Tax, Benefits and Defence Spending

Today's headlines are typical of the increasingly hysterical media and politician-led frenzy. Devoid of relevant facts, to place things into context. In order that sensible choices can be made.

Reform are probably the worst offenders in relation to this. Endless meaningless soundbites. And no real budgets. But all Parties and Commentators do it.

Let's start with the obvious lies.

People want you to believe that taxes should be paid by people not like you. And benefits should only be paid to people just like you. And that's really not the way the system works. Never has. And never will. And the Farages of this World know that fine well.

Next-defence spending. People always trot out the "just an extra 0.5% of GDP" bit. As though that is not a lot of money. When it really, really is. 0.5% of GDP is £15 BILLION. This year. Next year. And every year. GDP isn't "tax"-it is the total of everything earned in the UK

Forget the Far Left's "We'll just tax the rich". The World has tried to increase tax for the rich since time began. And-guess what? It doesn't succeed.
The Far Right think it is as simple as cutting benefits and net zero targets. When the former only tends to create a new benefit need identical in cost to the last one. And the latter saves a tiny sum.

The reality is that any increase will-as per usual-fall on the taxpayer. Not the Pensioner, with the Triple Lock still sacrosanct. Not the rich. And not those on Benefits. In simple terms, £15 Billion a year is an extra 2p on income tax. This year. And every year.

Is that cost worth it? Maybe. Maybe not. But don't believe the lies of politicians that the cost won't fall on the taxpayer. It will. It always does.

"Warfare not Welfare"? My arse.