Comments on: Time to cut taxes – and spending http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/03/time-to-cut-taxes-and-spending/ Incisive and topical campaigns and commentary on today's issues and tomorrow's problems Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:05:58 +0000 hourly 1 By: Cliff http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/03/time-to-cut-taxes-and-spending/#comment-1274 Cliff Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:51:08 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/03/time-to-cut-taxes-and-spending/#comment-1274 "I think it is obscene that somebody who actually gets a job - but only a low paid one - is unable to afford to live because of tax and NI and has to ask for benefits." This is also the taxpayer subsidising private companies. If the company do not pay the local going rate and someone is forced to take a national minimum wage job, then we are in essence subsidising private companies by effectively making up the wages for that low paid worker. This is what I think is wrong with a national minimum wage. What good is "I think it is obscene that somebody who actually gets a job – but only a low paid one – is unable to afford to live because of tax and NI and has to ask for benefits."

This is also the taxpayer subsidising private companies. If the company do not pay the local going rate and someone is forced to take a national minimum wage job, then we are in essence subsidising private companies by effectively making up the wages for that low paid worker. This is what I think is wrong with a national minimum wage. What good is

]]> By: Robin Smith http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/03/time-to-cut-taxes-and-spending/#comment-1273 Robin Smith Tue, 05 Feb 2008 12:13:20 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/03/time-to-cut-taxes-and-spending/#comment-1273 Dear Mr Redwood I agree with this blog in many ways. The problem I have with it is you are proposing to continue feeding the "monster" that is at the root of the issues you describe. That is, the current fiscal system. Have you thought about the alternative? We are proposing to "debug" the current fiscal system at its heart. Rather than reinforce it by adding small modules to mitigate the issues you describe, that ultimately only contribute to a bigger "monster". To be truly successful, you have to look beyond what satisfies your interest or charter group and seek what will work for everyone. A positive sum game in economic terms. David Willetts alluded to this yesterday on Start the Week, Radio 4. I also questioned it with him at the RSA recently which may have prompted his radio talk. If you are interested in hearing more please contact me. We would be delighted to show you our proposal Best regards Robin Smith <a href="http://www.gco2e.com" rel="nofollow">www.gco2e.com</a> Reply: BY all means send me your proposal. Dear Mr Redwood

I agree with this blog in many ways. The problem I have with it is you are proposing to continue feeding the "monster" that is at the root of the issues you describe. That is, the current fiscal system.

Have you thought about the alternative? We are proposing to "debug" the current fiscal system at its heart. Rather than reinforce it by adding small modules to mitigate the issues you describe, that ultimately only contribute to a bigger "monster".

To be truly successful, you have to look beyond what satisfies your interest or charter group and seek what will work for everyone. A positive sum game in economic terms. David Willetts alluded to this yesterday on Start the Week, Radio 4. I also questioned it with him at the RSA recently which may have prompted his radio talk.

If you are interested in hearing more please contact me. We would be delighted to show you our proposal

Best regards
Robin Smith http://www.gco2e.com

Reply: BY all means send me your proposal.

]]> By: David Belchamber http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/03/time-to-cut-taxes-and-spending/#comment-1272 David Belchamber Mon, 04 Feb 2008 17:55:09 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/03/time-to-cut-taxes-and-spending/#comment-1272 David Hannah - thank you for your comments; could such a reform be made almost self-financing, if the threshold were adjusted down a bit? Please do continue this discussion with me and others on Conservative Home, as it is discourteous of me to use John Redwood's blog for my ideas. He might excuse my discourtesy if I wish him a successful cricket season! David Hannah – thank you for your comments; could such a reform be made almost self-financing, if the threshold were adjusted down a bit?
Please do continue this discussion with me and others on Conservative Home, as it is discourteous of me to use John Redwood's blog for my ideas.
He might excuse my discourtesy if I wish him a successful cricket season!

]]> By: David Hannah http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/03/time-to-cut-taxes-and-spending/#comment-1271 David Hannah Mon, 04 Feb 2008 15:52:32 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/03/time-to-cut-taxes-and-spending/#comment-1271 David Belchamber, what you propose is very similar to the David Belchamber, what you propose is very similar to the

]]> By: Neil Craig http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/03/time-to-cut-taxes-and-spending/#comment-1270 Neil Craig Mon, 04 Feb 2008 14:38:47 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/03/time-to-cut-taxes-and-spending/#comment-1270 In essence those who lose would scream & those who win would barely notice. This is the bugbear of all reforms. In essence those who lose would scream & those who win would barely notice. This is the bugbear of all reforms.

]]> By: David Belchamber http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/03/time-to-cut-taxes-and-spending/#comment-1269 David Belchamber Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:01:07 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/03/time-to-cut-taxes-and-spending/#comment-1269 Thank you for the courtesy of a reply. I am not sure if the reply relates to both my points. I believe the tories should aim to do two things (i) simplify personal (and corporate) taxation and (ii) start their term in government by focusing on the needs of the least well off in our society. I think it is obscene that somebody who actually gets a job - but only a low paid one - is unable to afford to live because of tax and NI and has to ask for benefits. That is bureaucratic and demeaning and vastly different from someone who genuinely is unable to work who has to be given benefit. Reply: I agree with your general sentiments - we need lower taxes, and the lower paid especially need lower taxes. Thank you for the courtesy of a reply. I am not sure if the reply relates to both my points.
I believe the tories should aim to do two things (i) simplify personal (and corporate) taxation and (ii) start their term in government by focusing on the needs of the least well off in our society. I think it is obscene that somebody who actually gets a job – but only a low paid one – is unable to afford to live because of tax and NI and has to ask for benefits. That is bureaucratic and demeaning and vastly different from someone who genuinely is unable to work who has to be given benefit.
Reply: I agree with your general sentiments – we need lower taxes, and the lower paid especially need lower taxes.

]]> By: David Belchamber http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/03/time-to-cut-taxes-and-spending/#comment-1268 David Belchamber Sun, 03 Feb 2008 21:28:03 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/03/time-to-cut-taxes-and-spending/#comment-1268 Mr Redwood Excellent blueprint for savings. Could you kindly comment on whether the following idea is feasible and also practical? In my view it is absurd that low paid people should pay any tax before they have reached their subsistence level. The 10% band is just about to disappear, so they will pay 20% on all their tax. People can't subsist on say Mr Redwood
Excellent blueprint for savings.
Could you kindly comment on whether the following idea is feasible and also practical?
In my view it is absurd that low paid people should pay any tax before they have reached their subsistence level. The 10% band is just about to disappear, so they will pay 20% on all their tax. People can't subsist on say

]]> By: Mark Williams http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/03/time-to-cut-taxes-and-spending/#comment-1267 Mark Williams Sun, 03 Feb 2008 18:13:26 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/03/time-to-cut-taxes-and-spending/#comment-1267 Banning all consultancy contracts except with Treasury permission puts all the power in the hands of the Treasury, but doesn't stop the spending of money. How about making it a requirement that every consultant engaged under a consultancy contract is designated to be equivalent to a particular civil service grade. The maximum hourly rate paid for consultancy services would be a percentage (say 200%) of the maximum salary band for that grade. The percentage would allow for the cost of overheads and availability, but would reduce through the life of the contract. Banning all consultancy contracts except with Treasury permission puts all the power in the hands of the Treasury, but doesn't stop the spending of money.

How about making it a requirement that every consultant engaged under a consultancy contract is designated to be equivalent to a particular civil service grade. The maximum hourly rate paid for consultancy services would be a percentage (say 200%) of the maximum salary band for that grade. The percentage would allow for the cost of overheads and availability, but would reduce through the life of the contract.

]]> By: Neil Craig http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/03/time-to-cut-taxes-and-spending/#comment-1266 Neil Craig Sun, 03 Feb 2008 18:00:53 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/03/time-to-cut-taxes-and-spending/#comment-1266 Very good news, the tories need to demonstrate that they have greater ambitions for the economy & thus the country, than Labour have managed. It might have been courteous of Mr Osborne to have told you before the Telegraph. I agree with your new savings points particularly #1. There may be constitutional barriers to not putting the hiring limitation on teachers & social workers & electoral one on the teachers but I would prefer to see them done too. School roles are falling & the worldwide evidence is that lower class sizes are not a significant factor in attainment. While everybody is, in theory, in favour of cutting government costs I think cutting the number of people employed by government is, in the long term, a necessary condition tyo maintaining it. A small state sector with above average pay but no "tenure" would be likely to be much more effective than a large, safe, poorly paid one. The latter would always exert pressure for more spending - the former might not. Very good news, the tories need to demonstrate that they have greater ambitions for the economy & thus the country, than Labour have managed. It might have been courteous of Mr Osborne to have told you before the Telegraph.

I agree with your new savings points particularly #1. There may be constitutional barriers to not putting the hiring limitation on teachers & social workers & electoral one on the teachers but I would prefer to see them done too. School roles are falling & the worldwide evidence is that lower class sizes are not a significant factor in attainment. While everybody is, in theory, in favour of cutting government costs I think cutting the number of people employed by government is, in the long term, a necessary condition tyo maintaining it. A small state sector with above average pay but no "tenure" would be likely to be much more effective than a large, safe, poorly paid one. The latter would always exert pressure for more spending – the former might not.

]]> By: Richard http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/03/time-to-cut-taxes-and-spending/#comment-1265 Richard Sun, 03 Feb 2008 17:46:00 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/03/time-to-cut-taxes-and-spending/#comment-1265 Absolutely first rate. If the conservatives can demonstrate to the electorate that tax revenue and good public services can be maintained awhile on the other hand cutting taxes as they can be, then surely they are ready for government once again. Absolutely first rate. If the conservatives can demonstrate to the electorate that tax revenue and good public services can be maintained awhile on the other hand cutting taxes as they can be, then surely they are ready for government once again.

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