Student loans scam, perpetrated by.. (you guessed it!)

[Chippiewill]

I personally don't see the problem with VAT?

..apart from dead-weight loss, which is minor.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Well its another tax which we could certainly do without, but regardless of that - we only had it imposed in the first place because of our membership of the European Union (then EEC).

[Chippiewill]

£83.3bn per year, I guess they'll just whack up income tax instead?

Just because the EEC forced it isn't really a valid reason to get rid of it.

[-:Undertaker:-]

£83.3bn per year, I guess they'll just whack up income tax instead?

Just because the EEC forced it isn't really a valid reason to get rid of it.

Yes it is, as it wasn't imposed on democratic grounds.

The point is, no tax is a good tax.

[Ajthedragon]

Yes it is, as it wasn't imposed on democratic grounds.

The point is, no tax is a good tax.

No tax revenue means no hospitals, no schools, etc...

VAT would stay regardless of our membership of the EU.

[GommeInc]

VAT isn't that much of a problem. It could happily lowered and as long as all of it goes to good causes for the country it's fine. None of it should go to wasteful organisations or abroad unless there is some surplus to requirements, and even then reimbursements should be involved to give something back to the tax payer/nation.

[-:Undertaker:-]

No tax revenue means no hospitals, no schools, etc...

VAT would stay regardless of our membership of the EU.

It-was-put-in-place-by-the-EU-when-such-a-tax-did-not-exist-beforehand-therefore-the-EU-created-a-new-tax-where-one-did-not-exist-previously.

Can I simplify that much more than that? although you are right on one point, none of the current main political parties would abolish VAT even if we left the EU - including the useless Tories. Thats why they themselves need to be abolished. The principle of the argument though is should a foreign power impose taxes or any laws on this sovereign nation? of course not, but your party appears to think so, indeed it encourages it.

[Chippiewill]

Well, even leaving the EU wouldn't cover the costs of VAT since that only nets us £65 billion, although the stimulus to the economy by dropping to say 7% VAT would probably cover the remainder.

[Ajthedragon]

It-was-put-in-place-by-the-EU-when-such-a-tax-did-not-exist-beforehand-therefore-the-EU-created-a-new-tax-where-one-did-not-exist-previously.

Can I simplify that much more than that? although you are right on one point, none of the current main political parties would abolish VAT even if we left the EU - including the useless Tories. Thats why they themselves need to be abolished. The principle of the argument though is should a foreign power impose taxes or any laws on this sovereign nation? of course not, but your party appears to think so, indeed it encourages it.

Such-a-tax-would-probably-have-been-introduced-by-a-future-government-anyway.

Welfare doesn't pay itself. Neither does the deficit.

There is only so much they can cut before taxation isnecessary.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Such-a-tax-would-probably-have-been-introduced-by-a-future-government-anyway.

Welfare doesn't pay itself. Neither does the deficit.

Oh that makes it OK then, why don't we just move the remainder of our government over to Brussels because a future government just might do what Brussels does anyway?

There is only so much they can cut before taxation isnecessary.

When are they going to make a start?