News from the opposition

I know a bit about VAT gg

Don't start another thread. It's hard keeping up with the right thread as it is, and this is definitely news from the opposition, in that Murphy would never support Tory finance ideas.

We could start one on the economy and possible changes if you think it is better separated but I think we would need a more encompassing title than "It's time to have a wealth tax".

I think, reading the article that I may be a little fixated on capital as "bad"; RM sees as a positive but excessive capital defined as "wealth" as unhelpful to the economy. What he seems to be saying is that wealth by his definition, is inactive capital. Have I got this right? I can certainly see where he is going with this. Is he saying that his suggested CGT on houses would only be charged on death. Surely it would be better that it is charged on sales. He would abolish inheritance tax - sensible I feel and replace with CGT. I wonder if we, therefore, shouldn't also roll the stamp duty - a very odd tax - into this CGT too?

I am not sure how he would treat savings, pensions, etc., either. He is postitive about investment as opposed to savings in the same way that he is about capital as opposed to wealth seeing both savings and wealth as inactive while investment and capital play and active part in the economy.

I am struggling with the para on VAT although I think I have got it now but will come back to that later.

Whoops, got my threads mixed! We're nowhere near the end of this one, of course

As we're nearing the end of this thread, GG how about starting a new one on the topic? I'm happy to discuss...

Just beginning to read Richard Murphy's blog entitled It’s time to tax wealth

In the first couple of paragraphs he lays out his subject and this has already caught my eye.

There is, of course, an economic concept of wealth. This, in my opinion, explains stores of value. What this concept does not do is explain capital, which is something quite different.

I have often said that I believe you should not be able to earn more from capital then you can from work so I am hoping he puts something on the bones of this.

Hope others see this so we can discuss.

I think, or like to think, that a lot of patient waiting is going on. To change enough people's minds we have to see what will actually happen. No one believes experts after all .

twitter.com/PeterStefanovi2/status/977126004987777024

Anyone in a big union?
Watch this.

www.theguardian.com/society/2018/mar/23/struggling-northamptonshire-county-council-paid-acting-boss-more-than-1000-a-day

This is why Northamptonshire went bust. I wonder how May is going to explain that away on PMQs.

Absolutely

"After a while you start to tune out, just so you can preserve a few brain cells. We lost an entire day of the news agenda to a man throwing dead fish off a boat. Another day went to a decision on where passports are made, which itself followed a seemingly interminable debate about their colour.

It quite often feels like the country has entered a senile phase. There is effectively nothing going on in parliament. There is no real policy agenda in health, or education, or national security, or business, or industry, outside of Brexit, which itself is a vacuum. Instead we have these colourful bits of theatre in place of politics. It's like being fed a plate of crisps for dinner.

But even here it is worth scratching the surface of the debate, because underneath it you find a web of lies, lobbying and basic trade reality. The gears of an economy and commercial law keep on turning, even if we try to cover them up with clown masks."

Anyone else agree with this?

www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/matt-kelly-brexit-bus-personal-brexit-1-5446114

Talk about how Brexit will create problems for your community, instead of talking about the bus.
However, if we don't get what was promised on the bus, there could be no NHS after Brexit.

Will this do Petra (I would have had to log in to Twitter to read it in full)

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-43524945

I want to believe that but I'm finding it difficult......

Adonis tweeted and it gives me cheer

“Why am I still a Jeremy Corbyn on Brexit? Simple. When Mrs May presents her EU withdrawal bill to Parliament at year end, Jeremy has to for it or against it. He can’t possibly vote for it, and there is only one credible alternative.
Get ready for a 2019 referendum!”

Whoah!

I cannot support a party that does not represent me in something I feel so passionately about. They must understand this; people have been saying so on facebook for a long time now, so I would assume that Corbyn would be aware of the strength of feeling amongst Labour voters , especially the young people that have joined the Labour party in droves who want to remain in the EU and benefit from what it offers them.

Party conference motion

pbs.twimg.com/media/DZAcAEoW0AA18kY?format=jpg

This is undoubtedly going to give the Labour Party a rocky few days. (Look at the right wing thread and the joy they are feeling)

Some thoughts

Firstly I think to a degree it shows the fact that Corbyn was able to do this, is indicative of the measure of strength he now has within the Labour Party.

Second - he cannot assume that this level of strength will continue - look at the reaction of those on this thread and the posts on Twitter.

Third- I think he is showing a remarkable misunderstanding of the level of strength for remain within the Labour Party. This is my personal Armageddon. I will only vote for a party (lib dems anyone) who supports at a minimum a very soft brexit, but preferably to remain.
Logic tells me that the hardship to the working classes that brexit will cause for generations to come is simply not worth putting party before this fight.
A party in power lasts at the most 5 years.
Brexit with all its attendant harm will last a generation.

Is nobody going to give a link to Peter Hains tweet:
"This is a terrible Stalinist purge"
No? I thought not

Really bad news for Labour.
It risks splitting the party which is a dangerous road to go down.

I'm appalled. Diane Abbott called for a second referendum but wasn't sacked .

A definite own goal imo

Sacking Owen is the absolute last straw for me.

Card returned and message of disgust sent. Finished.

Corbyn appears out of step with the LP membership

mobile.twitter.com/LintonDorrell/status/977277168509218816/photo/1

Great news!