Is it time to raise basic tax rate?

None of them need extra funds, just a proper sort out, particularly the "administration" side.

It's a huge issue. There are just so many key areas that need tackling to keep the population healthy, safe, educated and productive. The last time it was truly done properly was after the second world war, when the country really was on its knees, since then, lots more issues have became major problems, not least the health service, encompassing cradle to grave care, and there are different dangers and economic worries. Any squabbling and in fighting amongst those elected to resolve these issues is to me disrespectful of the population as a whole, and the media feeding such behaviour doesn't help.

Yes, I agree to paying more basic tax rate, but only if the extra goes to public services in this country and not used to fund other countries

TF

I am not sure you are starting at the right end of the tax spectrum. Lower paid people, so by definition those on the basic rate of tax, I understand pay a higher proportion of their income in tax that those that are much better off. I don't disagree with your sentiment but if we really wanted to increase the tax take we need to look elsewhere and I suspect there are plenty of places to look if we applied ourselves

Perhaps it should be remembered that National Insurance is much higher than it used to be and if you add basic rate tax to NI the base rate is 31%

David

If the tax evasion  that is rife was was brought under control this thread may not needed to have been started

Few people will volunteer to pay more tax. I think that an increase in VAT is the best "catch all". If we want better service s then they have to be paid for and it's better if everyone pays a little rather than a few paying a lot. 

If the tax evasion  that is rife was was brought under control this thread may not needed to have been started

It would help I agree, but it is only one element of a very complex situation that has evolved and become a crisis in a number of areas, over a very long period of time. There are other aspects feeding the lack of funding in key areas, not least a degree of mismanagement, lack of long term thinking and planning, and some unforseen changes. That is why it is so complicated, it took quite a long time to reach this state of affairs, and is going to take a long and possibly financially painful exercise to extract us out of the mire. The sticking plasters applied at various intervals are starting to slide off, not least in the health/care and penal services.

Few people will volunteer to pay more tax. I think that an increase in VAT is the best "catch all". If we want better service s then they have to be paid for and it's better if everyone pays a little rather than a few paying a lot. 

I disagree, what really needs tackling is how the money available is spent. Then look at a possible increase, but being upfront and honest about where it is spent. Again not easy, because as individuals we will all have different priorities.

Personally I think there are many ways of raising much needed funds for public services not just by income tax , 

I really don't want to think how much of my income and expenditure is taxed one way or another but as was pointed out earlier I would rather if a tax was to go on it was an unavoidable tax like VAT where if you buy anything it was taxed and inescapable and unclaimable as a business necessity - too many loopholes to exploit. Naive or what!