Labour Minister hails Lib Dem tax plans

[ComradeDavo]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7011890.stm

The government should learn from the Liberal Democrats and look at more ways to tax Britain's top earners, Treasury Minister Angela Eagle says.
She spoke out during a fringe meeting at Labour's conference in Bournemouth, which was joined by senior Lib Dems Vince Cable and David Laws.

Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell wants to tax the super-rich to fund tax cuts for the rest of the population.

Sir Menzies has argued that the wealthy have done "too well" under Labour.

He used last week's Lib Dem conference to unveil tax policies that he claimed would help 90% of the population.

'Challenge'

These included lowering the basic rate of income tax by 4p in the pound to 16p, calling for the abolition of council tax and voting to increase "green" taxes, including replacing air passenger tax with a tax on flights.

At a Fabian Society fringe event at Labour's conference, Ms Eagle was asked if her party faced a "challenge" from its opponents when it came to talking about the top end of the tax scale.

She replied: "Yes. And I for one hope we're going to do a bit of talking about that."

During the debate, Sir Menzies deputy Mr Cable criticised Prime Minister Gordon Brown's efforts to create a "government of all the talents" by recruiting opposition politicians.

Although Mr Brown's attempts to recruit former Lib Dem leader Lord Ashdown to his cabinet were rejected, he has enlisted the help of several senior party members in advisory roles.

'One-party state'?

Mr Cable said: "I am concerned about what I would regard as big tentism - this attempt to get everybody into the same fold.

"I think it is an attempt to create - in the nicest possible way - a one-party state."

He likened Mr Brown to Jomo Kenyatta, former president of Kenya, for whom he once worked and who engaged in big tent politics.

"It was about sucking out of opposition parties any potential source of dissent - giving them a role; giving them a state regardless of colour or tribe or ideology," he said.

"It was superficially very attractive but ultimately it is dangerous because it destroys constructive opposition and we are very concerned about it for that reason."

Couldn't resist posting this story up, it's not often you get a Labour minister praising the Lib Dems, let alone on an issue as important as tax! I actually think alot of Labour probably feel similarly about this issue, if there's ever a Lib Dem-Labour coalition I would hope this would be somethign they would co-operate on. I'm glad to see the minister saying what she thinks as well, rather than towing the party line.

 

[amadeus]

He likened Mr Brown to Jomo Kenyatta, former president of Kenya, for whom he once worked and who engaged in big tent politics.

Is Brown going to kick out the Asians too?

 

[Tank_Guy#3]

Must be like the democrats here in Wisconsin. I've overheard on the radio that the budget put forth by Republicans in the State Legislature would completely fund schools without raising taxes, but the Democrats are thinking of vetoing it and increasing property taxes by some $600 million.

I'd have to research a bit more to find out for sure, but that's another reason I'm not too fond of democrats. All their little socialist, erm, social programs increase taxes a lot.

 

[Lambert Simnel]

Gordon Brown as Jomo Kenyatta! God save us from the evil of a UK political leader who is prepared to try to bring in people and opinions from other parties....

On the main point, I think you should be wary of just swallowing the BBC's spin on this. The Beeb summarises "the government should learn from the Liberal Democrats and look at more ways to tax Britain's top earners, Treasury Minister Angela Eagle says". All that she actually appears to have said was, when asked if Labour faced a "challenge" from its opponents when it came to talking about the top end of the tax scale. "Yes. And I for one hope we're going to do a bit of talking about that."


Not quite the same thing, is it ?

Frankly, the BBC's report looks as though it was written for them by a LibDem supporter. You got yourself a part-time job, Davo ?

 

[Mise]

I'm sure she also said those words as well though, just that the article then went on to what else happened in that meeting.

 

[Lambert Simnel]

I'm quite happy to demur if you can provide a link.

 

[Cannae]

This sounds good! I also fear though that ghastly taint from the past has completely warped the labour party's goals and intentions to the wrong side of the bed.

 

[Mise]

I'm quite happy to demur if you can provide a link.

All these articles say the same thing:

http://news.google.co.uk/news?ie=UT...&client=firefox-a&tab=wn&ncl=1121272535&hl=en

 

[ComradeDavo]

Gordon Brown as Jomo Kenyatta! God save us from the evil of a UK political leader who is prepared to try to bring in people and opinions from other parties....

On the main point, I think you should be wary of just swallowing the BBC's spin on this. The Beeb summarises "the government should learn from the Liberal Democrats and look at more ways to tax Britain's top earners, Treasury Minister Angela Eagle says". All that she actually appears to have said was, when asked if Labour faced a "challenge" from its opponents when it came to talking about the top end of the tax scale. "Yes. And I for one hope we're going to do a bit of talking about that."


Not quite the same thing, is it ?

Frankly, the BBC's report looks as though it was written for them by a LibDem supporter. You got yourself a part-time job, Davo ?

As Mise says, all the articles report it the way i've posted it.

 

[Japanrocks12]

Is Brown going to kick out the Asians too?

that would be catastrophic. Indians and other Asians are far more embedded into British culture and contribute far more than Indians did in Kenya. And in Kenya, all the small businesses were owned by Indians.


in short, not a very educated comparison to make