Starmer's vision quest

[Stevo 666]

Au contraire, being willing to pay one's fair share of tax is a sign of a civilised population, though most people will claim that their share should be lower. Even Plato had something to say about it: “When there is an income tax, the just man will pay more and the unjust less on the same amount of income.”

Its a shame for lefties then that the IMF is warning the UK about the levels of taxation and spending:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/05/18/britain-nearing-peak-tax-warns-imf/
Together with a recommendation to reign in spending rather than try to tax and/or borrow more.

The article also mentions the OBR warning about higher taxes impacting economic growth.

 

[Pblakeney]

Au contraire, being willing to pay one's fair share of tax is a sign of a civilised population, though most people will claim that their share should be lower. Even Plato had something to say about it: “When there is an income tax, the just man will pay more and the unjust less on the same amount of income.”

That's just theory meeting reality.

 

[BoldonLad]

Au contraire, being willing to pay one's fair share of tax is a sign of a civilised population, though most people will claim that their share should be lower. Even Plato had something to say about it: “When there is an income tax, the just man will pay more and the unjust less on the same amount of income.”

Well, perhaps the answer is, the UK population is not “civilised”?

Did they have income tax in Plato’s day?

 

[briantrumpet]

That's just theory meeting reality.

Indeed so. It's interesting that about 19/20 quotations about tax are negative, which is not entirely surprising, as none of us *enjoys* paying for a thing that doesn't seem to benefit us directly, just 'someone else'.

 

[Pross]

You wont be content then, as I'm not worse off but no thanks to the current admnistration.

People can have different views on budgets depending on whether they are looking at the impact on them personally or on the country as a whole. Truss' budget didn't do the country a lot of good but it would have saved me a good chunk of money. Whereas Labour budgets don't tend to benefit either.

How can that be the case? Are you living under a different administration to the rest of us or making up your own tax rules?

 

[Pross]

Its a shame for lefties then that the IMF is warning the UK about the levels of taxation and spending:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/05/18/britain-nearing-peak-tax-warns-imf/
Together with a recommendation to reign in spending rather than try to tax and/or borrow more.

The article also mentions the OBR warning about higher taxes impacting economic growth.

Last month they were warning that the UK economy was going to be impacted more than others from the war in Iran and then the first growth figures since the start of the war came out and showed the opposite.

 

[AuroraSaab]

Oh OK. People can never learn or change what they think. Right.

https://www.pressreader.com/uk/daily-mail/20260516/282295326837270

He's the director of 2 businesses - a car dealership and a lorry haulage company.
His 'daily driver' car is a Mercedes AMG saloon.
He's a typical 25 year old man who loves fast, flashy cars - which is fine - it's naive though to pretend he joined the Greens out of concern for the environment. There's no evidence of his activism for or membership of the Greens before he stood as a councillor.

This is no difference to Reform candidates suddenly materialising from nowhere to contest council seats.

 

[bobzmyunkle]

An update for @Stevo 666 on the wonders that privatisation has brought to Thames Water.
Burnham's fault no doubt

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...ue-deal-threatened-uncertainty-prime-minister

 

[BoldonLad]

How can that be the case? Are you living under a different administration to the rest of us or making up your own tax rules?

It is possible to adjust your income stream to minimise tax (legally, think ISAs for starters), it requires forward planning, a bit of risk and second guessing how administrations are going (regardless of party).

 

[First Aspect]

Last month they were warning that the UK economy was going to be impacted more than others from the war in Iran and then the first growth figures since the start of the war came out and showed the opposite.

For two months where there wasn't a war and one month when the world was still supplied by oil that had already got through.

 

[Ian H]

Well, perhaps the answer is, the UK population is not “civilised”?

Did they have income tax in Plato’s day?

Only for the very wealthy.

 

[icowden]

He's a typical 25 year old man who loves fast, flashy cars - which is fine - it's naive though to pretend he joined the Greens out of concern for the environment. There's no evidence of his activism for or membership of the Greens before he stood as a councillor.

I wasn't aware that it was compulsory to be a sandal wearing environmentalist with a top knot to join the Green party.

 

[icowden]

Let Bob answer my question if he can, although I think hes already taken his ball home.

He did answer you. Very clearly. You just don't like the answer.

 

[briantrumpet]

He did answer you. Very clearly. You just don't like the answer.

And Stevo doesn't think that others are allowed to intervene on a public forum, so watch your step, boyo.

 

[Psamathe]

Anyway, he'll either pull his rabbit out of the hat, or just pull its ears off. The book is running.

To an extent even if he is not a great success, maybe it's a question of doing least damage before the next election. That said I can't currently see any other party that might take over not being a disaster (maybe Lib Dems OK if they are still around).