Tax rises in the VAT and Fiddle
Post categories: 5 live Drives Down The Deficit,ÌýChris Mason,ÌýDrive
| 15:56 UK time, Sunday, 1 August 2010
The final day of 5live Drives Down the Deficit and we're in the VAT and Fiddle pub in Nottingham to talk tax. Another panel of local would be chancellors is here, ready to cast popularity to the wind and make pips sqweak all over the place.
Chris Holmes, the Chairman and Chief Executive of Castle Rock Brewery, and owner of the pub joins us.
So does Philippa Double, a small businesswoman and Nick Searle who works in local government.
The trio rejected extending the regular rate of VAT to things like fresh food and childrens clothes.
But they did approve a higher rate of VAT on luxuries such has perfume, fast cars and private jets.
And a bin tax was signed off too. If you want your bin emptied every week, or you have loads of rubbish, you'd have to pay for it. They were also open to the idea of a text message tax.
All their proposals would generate, we estimate, £31bn in extra revenue. So, overall, on a very rough and ready calculation at the end of our week of travelling, our chancellors have reduced the government's overdraft by £66bn.
It would still stand at £90bn. The real Chancellor, George Osborne, will reveal his plans when the Comprehensive Spending Review is published in October.
Comment number 1.
At 2nd Aug 2010, Jackstumps wrote:You really have to worry about the management at this station, I bet none of the management big five 'whoever they may be' get under £150,000 grand a year and what sort of wedge are the so called 'star' presenters on? Bacon, Murray, Derbyshire, Nolan - all well short of the quality needed for national radio. Yet on a big screw I bet.
Ian Payne, John Inverdale, Julian Worriker, Matthew Bannister, Jane Garvey, Mark Pugach, all the sports presenters (minus Murray) ... dream team. Danny Baker thrown in for innovative radio and a good laugh. Come on controller - get a grip.
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Comment number 2.
At 2nd Aug 2010, ryanw wrote:Jackstumps, I'd like to add two more names to your lineup. Rhod Sharp and a recent ring in, but a worthy weekend newcomer, Frances Finn (standing in for Shouty Nolan), who I've learnt after a bit of research is languishing in the morning slot on Northhampton or Nottingham radio.
Interestingly both of these people don't spend their days in the 5Live bubble, where it's all tittle tattle, tweets and texting -- and what a refreshing change they are.
The gulf in quality between your dream team and the crop your mentioned is huge.
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Comment number 3.
At 2nd Aug 2010, lunchtime_legend wrote:I'd take Ian Payne off that list, he's beginning to annoy me. He interrupts a lot and sidetracked the Monday night club into discussing insurance and motorbikes. I don't think he has the depth of some other presenters although he's certainly better than Murray. He left 5live to take Sky's shilling and I don't think he should have been allowed back at the expense of bringing in someone new.
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Comment number 4.
At 9th Aug 2010, U14560718 wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 5.
At 9th Aug 2010, lunchtime_legend wrote:Moderator, if you remove the above post then you'll also have to take down Juliette Ferrington's blog. Both are blatant advertising.
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Comment number 6.
At 9th Aug 2010, lunchtime_legend wrote:Ah, thought so. One rule for the Ö÷²¥´óÐã, another for the rest of us.
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