*DURHAMGEN FOR PM ??*

Wilma re those slippers
We went to stay with friends in Finland and were offered felt slippers to wear indoors on their wooden floors (saves scratching the floor and dusts it at the same time!).

Apparently Cameron and his party friends well the men wear a type of velvet slipper at these dos according to an article I was reading in the Observer this morning. Perhaps we ought to look into that.

As in how does he pay for them? Not taxpayers money, I hope.

Were they red, Jalima?

you wonder what planet these people are on though. Most of the world can't afford shoes, and they avoid tax -quite legally you understand - to allow them to purchase things like red velvet slippers. Dear oh dear

Why would they be red?

Sort of pale fawn with other colours, more like knitted bootees really.
Very fetching.
Red slippers? My name is not Dorothy.

The Danes have programmes about Santa's helpers. It's like an advent thing, a story every day until Christmas Eve. They make all sorts of toys, like rocking horses.
They wear red slippers with curly toes.
I wondered if the Finns had the same, Jalima.

Yes, whitewave, we'll put a stop to that when we are in charge.

I've lost the plot. What dos are the velvet bootees worn at?

Jamila I think the main purpose of the slippers was to stop the floors getting marked. Great idea!

In Scandinavia at Christmas they have Tomte who is like a grumpy elf creature and I think he wears red felt slippers. You mustn't wake him up though!

We need a manifesto. We can all out forward suggestions to be democratically discussed.

Looking at revenue

My first is to ensure that the pursuit of tax evasion is being carried out with sufficient resources and skill. All results will be published quarterly with all figures published along with those doing the evasion.
My second is to set up an independent team drawn from various expertise to vigorously pursue all aggressive avoidance schemes. To lay these schemes bare and to challenge these schemes at every step.
Before any avoidance scheme is put into place by an accountant/company the scheme must by law be presented to HMRC for scrutiny. Where this may result in a large amount of loss to the revenue the Treasury will be informed in order to consider closing that loophole.
International cooperation to pursue all tax evasion and avoidance will be given top priority.

Got to get up now as the dog is nagging

Accusations that the tax system "encourages" active avoidance will be seriously addressed.

We will look firstly at the PAYE system,and NI system. We will operate on the first principal that those with the broadest shoulders bear the bigger burden. Every individual earning will pay a level of tax commensurate to their income. We will introduce a wider level of tax bands. Those on at below or at the living wage level will have their salary raised to a realistic income level allowing them to live in dignity and by taking part in the tax system will have a stake in society. This will in turn relieve the burden on the benefits system, consideration will thus be given to assist small businesses with the extra expense a dignified salary for its employees.
Those unable to work for various reasons will be addressed at the spending part.

I'm on a roll here?

The NI system will be overhauled and the principles outlined above will be established. The resultant extra revenue will be put towards a dedicated NHS tax which will be reviewed annually by an independent body. Steps will be taken to ensure future governments cannot interfere or change things at will. The NHS will be run by an independent body and changes etc will be done by referendum.

Corporation tax. Companies will be treated as individuals, and are in fact that in law (I think). So corporation tax will reflect the level of profit. There will be bands of corporation tax just as there are for individuals. We understand that this will be argued that this will encourage each company to show a lower profit level. Thus can be addressed at two levels. Share holders will not be happy. Any company showing a consistent lower level of profit or loss commensurate to its activity will be examined in depth and required to submit all papers prepared by the auditors that go to make up the company accounts.

No point in trying then. Will just sit back and hope for a public service job. Won't bother trying to invest either. No point. Why try to be entrepreneurial or build up businesses which could employ others? Oh well as long as we can tax everybody as much as possible we'll be all right. ...Except we wont!
What are your plans to actually build the economy?

Give up Jane not worth it. Such narrow short term thinking is so ingrained which is why the Labour party failed to get in last time. The public saw straight through it.

Don't be so impatient I have started with the revenue as a government is nothing without money to work with. I have simply started with first principles. There are a lot more revenue streams to address. It would be so much more productive if you discussed what I have suggested and put forward your ideas.

I started by saying these are my suggestions and I hope they can be discussed in a democratic way.

Nothing stopping you putting forward your idea for what should be in our manifesto.

As Home Secretary I want privatisation of prisons and children's centres back in state control with an independent body with knowledge and experience of prison reform

Oh I suppose as culture secretary I am treading on the chancellors feet - still collective responsibility and all that!

I will not ban the eating of meat, but all animals, fowl etc must be free-range and fed non-GM. Ducks must be given access to water to bathe in!!
I will ban GM food.

Bravo Jalima

The downside is, of course, that meat, chicken and other animal products would become more expensive and, like all politicians, I will end up having to compromise. Perhaps persuading people to eat less meat and not to waste food (can I enrol Hugh Fearnley Wotsisname as my Special Adviser?).

no main verb in my last sentence, who is the Schools Minister?

Not sure we've got one.

A poisoned chalice?