Taxing the rich is a good idea

He sneers “tax the rich” – why not? Those with millions, many being in the Cabinet, have benefitted greatly from Tory tax policies, compared with the pittance to others struggling to pay hugely increased bills with little resources, and to whom VAT increased to 20% continues to be a nightmare on utility bills. The less well-off cannot skulk behind tax dodges, overseas tax havens and schemes thought up by creative tax consultants as many rich people do, but have to pay their rather straightened way. This Government has cut tax for people on over £150,000 a year, hedge funds have been given tax breaks worth millions, and it is proposed that inheritors of pension pots will be taxed much less – we are all in it together? I think not.

The Debt –bailing out the banks was financially exhausting, one alone £90 billion. Had the banks failed we would have all been broke, as our money had vanished into the greedy idiotic schemes of bankers. I agree that in return for keeping banks afloat Labour should have imposed tight regulation, but every time the EU attempts to do so now our present Government argues against it. It is also beginning to appear that “The Debt” will be not less in May 2015, than it four and a half years ago. Furthermore, the much maligned Gordon Brown kept us out of the of the Euro that lurches from crisis to crisis.

When Labour came to power the NHS was broke, 2 years waiting time common, newly qualified staff leaving as there were no jobs and buildings decaying (as were many schools). It cost a fortune to correct, and, with the 20/20 vision of hindsight, PFI was a mistake, but it’s private companies that benefit from the taxpayer. We are now sliding into the same situation with increasing privatisation, waiting times rising, and huge bills for disastrous unwanted and unnecessary reorganisation.

Under Mrs Thatcher industry went in favour of “services”, which have now largely gone to the Far East and India. A large proportion of benefits are claimed by working people, who are on average £1,600 per year poorer - energy bills are approximately £300 more than before. Some do fiddle, but true cheats don’t pay their taxes and ensure the divide between rich and poor gets dangerously wider.

I pay my dues and, am proud of and grateful to the Welfare State, but despair that in 2014 we are back to food banks and beggars.

Rita Cox

Udimore Road, Rye