Views
A fairer tax in tough times - for the Inverness Courier
A fairer tax in tough times
For too long we have lived with unfairness inherent in the UK tax system. One set of rules for the very rich and another for all the hard working individuals and families who keep our country running.
Liberal Democrats recognize that the UK, just like our local communities, relies just as much - if not more - on the average worker and small local businesses as it does on the rich and big corporations. That is why I and my fellow Lib Dems believe that, trough these difficult times, those with the broadest shoulders should bear the heaviest burden and that is why in Government we are delivering fairer taxes for millions of people every day.
Since 2010, the Lib Dems in coalition have cat tax for millions of working families. Each year we have given a tax cut of £550 to 21 million low and middle-earners and by next April we will have lifted two million people out of paying tax altogether. In this term of government we will make sure that the personal threshold before you start paying tax will be£10,000 per annum. What is more, the Liberal Democrats believe that you should only pay tax once you earn more than the minimum wage - putting an average of£1000 per year more in the pockets minimum wage earners than the last Labour government.
At the same time, we are ensuring that those who benefited most from the good times are paying more through the tough times. The coalition is cracking down on tax avoidance by clawing back money from those who try to hide their money from the taxman through employing armies of accountants and exploiting loopholes in the tax system. Paying tax is no longer optional; Lib Dems in government are closing those loopholes and catching tax dodgers, which will bring in an extra £7 billion per year by 2015.
Liberal Democrats have increased stamp duty for homes worth more than £2 million and we plan to bring about a mansion tax. This tax would affect only 0.1% of the population but would raise nearly £2billion a year. Likewise, Lib Dems have put a tax on private jets; increased Capital Gains Tax for higher rate taxpayers and blocked inheritance tax breaks – ensuring that the super rich contribute their fair share.
It is because of the fairer tax measures introduced by Liberal Democrats in this government that, even while pushing for income tax cuts for average and low paid workers, we are able to take in more than we would have under the previous tax system – putting that extra income toward investment in infrastructure and tackling the deficit.
At the 2010 General Election, Liberal Democrats had four priorities: making taxes fairer; building a sustainable and balanced economy; giving every child a fair start in life; and reforming Government.
I am immensely proud that the Liberal Democrats are now delivering on these key priorities as part of the Coalition Government.
A safer A9
It is time that the Scottish Government made serious progress in dualling the A9. These last few weeks our area has witnessed, yet again, more tragic and devastating accidents on one of our country’s most dangerous roads. Every day we read about careless motorists doing speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour and overtaking on perilous corners, some of whom are under the influence of alcohol – putting themselves and other road users at serious risk.
I think that everyone will agree that more has to be done to prevent further accidents. However, no one solution will fix the problem. It has been suggested that reducing the alcohol limit and introducing average speed cameras may help somewhat. Even so, many drunk drivers caught up in accidents are more than four or five times over the limit, meaning that they are fully aware they are playing the odds. What is more, as someone who uses the A9 on a regular basis, I know only too well how frustrating it can be to be stuck behind an HGV legally limited to 40 miles per hour, but average speed cameras will not catch or stop drivers taking risks by overtaking on treacherous corners.
The Scottish Government were elected on the promise that they would dual the A9, dual the A96, help build the Inverness and Nairn bypasses and commit to major work on the A82. Yet, in spite of £4 billion available to the Scottish Government for spending on infrastructure, including an extra £400 million put forward in the autumn statement, very little investment will be seen north of the central belt; and plans to fulfill these promises have been pushed into the distant future. Until significant parts of the road are dualed, the A9 will continue to be one of the most dangerous roads in Scotland.
ENDS
Posted on: 24/09/2012
