One in five Britons nearly 10m adults is considering
leaving the country amid growing disillusionment over the failure
of political parties to deliver tax cuts, according to a new
poll
www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2330678,00.html
August 27, 2006
10m want to quit 'over-taxed' UK
David Cracknell, Political Editor
ONE in five Britons nearly 10m adults is considering leaving
the country amid growing disillusionment over the failure of
political parties to deliver tax cuts, according to a new
poll.
The extensive survey conducted by ICM, the polling company, shows
that contrary to the current approach of both Labour and the
Tories an overwhelming majority of voters do want to see cuts in
income and inheritance tax.
The results will raise alarm in both political camps, but
particularly for David Cameron, who has yet to solidify the
Conservatives lead over Labour in the opinion polls.
The Tory leader, who has ditched his partys long-standing
commitment to tax cuts in favour of economic stability, has
maintained a solid lead over Labour since May in most of the polls,
but is still well short of securing a majority.
Todays poll shows that many people are highly disillusioned with
the British political system and nearly half the population do not
associate themselves with the main parties. It suggests that a
majority believe tax cuts would be affordable if public services
were genuinely reformed, but they have little faith that any party
could achieve this.
The results suggest that Cameron could be missing an open goal by
failing to capitalise on the desire for tax cuts.
The poll found that a large majority of people 81% against 9%
supported a significant increase in the £32,000 threshold for the
40% tax band, which would take more people on middling incomes out
of that bracket.
The detailed market research, carried out by ICM on behalf of the
Taxpayers Alliance (TPA), an independent political lobbying group,
comes as some modernising MPs are beginning to argue for a break
with the current taboo over tax.
Labour, under Tony Blair and the chancellor Gordon Brown, has shied
away from income tax rises, fearing they would frighten
middle-class voters. Cameron, whose party has traditionally
supported lower taxes, has sought to change that perception amid
Labour accusations that the Tories will cut spending on vital
public services.
Last week Stephen Byers, the former Labour minister, argued for the
abolition of inheritance tax. He said that the levy of 40% on
estates worth more than £285,000 was a penalty for hard work,
thrift and enterprise. This weekend George Osborne, the shadow
chancellor, responded by advocating the abolition of stamp duty on
shares to repair the damage done by Labours raid on pension
funds. The Tories say the move would increase the average pension
fund by £8,000.
Camerons Tories have sided with Labour policy on economic
stability and investment in public services before tax cuts, but
the poll shows that a majority of the public still want governments
to take less out of their wage packets.
The key finding of the study, in which 1,000 people were
interviewed, is that people hold the political parties and the
system in contempt and are strongly attracted to the prospect of
real change.
It found that emigration is a possibility for more than one in five
people. Asked if they had thought about moving abroad, 16% said
they had given it
serious thought and a further 6% said they planned to do
so.
The poll will be a further blow to Blair, who returned from his
three-week Caribbean holiday this weekend to more speculation about
his future.
Tessa Jowell, one of his most loyal cabinet ministers, admitted
yesterday that his plans to step down as leader were creating a
sense of uncertainty within the Labour party. Geoff Hoon, the
Europe minister, acknowledged that the government had been going
through problems and people were beginning to see Cameron as a
serious alternative.
Downing Street sought to shore up Blairs position after the
defection of 37 Labour members from the Derby constituency of
Margaret Beckett, the foreign secretary, to the Liberal Democrats
in protest at his failure to condemn Israeli military action in
Lebanon. An unusual statement from No 10 insisted the prime
minister was convinced that his government has the experience and
authority to meet these challenges.
Todays poll results suggest there is little belief that the
current political system can fix peoples problems and show strong
support for tax cuts. It shows 76% of people favour lowering the
basic rate of income tax. People also agreed by about three to one
56% to 17% that reforming public services would allow tax cuts
without reducing spending on vital services, although many doubted
this would happen.
The Tories unwillingness to argue for lower taxes has, according
to the TPA, left an open goal for other parties.
There were majorities in favour of significant increases of
personal allowances and for raising the threshold for inheritance
tax or abolishing it.
Worryingly for Cameron, 36% of people did not back his stance that
cutting taxes could threaten economic stability.
The TPA, which has 15,000 members, believes politicians are failing
to recognise a genuine desire for tax cuts among the public.
Matthew Elliott, its chief executive, said: The parties
conventional wisdom about public opinion is wrong. The parties are
all wrongly committed to the status quo of high taxes and massive
power for MPs. The public rightly dont believe them and want
change.
They want large tax cuts and serious reform to get MPs out of
managing services and to get non-MPs, who know what theyre doing,
into government.
The poll shows strong disillusionment with the main political
parties. Only 24% of people identify with the Labour party, 17%
with the Tories and 9% with the Liberal Democrats. Four out of 10
people do not identify with any party.
When asked to choose between Brown, Blairs likely successor, and
Cameron, the public is divided with 38% favouring each man.
ICM interviewed 1,000 people between July 31 and August 2. Full
details of the poll are at
www.taxpayersalliance.com
2.There is no perfect country in this planet.For those angry
Sporeans,
just searching for your heaven and dunt turn back.Bye.Bye.
U will know where is heaven one day.
