The Government argues that only a tiny number of farmers will be affected by the changes to Inheritance Tax, the National Farmers Union claim it will hit the majority of farmers. By instinct I am on the side of the Union. But which is right? For background until the last budget farm land could be … Read more
Conservatives are in deep trouble. The British Conservatives were wiped out in the latest local elections, and face a similar fate in at the coming General Election. In the US the entire conservative movement is a hostage to the fortunes of Donald Trump, slumped in a court room hearing his most sordid actions read … Read more
I’ve spent the last few weeks pointing out the worst bits of the three main parties manifestos, and telling you are rubbish they all are. It’s the last weekend of the campaign so here are the policies I would have picked instead, and along the way show how client politics distorts tax and spending decisions … Read more
The Tory manifesto is a small, but significant shuffle to the left. In fiscal terms it is probably their most left wing manifesto since Ted Heath, maybe even longer. The headlines are all about spending on health, education and social care: These spending commitments are great, and position to Tories much closer to the centre … Read more
In all of the excitement about the Labour Manifesto we seem to have forgotten that the LibDems also put their proposals forward too. Which might be a metaphor for a campaign full of sensible proposals but strangely forgettable. The LibDems overall fiscal frameworks is slightly tighter than Labour, but using similar rules. The LibDems want … Read more
The Labour Party manifesto came out today and helpfully they have produced a “Grey Book”, which sets out the financial framework for an incoming Labour Government. The financial framework is typical of Labour under Corbyn; lots of sensible, well thought out, pragmatic policies, mixed in with bat shit crazy stuff, and middle class fiscal fads. … Read more
