Tories oppose to a “flat tax” system
The Tories have strongly denied they are planning to move to a “flat tax” system – where everyone pays the same rate of tax regardless of income – after the party’s policy chief, Oliver Letwin, was recorded suggesting a discussion “will no doubt open up” once the public finances have improved.
Meanwhile, Labour rejected claims that it had revived proposals for a 15% “death tax” after a recording emerged of the shadow health secretary, Andy Burnham, in which he apparently suggested that would be the best way of funding social care.
Letwin’s comments, made at an event held by rightwing thinktank Politeia earlier this month, were reported by the Daily Mirror.
He was quoted by the paper as saying that while a move to a flat tax system was not yet feasible given the state of the public finances, it could be possible in future.
“In 2010, indeed now, we were not in a position to take a large fiscal cut. There may come a time when the situation is different and that discussion will no doubt open up,” he was quoted as saying.
A Conservative party spokesman said: “There will be no flat tax. We oppose it. Full stop.”
Labour was equally adamant in its denial after the Daily Telegraph reported Burnham’s remarks made to the Fabian Society’s summer conference last month.
In response to a questions as to whether a tax on estates was being actively considered by Labour, Burnham was quoted as saying: “I still think the best way to do it is to go for the solution that you discussed [tax on estates] but there is a debate to be had on whether that is acceptable to the public.”
A Labour spokesman said: “This is not Labour policy. We have made clear we want to improve social care and we are consulting on how that is best done.”
Source: theguardian
