A reader suggests that we could use a tax pledge in Britain, similar to that promoted in the US by Americans for Tax Reform. The pledge in America is something which political candidates are invited to sign up to, promising not to vote for any tax increases. In the UK it might be turned into a promise to support the introduction of flat tax and tax simplification.

British MPs are usually reluctant to limit their freedom of action by advance pledges of this nature, if only because the broken ones get thrown back in their faces (think Labour and top-up fees). However, the pledge not to increase the rates of income tax undoubtedly helped Labour to become electable in the first place.

Maybe it could work here. The candidates running to lead the Conservative Party could make a good start.