Friday March 14
NOW WITH DATA FOR OLDER CARS
Blogs
4.45pm, Better Government
Matthew Sinclair:
Executive government
Fraser Nelson has an extended piece at the Spectator website discussing the expert political team Brown is building. Clearly, politicians are starting to realise they need experienced talent to run their own political campaigns - how long before they realise that the public services need the same? - Read More
4.30pm, Better Government
Matthew Sinclair:
Inexperienced politicians and the messes they make
Iain Dale, in the Telegraph, sums up beautifully how inexperience leads to incompetence among Government ministers and advisers... - Read More
4.00pm, West Midlands
Fiona McEvoy:
City Region will cost smaller areas more per head
It's a shame that those who should be looking out for the interests of places like Coventry, Telford and Dudley seem to stand aside and let them be treated like Birmingham's poor relations... - Read More
2.00pm, Burning Our Money
Mike Denham:
In The Long-Term We're All Broke
This government has talked a lot about fiscal reponsibility and something grandly called "intergenerational equity". We wonder whether a future working generation paying 50% tax with no pension before 80 will think equity has been achieved... - Read More
10.30am, Campaign
Matthew Sinclair:
A misleading poll on the Budget tax grab in the Times
It is hard to imagine how Populus could have made their poll, given prominent coverage by the Times, on the budget tax changes less reliable. They make just about every mistake in the book... -Read More
9.30am, Better Government
Matthew Sinclair:
Balls is spinning instead of fixing our failing education system
Our education system is failing and the Minister, tasked with doing the impossible and managing such a huge system from the centre without experience, is spending his time spinning instead of getting on with fixing things! - Read More
Media Coverage
- Higher tax for 9 in 10 drivers
"Matthew Elliott, of the TPA, said: "This was dressed up as a measure to only punish extravagant cars, but it will hit the great majority of models.
"Alistair Darling may have claimed high moral motives, but this is just a grubby tax grab that will hit millions of ordinary families.'' - Full Article
- Revealed: what MPs can claim on expenses
"Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "John Lewis is a fine store but it is hardly the cheapest place to purchase household goods.
"How many ordinary taxpayers spend £ 1,500 on a TV and stereo when there are cheaper deals elsewhere?'' - Full Article
- Leader: A new chancellor, and a new stealth tax
"However, some number-crunching by the ever-vigilant Taxpayers' Alliance has calculated that, in fact, nearly nine in 10 cars will attract higher rates of tax under Mr Darling's proposal. Just nine per cent of vehicles will benefit from the new system. The biggest losers will be popular family cars." - Full Article
- MPs are on the makeover
"Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “John Lewis is a fine store — but it is hardly the cheapest place to purchase household goods.
“How many ordinary taxpayers spend £1,500 on a TV and stereo when there are cheaper deals elsewhere?
“No wonder the Government wastes so much money if MPs don’t have to stick to a tight budget themselves." - Full Article
- 90% of cars hit by road tax hike
"Critics said the lunacy of Labour’s plans was exposed by road tax on a Nissan Micra rocketing by 24 PER CENT while the bill for a gas-guzzling Hummer will rise 14 per cent.
Changes also see a “first year rate” on new cars from 2010, costing some Mondeos £750.
Last night the Taxpayers’ Alliance revealed 88 per cent of motorists will pay more road tax under the blueprint.
majority." - Full Article
- Tax Rises? You ain't seen nothing yet!
"Matthew Elliot of the TaxPayers' Alliance said it looked as if Labour was planning a giveaway Budget before the election, followed by a tax-rising Budget if it wins." - Full Article
- On the house!
"Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'John Lewis is a fine store but it is hardly the cheapest place to purchase household goods.
'How many ordinary taxpayers spend £1,500 on a TV and stereo when there are cheaper deals elsewhere?
'No wonder the Government wastes so much money, if MPs don't have to stick to a tight budget themselves.'" - Full Article
- Kent keeps its own counsel on pay
"The Taxpayers’ Alliance, which wants public servants who earn more than £50,000 a year to be identified, is trying to use the Freedom of Information Act to force Kent County Council to name the staff." - Full Article
- Kitchen Stink
"The list got its name because John Lewis prices were used as a benchmark after it was rated top of all retail shops in last year's Which? guide. But Matthew Elliott of the TaxPayers' Alliance blasted: "John Lewis is hardly the cheapest place to buy household goods. How many ordinary taxpayers spend £1,500 on a TV and stereo?" - Full Article
I have a cunning plan, in the interests of transparency and stability naturally.
I propose that all pay slips show the amounts paid by employers into any pension / superannuation funds. This would be most enlightening for those not in the public sector.
This figure to include the amount that the Treasury subsidises the unfunded public sector schemes' inadequate employer plus employee contributions.
The fact that a female police officer needs a contribution of around 50% of salary - rather than the current 20% - would make an interesting counter to any public sector pay claim.
I won't mention the MPs scheme contributions for their pensions; that would just upset you unduly.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=534436&in_page_id=1770
Posted by: Acorn | March 15, 2008 at 11:02 AM