Finally, Tax Statements on How Much We Pay People to Sit Around Eating Chips

He might have dithered a little over the 50p tax rate, but George Osborne has played a blinder over this morning’s proposals to offer a statement into personal tax spend by the Government. It’s always been somewhat ironic that pretty much ever single provider, from mobile to utilities, to banks, gives you a detailed breakdown of where your dosh is being blown – expect the Government.

Unsurprisingly, a fulltime worker on £25,200 a year sees an eye-watering £5,702.12 of their income go to the exchequer in direct taxation. Naturally, the biggest chunk of this goes on welfare at £1,900.71, followed by £992.91 for health and £743.26 for education.

CofE Needs a Leader, not a Liberal

Rowan Williams, the delightful, charming, bookworm boss of the Church of England was never going to be top leadership material. His obsession with the wishy-washy Liberal agenda and indecision left his flock dazed, confused and more often than not, let down.

During an intensive period where many Christians feel isolated and despondent about their country’s treatment of their faith, Williams was often salt in the wound instead of saviour. Whether he was backing Sharia Law or supporting the St Pauls protestors during their daily squat at a national landmark, he got it wrong time and time again.

Yes, he had some difficult topics to debate, issues that would inevitably divide opinion and cause a stir, but his dithering over tough topics often came before his fundamental duty to set the agenda and stand up for Christians. His tenure as leader will also be remembered for a mass exodus of CofE loyalists to the Catholic Church who had simply had enough.

With Williams beginning to pack his bags, the Church of England needs to seize the moment and find a strong leader to get back on track. This needs to be someone who is a defender of the faith, instead of a debater of the faith.

Scrap this Anti-Business 50p Tax Rate

With the global economic climate still very much in meltdown, investors and entrepreneurs are looking for better deals, less regulation and more support to start innovative businesses which, ultimately, will lead to jobs and wealth creation in whichever country they choose to target. And let’s face it, with an eye-watering 50p tax rate – one of the highest in the world – that will rob you and your senior team of half your income, the UK isn’t exactly looking like the obvious choice, is it?

Brought in by Labour as an ill-considered and dangerous knee-jerk policy, the 50p tax was supposed to create ‘billions of pounds’ in revenue. In reality it appears to have brought in hundreds of millions. The real damage here is the many entrepreners no longer consider the UK to be open for business, and this perception has to change.

Although the left would have us believe that every top rate earner lives a life of corrupt luxury, we must consider the skills, employment and wealth creation these people bring to our country. In reality, many entrepreneurs work a 16-hour day, barley see their kids and although financially well off, have far from the champagne glugging lifestyle one might expect.

This morning’s press is mooting the idea of a 45p compromise – but Osborne would be a fool to accept this. The 50p tax is a tax on every man, woman and child in this country – because every businesses it puts off and every job it prevents harms us all.