Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

TAX CUTS

I was standing at the back of the Winter Gardens hall in Blackpool when our spokesman announced the new policy on inheritance tax – there was an audible whoosh of excitement followed by a thunder crack of tumultuous applause. No one would pay death duties on assets of less than one million pounds. The weekend press has been full of how popular the policy was in the marginal seats – crediting this one policy for finally killing off the probable general election. But why?

Only 6% of families pay inheritance tax, meaning that at least in theory, the new policy should be irrelevant to 94% of the population. But this issue touches a deeper chord. All of us want to leave something to the next generation when we go to meet our maker, and the thought of a large slice of all that we have toiled for (and already paid our taxes on) going to the Treasury is anathema. So although, the fear of inheritance tax seems much worse than its actual bite, especially given the rise in house prices in our part of the world, it resonates with many families.
I also begin to sense that for the first time in ten years a growing number of people are feeling that they now pay more than enough in tax, especially as the massive cash investments in health and education have brought modest rather than dramatic improvements.

So there it is: tax cuts back on the political agenda and no general election. Although I travel to all kinds of murky places preaching the importance of democracy – free and fair elections, the rule of law and freedom of speech etc – the sad truth is that democracy can be highly inconvenient! The last few weeks have been spent by most of us MPs or would-be MPs in frantic preparations for leaflets and posters and public meetings – all now a complete and utter waste of time – a distraction from the real job of representing this constituency. But it has to be done. As Churchill said, democracy is the worst form of government, apart from all of the others.

It is now almost impossible for there to be an election in 2008, which means we have a good stretch of time to get on with tackling the challenges of the present. Just as well as I sense storm clouds brewing over several issues, both local and national. The leaflets can wait.

posted by Nigel on Tuesday, October 16, 2007