Ian1779
Well-Known Member
No one is picking up and taking their multi-million properties portfolios out of the country are they?
There’s somewhere to start.
No one is picking up and taking their multi-million properties portfolios out of the country are they?Nearly everyone in the country wants the wealthiest to pay more. If you can find a wealth tax that will generate significant revenue (and not lead to an exodus of the very richest) then I’d be all for it. Out of interest and from what you’ve read, what would your proposal be and how much would it generate ? (I’m not being funny about that by the way, just trying to understand how much it would help our current predicament)
It’s so hard to find a clear picture on wealth inequality which takes into account asset values, inflation, changing demographics, population increases etc etc. We all know the very richest have got a lot wealthier though and at least partly due to population increase of a number of low paid migrants and more on welfare, I’d imagine there’s likely been an increase in the number of poorest
As I’ve said before, all I’m seeing is the majority of normal working people paying more and getting less for their public services. Unless we can show we have a semblance of control over public spending (welfare/pensions are forecast to balloon), we will continue to pay more for debt and unless we grow significantly, the situation will continue to spiral. If the government/left continues to ignore this problem any wealth tax will likely be a drop in the ocean.
Ps nobody knows for sure about the potential exodus of non doms and apparently we won’t do until self assessments are submitted in a year or twos time
There are valid arguments to reform council tax (and stamp duty) with some sort of land value tax. A lot of other countries have something similar.No one is picking up and taking their multi-million properties portfolios out of the country are they?
There’s somewhere to start.
There are valid arguments to reform council tax (and stamp duty) with some sort of land value tax. A lot of other countries have something similar.
Safe to say that British governments in general are like chundering great oil tankers, far too slow to react to what's going on around them.With you on that and the whole tax system could use a kicking tbf. Having business rates in a Temu world is mad to me for a start!
VAT for brick and mortar retail sites needs to be reduced. The high street is obviously doomed to fail if they have the same VAT as online marketplaces but with the overheads a store has v a warehouse in the middle of nowhere.With you on that and the whole tax system could use a kicking tbf. Having business rates in a Temu world is mad to me for a start!
Safe to say that British governments in general are like chundering great oil tankers, far too slow to react to what's going on around them.
You’re preaching to the converted on VAT. A tax that hurts most and benefits few from my perspective.VAT for brick and mortar retail sites needs to be reduced. The high street is obviously doomed to fail if they have the same VAT as online marketplaces but with the overheads a store has v a warehouse in the middle of nowhere.
In Portugal, their hospitality sector pays 7.5% VAT on food and drink which is why it’s so cheap to eat out there. Tim Martin (Wetherspoons owner( is lobbying aggressively for lower VAT and I 100% agree with him. Supermarkets can price alcohol so low because the 0% rated goods it sells can effectively subsidise ‘sin’ products.
We all remember ‘Eat out to help out’ during the pandemic and the lower VAT rates sparked more activity.
That and the OBR also does not take into account the various ‘multiplier effects’ that take place with tax cuts. It’s overstated the revenues raised from various taxes (like private school levy + employers NI) raises and not considered the risk of insolvencies for SMEs (2,048 in August = job losses and high welfare payments).
Imagine if the government categorised retail and hospital as reduced VAT (5-10% whatever) it assume losses that need to be filled because the tax rate is lower.
Say if restaurants/food outlets could charge 10% VAT, that makes a big difference to the cost of living.
^ same with energy bills, scrap VAT on fuel and it’s a ‘Brexit benefit’ that positively impacts everyone.
In fairness, to do any of these ‘nice stuff’ the public finances need to get back on track. Today’s news on the government borrowing more than expected is ominous going into the budget season.
It's the standing at the gates approaching kids that I find weird. Obviously some on here think that's ok but I'm not surprised.
If it was somebody arranging a talk or something at a college then that's a bit different.
There are valid arguments to reform council tax (and stamp duty) with some sort of land value tax. A lot of other countries have something similar.
Which is much easier to administer than a ‘wealth tax’ which has the effect of driving off wealth and therefore the tax base.
Mehdi Hasan for one.The difference is Kirk actually sat down with people and debated them as well. They were organised events, and there are tons of videos of him having quite amicable exchanges with people that clearly had complete opposite opinions.
Who on the left does anything like that? There's no open conversation whatsoever, which is part of their problem. The closest people (used lightly) I can think of is Hasan Abi or Destiny, but one is basically a communist sympathiser and the other in trouble for sex offences, as well as being a genuine cuckold.
Loitering around school gates is sadly more in line with their approach.
First one that came to mind for me as well it was recent. But it's just another illustration that people are happy in their bubbles and will declare what they think is the truth as fact.Mehdi Hasan for one.
What a bunch of cucks.First one that came to mind for me as well it was recent. But it's just another illustration that people are happy in their bubbles and will declare what they think is the truth as fact.
Not to pick out Earlsdon as it happens all the time across the political spectrum but it would take seconds to find out that "Who on the left does anything like that? There's no open conversation whatsoever, which is part of their problem." wasn't true but nobody can be bothered these days.
Just another totally normal one in the UK (United Kuckdom.)Another week in the UK. It really is concerning how fucked we are at this point.
A few others who come to mind, but mostly just on YouTube.First one that came to mind for me as well it was recent. But it's just another illustration that people are happy in their bubbles and will declare what they think is the truth as fact.
Not to pick out Earlsdon as it happens all the time across the political spectrum but it would take seconds to find out that "Who on the left does anything like that? There's no open conversation whatsoever, which is part of their problem." wasn't true but nobody can be bothered these days.
Good news for some people it seemsLol at Corbyn and Sultana’s party already coming apart at the seams
Property taxes and wealth taxes aren’t the same. Council tax is basically a v outdated version of property taxes.Which is by its nature a wealth tax i.e. you’re making it more costly to own assets with a sliding scale based on value. You seem to think it’s just a case of picking a rate to charge billionaires on their share portfolio.
I’ve seen a ‘theory’ that this public spat has been engineered to promote the Green Party. Frankly, the concept of a new populist left party was baffling when the Greens existed in the first place. Across Europe the Green parties are either eco-socialists or part of a broader coalition of left wing & green parties (SYRIZA + Mechalon’s party).Good news for some people it seems
Green party membership surges after public split between Corbyn and Sultana
Almost 1,400 people sign up in 24 hours to increase party membership by 10% since Zack Polanski’s leadership win this monthwww.theguardian.com
Property taxes and wealth taxes aren’t the same. Council tax is basically a v outdated version of property taxes.
The proponents of a wealth tax haven’t considered how to calculate tax owed from wealth either. A lot of ‘wealth’ is fluid i.e. a stock portfolio or the value of company. What happens if assets lose value? Will people get rebates?
Would a wealth tax be applied to businesses or individuals? If the latter, then ‘wealth’ could be transferred to limited companies and the former would have bad economic outcomes for employment, investment and so on.
There are so many problems with implementation and administering such a tax, it will fail.
Nearly everyone in the country wants the wealthiest to pay more. If you can find a wealth tax that will generate significant revenue (and not lead to an exodus of the very richest) then I’d be all for it. Out of interest and from what you’ve read, what would your proposal be and how much would it generate ? (I’m not being funny about that by the way, just trying to understand how much it would help our current predicament)
It’s so hard to find a clear picture on wealth inequality which takes into account asset values, inflation, changing demographics, population increases etc etc. We all know the very richest have got a lot wealthier though and at least partly due to population increase of a number of low paid migrants and more on welfare, I’d imagine there’s likely been an increase in the number of poorest
As I’ve said before, all I’m seeing is the majority of normal working people paying more and getting less for their public services. Unless we can show we have a semblance of control over public spending (welfare/pensions are forecast to balloon), we will continue to pay more for debt and unless we grow significantly, the situation will continue to spiral. If the government/left continues to ignore this problem any wealth tax will likely be a drop in the ocean.
Ps nobody knows for sure about the potential exodus of non doms and apparently we won’t do until self assessments are submitted in a year or twos time
Billionaires/multi-millionaires don’t get rich by earning an income. It’s all in assets and the wealth is in many cases ‘paper value’. For example, Elon funds his lifestyle by taking loans out with his shares as collateral. The idea of taxing ‘assets’ continuously is pretty pernicious and generally doesn’t have the desired effects (see countries that have wealth taxes or Wales’ taxes on 2nd homes).
Wealth inequality isn’t in of itself a bad thing, like anything, too much of it is a bad thing.
The economic model needs remodelling. Mass migration has coincided with GDP per capita declining, this is something the ‘New Left’ has completely neglected - old trade unionists were against ‘freedom of movement’. Thats one issue.
Historians/economists will look at quantitive easing very unkindly. The asset boom has meant house prices have stayed above inflation and wage increases which has (and still) hollowed out the middle class.
Another is productivity and wage stagnation. For context, the median salary would be £51k had things steadily increased from 2008 levels of growth.
Rich Dad, Poor Dad is a v good book that explains spending habits of middle class v the rich.
The purpose of a tax is to raise revenue…
Wealth taxes aren’t a new idea, Labour looked into in the 1970s. France implemented this under Hollande and raised not a lot of money. Why? There’s a lot of admin involved in determining ‘wealth’ i.e. the sum of one’s assets
In the v narrow example you used, the problem isn’t ‘hoarding’. In fact, the Welsh government clamped down on 2nd home ownership and this hasn’t had the desired impact. That is, making houses more affordable for local residents. This is because the values of the houses are still too high. The fundamental issue is that demand exceeds supply and house building has not kept up with population growth. House building targets that aren’t being met are based on net migration of 300k. All in all, the housing deficit is well over £1m and a disproportionate of social housing is going to non-UK citizens - on housing in particular, immigration needs to be addressed and ‘the left’ parties have not accepted this. Hence, working class voters across Europe and the USA have opted for anti-immigration parties who tend to be to the right. Years of QE have also made credit abundant and cheap which has inflated the values of property.
Sorry to rain on the parade, but wealth taxes is a fundamentally dumb policy. Particularly when the people targeted (the top 10%) make up c. 60% of all tax revenue.
There are valid arguments to reform council tax (and stamp duty) with some sort of land value tax. A lot of other countries have something similar.
Which is much easier to administer than a ‘wealth tax’ which has the effect of driving off wealth and therefore the tax base.
| Item | Oct-20 | Sep-25 | Inflation |
| [EDIT] British rapeseed oil | £ 1.39 | £ 2.75 | 97.84% |
| Washing up liquid | £ 0.69 | £ 0.95 | 37.68% |
| Bleach | £ 0.39 | £ 0.55 | 41.03% |
| Passata | £ 0.32 | £ 0.49 | 53.13% |
| Chestnut mushrooms | £ 0.77 | £ 0.95 | 23.38% |
| Tomato puree | £ 0.27 | £ 0.59 | 118.52% |
| Brocolli | £ 0.49 | £ 0.79 | 61.22% |
| Plain flour | £ 0.45 | £ 0.70 | 55.56% |
| Choc with salt | £ 1.49 | £ 2.39 | 60.40% |
| Cat food | £ 1.89 | £ 2.59 | 37.04% |
| £ 8.15 | £ 12.75 | 56.44% |
There was me thinking it was only Muslims who got involved in sex abuse scandals.Jeez, what happened to Christ is King? I'll bet Tommy Two-names and his newly religious following are absolutely outraged by the general population's lack of interest in the CofE head honcho.
Or could it be that their recent loud support of (presumably an Anglican) God and the Church is just, well, bullshit?
Majority of Britons do not care who becomes next archbishop of Canterbury, new poll suggests
The Church of England's most senior bishop is expected to be named in the coming weeks - almost a year after Justin Welby resigned over failures in handling a sex abuse scandal.news.sky.com
Still baffles me that we give the church a seat in the house of lords, meaning they get influence over acts of parliament. Its archaic, religion really has no place to influence modern society.Jeez, what happened to Christ is King? I'll bet Tommy Two-names and his newly religious following are absolutely outraged by the general population's lack of interest in the CofE head honcho.
Or could it be that their recent loud support of (presumably an Anglican) God and the Church is just, well, bullshit?
Majority of Britons do not care who becomes next archbishop of Canterbury, new poll suggests
The Church of England's most senior bishop is expected to be named in the coming weeks - almost a year after Justin Welby resigned over failures in handling a sex abuse scandal.news.sky.com
It’s multiple seats, isn’t it?Still baffles me that we give the church a seat in the house of lords, meaning they get influence over acts of parliament. Its archaic, religion really has no place to influence modern society.
Exactly. It's still fostering divsion, I'm still of the belief that Religion has been a major cause of most of/all the world's issues from the outset.It’s multiple seats, isn’t it?
Starmer was asked by some British reporter during his press conference with Trump about whether Britain was still a Christian country. I can’t imagine that many people not desperately sucking up to US conservatives really care - church attendance certainly doesn’t suggest as much.
Found an old jacket in the bottom of the wardrobe this weekend, it had a receipt in it from October 2020. It confirms why a lot of people are so utterly pissed off. Experienced inflation for people is much worse than official statistics, and when it's your weekly shop very much more noticeable:
According to the BOE inflation calculator, consumer price inflation from 2020 to August 2025 is 28.1%
I have just done a sample of items on the receipt from October 2020 compared with the price of those items today. The rate of inflation is twice that of CPI.
Item Inflation [EDIT] British rapeseed oil £ 1.39 £ 2.75 Washing up liquid £ 0.69 £ 0.95 Bleach £ 0.39 £ 0.55 Passata £ 0.32 £ 0.49 Chestnut mushrooms £ 0.77 £ 0.95 Tomato puree £ 0.27 £ 0.59 Brocolli £ 0.49 £ 0.79 Plain flour £ 0.45 £ 0.70 Choc with salt £ 1.49 £ 2.39 Cat food £ 1.89 £ 2.59 £ 8.15 £ 12.75
Edited post as first line was rapeseed oil not washing liquid. Cheers Dougie!
A few others who come to mind, but mostly just on YouTube.
Yiannopoulos is a joke.None of that is really comparable to Kirk, certainly not on the same level, platform, or openness of debate. If we want to talk about trolls you could pull out many more on both sides such as Milo Yiannopoulos and it would be an entirely different conversation.
Whilst we are on this point - regarding Medhi Hasan, this is the bloke that called non-muslims 'animals', and compared gay people to pedophiles. That's without calling his bluff on the 'Make American Planes Crash Again' tweet.
Kirk got gunned down for a lot less, but even though he's been murdered, many of you are still going on about his views.
I don't get itYiannopoulos is a joke.
But a lot of those 'Christian' beliefs are just what decent, caring people would want anyway, whether they are any religion or none.I think it's fair to say Islam is even more archaic and all religions are in need of modernisation. My belief is that when people refer to Christianity for the country, what they're actually referring to is Christian beliefs but as long as what they're preaching about is peace and respect, then ?I guess most wouldn't have an issue with any religion (as long as it's not forced upon them).
I think taking a lot of Jesus Christ's views from the bible, he'd be considered a radical woke hard left communist by today's standards.I think it's fair to say Islam is even more archaic and all religions are in need of modernisation. My belief is that when people refer to Christianity for the country, what they're actually referring to is Christian beliefs but as long as what they're preaching about is peace and respect, then ?I guess most wouldn't have an issue with any religion (as long as it's not forced upon them).
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