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Economy think pieces
Time that Inheritance Tax died the death Print E-mail
Written by Dr Eamonn Butler   
Tuesday, 31 August 2004

The Left's policy wonks have come up with another great wheeze to divide Britain's hard-working classes from their cash. Namely Inheritance Tax (IHT) changes which will (says the spin) 'cut tax in 87% of cases' – but which aim to rake in another £147 million by raising the tax on the other 13%.

Britain levies IHT at an already punitive rate of 40% on all estates over £263,000. And giving away your assets to your kids before you die is no protection either. Unless you live for seven years, the Treasury still demands a slice.

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The Political Conditions Print E-mail

Before Britain joins the Euro the five economic tests must be passed. Chancellor Gordon Brown declared in June 2003 that four of the five tests had been failed. He was satisfied that British entry would not damage financial services in Britain, but was not happy about employment or investment. Nor was there sufficient convergence or flexiblity.
 

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Forget the Tories: We want a Vietnamese government Print E-mail
Written by Mark Griffin   

Here's an interesting statistic: Our dear government is spending our money at the rate of £9.57 per hour for every working man and woman in Britain*. That's twice the National Minimum Wage. Think of it, a burger-flipper earns £4.50 per hour and Gordon spends a further £9.57. A dear government indeed. But do not despair, the Tories have promised to bring that down to £9.11 per hour by 2006**. Hooray for them.
 

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Economy

Introduction
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Words of wisdom

"There is no art which one government sooner learns of another than that of draining money from the pockets of the people."

The Wealth of Nations, Book V Chapter II Pt II

 

"What improves the circumstances of the greater part can never be regarded as an inconveniency to the whole. No society can surely be flourishing and happy, of which the far greater part of the members are poor and miserable."

The Wealth of Nations, Book I Chapter VIII

Words of wisdom

"The natural effort of every individual to better his own condition... is so powerful, that it alone, and without any assistance, is not only capable of carrying on the wealth of society to wealth and prosperity, but of surmounting a hundred impertinent obstructions with which the folly of human laws too often encumbers its operation."

The Wealth of Nations, Book IV, Ch V

 

"It is in the interests of every man to live as much at his ease as he can; and if his emoluments are to be precisely the same, whether he does, or does not perform some very laborious duty, it is certainly his interest... to neglect it altogether"

The Wealth of Nations, Book V, Ch I, Part III


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