Honestly, I can see why they're not answering

As I posted the other day, you simply can't predict the unpredictable - i.e. the global economy - and to rule in or out this measure or that is generally a very bad idea.

So I regret both parties' statements on VAT - much as I'd hate paying it, it might be the right policy for the country to raise it at some point.

On NICs, I've always said they should be merged in to Income Tax: not only more honest and simpler, but removes the differential between the taxation of capital and the taxation of income which lies behind a lot of the dodgy avoision-evadence that goes on. But again I regret the post-ante declarations that have been made on that.

If I were a politician - and believe me I'd rather pull my own teeth out than be an MP, having worked closely with MPs of all parties for some decades - I too would be hedging my position, because you just don't know what's around the corner.

There is a simple, ideological question: what is the best balance between cuts, borrowing and taxation. All the parties have different answers to it. Can't we have an election based on those broader questions, without the ludicrous, meaningless detail-led discussion which is always out of date within a few months anyway because the world has moved on?

RANT OVER

Posted By: Old Man, Apr 7, 19:42:17