldn't be surprised if we see a LibLab pincer movement against the Tories now: the two parties who seem to have ruled out VAT hikes against the one which is being being slightly more equivocal about it. As I said earlier, it would hardly be edifying politics. But the real worry is if it dissuades politicians from talking sensibly about how to fill our country's fiscal black hole.
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Woody
April 8th, 2010 7:58pm Report this commentI did mention a few days ago that I thought the Lib Dems and Labour seem to be organising a 'pinzer' movement against the conservatives and this seemed to have confirmed it.
I sensed this during the Chancellors debate on C4 and I suspect his will happen during the Leaders Debate, I think the Lib Dems and Labour have been colluding because they are both running totally negative campaigns. I suspect they are going to stitch up David CameronI . think the Lib Dems are a total shambles, how anyone can think of voting for them is beyond me.
toco
April 8th, 2010 8:08pm Report this commentThe LibDems will always be confused as is their mission and Labour will do anything to hold on to power so the Conservatives need to emphasise that a VAT hike is not on their agenda and seek confirmation from Labour that Brown has prevented Darling what he wished to do.
RickH
April 8th, 2010 8:19pm Report this commentSo neither Cable or Darling mention a VAT freeze one week, then they're certain about it next week. And then they accuse Dave of "making policy up as he goes along". Pot, Kettle. Oh, pleeeeze elect me, I'll do ANYTHING!. It's worse than pop idol. At least they're too dumb to know better.
wonderfulforhisage
April 8th, 2010 8:20pm Report this comment"Pathetic, that's what it is. Pathetic."
ht Eyeore.
Malcolm Redfellow
April 8th, 2010 9:01pm Report this commentI'm looking at a Times article from 21st March:
'Alistair Darling put VAT at the heart of the election today when he appeared to rule out increasing the sales tax before or immediately after the poll.
'Asked if raising VAT to 20 per cent, in line with much of the rest of the European Union, was on the table, Mr Darling said: No.'
So where's the 'turnaround'?
emil
April 8th, 2010 10:32pm Report this commentYou've only got to look at any televised debate and see who the LibDem attacks, and it it never their mates in Labour. Although in a funny way it would be quite amusing to see the car crash of opportunistic Cable in a coalition government to prove what many of us can plainly see that he's just another emporer whose clothes are a figment of MSM imagination.
2trueblue
April 9th, 2010 12:42am Report this commentThink yellow and what do you think of? Does it fill you with confidence? Does Cable really sound like he knows what he is doing? The Lib Dems are really quite a devious lot. There is nothing to chose between them and Liebore. If all else fails and we get stuck with them it will be something of a circus to watch Liebore and Lib Dems trying to sort it out.
Alexsandr
April 9th, 2010 1:22pm Report this commentWhy is a VAT rise so bad? When the VAT went down to 15% it had almost no effect on me.
It only affects those who buy big ticket items. Most expenditure is zero rated (Food, kids clothes) or mortages, rent etc, or 5% VAT for domestic fuel. If they increase VAT and cut fuel duty to compensate, then who will suffer?
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