Daily Express Editorial: Treasury coffers raking it in over Christmas

IF you are of a nervous disposition, look away now. We might well offer such advice to those concerned about the huge, and ever growing, cost of Christmas. But if you are already worried about the bills you're having to meet, our list of the taxes levied on Christmas goods, services and downright necessities will enrage you.

Gordon Brown's festive smash and grab raid on the bank balances of the British public is an utter disgrace. Few people probably realise the extent of the rake off enjoyed by Mr Brown and his Treasury colleagues every time we buy our children toys, go to visit elderly relations or enjoy a modest celebration.

According to the Taxpayers' Alliance, an organisation that is thankfully exposing the Prime Minister and his Chancellor, Alistair Darling, for their rapacious greed, even a sprig of mistletoe will net the taxman £1.12.

If Scrooge were alive today, he'd marvel at this Labour Government's parsimony. Mr Brown squandered any latent public goodwill within months of coming to office. But it was not only the high profile blunders, the accusations of sleaze and the misjudgments that surrounded him and his Government; it was largely the realisation that this is a Prime Minister who cares little for the plight of the hard-working taxpayer.

Sooner or later, the ordinary people of Britain will pay Mr Brown back, and his short-lived administration will be a brief footnote in history.