21 April 2008

Labour Defends 10p Tax Rate Changes

The tax changes explained:

Low earners who would have paid income tax at the lowest 10% rate now have to pay the 20% rate. The following groups of people will lose out, under the tax changes:

- Those earning under £18,000 and who are ineligible for working tax credits because they are under 25
- People who have retired early and are therefore ineligible for higher personal allowances
- Part-time workers who work insufficient hours to qualify for tax credits

The Commons Treasury committee has said that single people with no children, who are earning under £18,500 a year, will lose up to £232 a year.

So, we have high youth unemployment, even after 10 years of Labour, and now, we have tax changes that penalise people under 25 who are working.

Say you're someone who benefits from these changes. Do you think that low-paid young workers should be treated this way?

Today, it was Yvette Cooper's turn to be an apologist.

Cooper, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said that the government "will be consulting with stakeholders, with MPs and different groups on the next phase to tackle poverty and unfair inequality in Britain."

Their tax changes are causing inequality, but they'll consult to try and remedy their own changes. It's Alice in Wonderland!

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