Britannist

As I said I thought might happen (and as I said could take place in a couple of postings to the forum several weeks ago), the europhile Liberal ‘Democrats’ have wasted no time in grabbing and occupying the pro-tax cut space vacated by anti-UKIP and pro-EU David Cameron and his team earlier this year. I also suggested (and stand by the prediction) that if Labour Chancellor Gordon Brown becomes Prime Minister (after the unwanted and discredited Bliar quits or is forced out) he too might (unlike the Conservative Party) pledge tax cuts if he has to (i.e. if he is behind in the opinion polls and needs to widen his public/voter support base).

The Conservative Shadow Chancellor, George Osbourne (33) made clear earlier this year that tax cuts were no guarantee if/when is party returned to power at Westminster.

The Times reported (yesterday, 12.8.2006) that Mr. Cameron had angered Conservative activists by saying their might be no offer of tax cuts (from the Conservatives) at the next election. “Rightwingers (in the Conservative Party) will furious if the Liberal ‘Democrats’ offer amore radical tax-cutting policies than the Conservatives” the Times said.

The newspaper added “The Liberal 'Democrats' outflanked David Cameron yesterday (11.8.2006) with a promise to cut the income tax bills of millions of low-income families by up to £1,000 a year. Two million households would stop paying tax under the Lib 'Dem' proposals, which would cut the main income tax rate by 2 pence to 20 pence, would scrap the 10p tax rate and would raise the threshold at which people start paying 40 per cent tax from £38,000 to £50,000.”

There’s more by clicking on:

http://timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,...309480,00.html

Populist Lee

I see the Times piece doesn't mention the LibDims plans to screw people wrt Inheritance Tax.

I anticipate the Tories will get a number of seats back from them at the next Election.

If the Tories play their politics right, the LD Inheritance Tax proposal will be a repeat of the Tories' VAT on domestic heating fuel gaffe of 1993.

Britannist

Based on boundaries used at the May 2005 General Election, 50 of the 62 Liberal Dim-held seats in the Commons would be lost by that rabble of a party if 500 people or less who voted Lib 'Democrat' last time switch to the main challenger in those constituencies (the Conservatives in most cases).

Unless there's military action against Iran involving the UK (creating a big protest vote going to the Lib Dims) the extra votes won by the Lib Dims (in last year's General Election) by opposing the Iraq 'war' will go back (from the Libreral Dims) to where they came from - mostly to Labour.

According to opinion polls this appears to have happened already.

I hope the Liberal Dims are pulverised at the next General Election. There are a nasty bunch of europhiles. UKIP should target the Liberal Dims - most people who vote for them don't know they are eurofanatics. If they did, they'd more likely vote UKIP instead (or for the English Dems).

BASILDON BOY

The tories are being wise for a change not promising tax cuts - all the signs are that the economy is about to go down the pan and a big recesion is coming!

mkpdavies

That being the case, the best thing they could promise is tax cuts.

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Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

Westcountryman

Fiscal prudence must come before tax cuts, that's a given.

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Britannist

Inflation is at its highest point in the UK for six years and gas and electricity bills have doubled in about two years. People need a government which gives them something back to 'ease the pain' of higher bills. Tax cuts are the way to do it - especially as the governing Liebour Party has increased tax massively since it (unfortunately) won the 1997 General Election.

People will, rightly, vote for tax cuts. It is foolish of the parties of the 'right' to allow the left to build up voter support by claiming they (the left) will do it (will cut tax).