Tonight:
5°c
Labour members back higher taxes on rich
Joe Murphy9 Mar 2009
Gordon Brown faced fresh Labour tensions today as a poll found party members overwhelmingly favour heavier taxes on the rich.
The YouGov survey revealed eight out of 10 members want a higher top rate for those earning £100,000 or more, plus a windfall tax on energy firms.
A third want to ban City bonuses altogether, the poll commissioned by Left-wing group Compass claimed.
The challenge to Mr Brown came after former Cabinet minister Peter Hain claimed Labour faces electoral disaster unless it adopts a "very different" agenda.
He used a weekend interview and article to criticise Mr Brown's leadership and mark himself as a potential successor. Mr Hain said Labour had lost its "narrative" and its policies "do not add up to a programme to get the pulse of potential Labour voters racing".
The former Work and Pensions Secretary added: "If we want to be the government for the next five years, we are going to have to offer a very different prospectus or the people won't buy it. Just saying we want more of New Labour is not enough."
The YouGov research found 77 per cent of Labour members think Mr Brown is doing a good job - a higher rating than his Cabinet colleagues.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband came next on 74 per cent, followed by Alistair Darling on 73 and Lord Mandelson on 62.
Reader views (18)
J K Galbraith pointed out that Tax-cuts were hopeless for motivating over-paid workers as they worked less hard.It seems to be a Thatcherite Myth that lower taxes lead to greater productivity or success. It is very similar to the way that the Rich and Powerful conned poor Christians by telling them that the poor would go to Heaven while the rich, greedy and sinful would rot in Hell. It seemed to enable the Rich to survive in power in this country.
- R Derwent, Hillingdon England, 16/04/2009 12:57
Report abuse
I still can't begin to understand why our country persists on punishing those that have worked hard. There is no incentive to do well at all. If anything the Labour government actually make teenage pregnancies and unemployment the most attractive career moves. Well done Labour..Good job!
- Jade, Leicester, 31/03/2009 11:36
Report abuse
Great idea, lets take more money from the very people that contribute most to the economy.
I'm sure they will be happy to pay more than the 21% corportation TAX, NI contributions and 40% personal tax they are already subjected to.
Labour - Wake Up or Move Over.
- Carlo Campo, Surrey, Greater London, 27/03/2009 14:45
Report abuse
Great idea - about time this vast swathe of overpaid public sector workers earning in excess of £100k a year got hit (232 at TFL alone) - less impact on the private sector as many are being laid off at this level.
- David B, Manchester, 11/03/2009 11:05
Report abuse
Well if the UK did not have the economic misery and if we did not have the 10year of tax increases already, there could have been more people in employment. If "rich" people (what is that in London?) are unemployed... they will not pay taxes Crash Gordon!!
- Georgie, Islington, London, 10/03/2009 08:45
Report abuse
What a joke. The "high rate" taxpayers have left I am afraid. Fired and they will probably never come back. Nu Labor had 10years but they have missed this one as well...
- Steveo, London, NW1, 09/03/2009 18:41
Report abuse
Taxing the rich is a fallacy etc; and the government knows it.
They have the best accountants; and lots of tax loop-holes that will never be filled.
The highest tax payers per pound sterling; are the workers; and always have been.
They don’t have accountants or off-shore banks etc.
So when they say tax the rich; they mean spin it out; and look good.
- Mickyinlondon, london, 09/03/2009 17:42
Report abuse
The gap between the rich and poor is worse now than any other time i can remember.It is only fair the rich are taxed more, I would start with the Bankers and finish with Football players.If these people are paid millions then the Tax rate should be set at 90%.
- Stan White, leeds, 09/03/2009 16:00
Report abuse
Nice idea, but thenks to G Brown's "Non-dom Res rule", the rich are allowed to pay nothing. They hide their money in Liechtenstein, Dutch Antilles, Cayman, Vanuatu, BVI etc etc.
- Neil M., london uk,, 09/03/2009 15:47
Report abuse
maybe they could start by introducing a special tax on m.p's dubious perks, expenses and ring fenced pensions. just to show that they were leading from the front and had the true spirit of equality and justice in mind.
- M.O'Brien, london.uk, 09/03/2009 15:42
Report abuse
I don't think anybody should be paying higher taxes. You people pay enough tax. The frauds in office should be cutting your taxes.
- jennifer M., Michigan, USA, 09/03/2009 14:53
Report abuse
If they are intending to bring in a higher rate tax band then perhaps they could readjust the 40% band putting it back where it should be. Every year the band increases at way less that the rate of inflation, thus if it had followed inflation since it was originally created earnings should be somewhere in the region of £50,000pa before incurring the 40% tax.
- Bob, Cheam, 09/03/2009 14:46
Report abuse
Back to the failed thinking of the 60s and 70s. Don't they ever learn?
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, Hants, 09/03/2009 14:39
Report abuse
A bit late in the day for the political correct Labour government that can only stare at defeat in the horizon coming it's way.
- Joe, Swanley Kent, 09/03/2009 14:34
Report abuse
40% is high enough, tax big bonuses!
- W A, Oxfordshire, 09/03/2009 14:03
Report abuse
It seems perfectly reasonable that very high earners, say over £200,000 should pay tax at a higher rate than the person who just squeaks into the 40% band. It is also reasonable that those who earn absurd amounts as the result of previous employments should pay higher rates. It would perhaps be wise however to ring fence additional higher tax rate revenues to pay off a drop of the zillions Gordon is busy squandering.
- Colin Macpherson, Gramat France, 09/03/2009 13:56
Report abuse
I think 40% is more than enough to take of anyone's salary. Less spending and less taxing is what we need - not more - for everyone.
"The YouGov research found 77 per cent of Labour members think Mr Brown is doing a good job"
You don't have to be mad to be a member of the Labour Party, but 77% are...
- Eric Murphy, London, UK, 09/03/2009 13:44
Report abuse
Please can we have a General Election now. This government is a shambles and needs to be replaced before irreperable damage is done. Tax and spend - typical (not 'New') Labour party policy...
- Paul, Chatham, UK, 09/03/2009 12:54
Report abuse
