Is it time to raise basic tax rate?

Actually it was the debate that I wanted to stimulate.  I agree without reservation that the question is far more complicated than either A or B. Otherwise the solution would have been found a long time ago.

Nevertheless I do feel that most of the public services have long since swallowed all of their own fat, and we do need to better fund them. Just how, I am at a loss to understand.

TF

They could start introducing a small charge for parts of the service used, e.g. why should you not pay something towards food when in hospital? We already pay something towards dental charges.

Use more national lottery money to support essential services.

Just a couple of ideas.

peedee

Havnt seen any "savings"in Local Authority only cuts in essential services. The sexy fringes still gets done with gutso.We have 22 LA in Wales for the same population as Birmingham and yes an Assembly. Soaks up all the cash in "administration"

Gosh, Then you are lucky!  My Local Authority is a mere shadow of what it once was. Staff levels are way down, and it takes a lot longer to get things done now. Planning decisions take ages. Grass verges not cut beyond one meter from the kerb. Bus subsidies cut back so a lot of rural routes no longer supported. PCSO's no longer paid for as extra's so numbers down. I could go on.

Parish Councils now having to bear much of the burdon of grass cutting, emptying dog bins etc, and such things as youth clubs etc.

TF

Parish Councils have a fraction of the budget district councils have. The real first step to saving money in local government is to do away with county and District and have unitray authorities.

Even more strain on the tax resources as they have announced that Buck Palace is to be allocated £369 million for much needed restoration. See here.

My opinion is that we pay enough income tax and VAT already. As for volunteering to help councils by doing things like picking up litter, I have been known to do that off my own bat, stiffer fines for people who drop litter would suit me and don’t get me started on dog owners who don't pick up mess.

HRH has £23Billion, She should downsize from Buck Palace & turn it into accommodation for those in need, cheap social housing. Austerity seems to be for certain parts of society apparently not all. Yes!!!, I hear you say-'He should be a Politician'

Even more strain on the tax resources as they have announced that Buck Palace is to be allocated £369 million for much needed restoration. See here.

My opinion is that we pay enough income tax and VAT already. As for volunteering to help councils by doing things like picking up litter, I have been known to do that off my own bat, stiffer fines for people who drop litter would suit me and don’t get me started on dog owners who don't pick up mess.

HRH has £23Billion, She should downsize from Buck Palace & turn it into accommodation for those in need, cheap social housing. Austerity seems to be for certain parts of society apparently not all. Yes!!!, I hear you say-'He should be a Politician'

Completely agree, Rocky......!

Here's a suggestion for savings.......get rid of parish councils (if you had ever been to a meeting of ours, you would see why!), halve the number of local councillors, dump the notion of locally elected mayors, cut the number of MP's by about a third, get rid of the house of lords.....and of course the royal family.

Even more strain on the tax resources as they have announced that Buck Palace is to be allocated £369 million for much needed restoration. See here.

My opinion is that we pay enough income tax and VAT already. As for volunteering to help councils by doing things like picking up litter, I have been known to do that off my own bat, stiffer fines for people who drop litter would suit me and don’t get me started on dog owners who don't pick up mess.

HRH has £23Billion, She should downsize from Buck Palace & turn it into accommodation for those in need, cheap social housing. Austerity seems to be for certain parts of society apparently not all. Yes!!!, I hear you say-'He should be a Politician'

Completely agree, Rocky......!

Thank you Ian, but I'll never be a Politician

Even more strain on the public purse is the obscene amount of money that it is going to cost to repair the outdated, crumbling and creaking buildings of the palace of Westminster.

Much better to build a new parliament building outside of London , perhaps between Brum and Manchester and knock that old ruin in London down.. Im sure there would be many property developers desperate to pay good money.for that site beside the Thames. A win win situation all round.

Cheers .......K