Comments on: Fuel Poverty and Tax Poverty – what Gord gives with one hand he takes with another http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/08/22/fuel-poverty-and-tax-poverty-what-gord-gives-with-one-hand-he-takes-with-another/ Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Wokingham Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:30:24 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Bazman http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/08/22/fuel-poverty-and-tax-poverty-what-gord-gives-with-one-hand-he-takes-with-another/#comment-23669 Bazman Wed, 27 Aug 2008 08:20:11 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1358#comment-23669 What other industries can put up prices by 30% and then another 50% and still make profit. These are not voluntary purchases. Remind me how the utility companies which are in reality little more than billing companies, can make a loss? How do the directors and shareholders loose money? The public are starting to see through this lie and also in the banking system and large companies being given money to waste on hare brained schemes. The lie being that all losses are socialised and all profits privatised. Companies making millions in profit and the rank and file employees paid so low they have to be subsidised by the state. Company and Middle class welfare no less. What other industries can put up prices by 30% and then another 50% and still make profit. These are not voluntary purchases. Remind me how the utility companies which are in reality little more than billing companies, can make a loss? How do the directors and shareholders loose money?
The public are starting to see through this lie and also in the banking system and large companies being given money to waste on hare brained schemes.
The lie being that all losses are socialised and all profits privatised.
Companies making millions in profit and the rank and file employees paid so low they have to be subsidised by the state.
Company and Middle class welfare no less.

]]> By: Robert http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/08/22/fuel-poverty-and-tax-poverty-what-gord-gives-with-one-hand-he-takes-with-another/#comment-23620 Robert Sun, 24 Aug 2008 13:33:06 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1358#comment-23620 I've lived all my life on a council estate and up until now have never ever had benefits, my wife has spina bifida and she has worked all her life, my neighbours have all worked the only time we did not was well through the Thatcher years, sad to say it looks like we are returning to a major recession. Then a few years ago while in work bang an accident lost my legs at work sued the company who of course went bust, then found the insurance was not up to scratch 13 years down the line I get 1/3 of the compensation I should have had, the gover I’ve lived all my life on a council estate and up until now have never ever had benefits, my wife has spina bifida and she has worked all her life, my neighbours have all worked the only time we did not was well through the Thatcher years, sad to say it looks like we are returning to a major recession.

Then a few years ago while in work bang an accident lost my legs at work sued the company who of course went bust, then found the insurance was not up to scratch 13 years down the line I get 1/3 of the compensation I should have had, the gover

]]> By: wrinkled weasel http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/08/22/fuel-poverty-and-tax-poverty-what-gord-gives-with-one-hand-he-takes-with-another/#comment-23605 wrinkled weasel Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:51:21 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1358#comment-23605 Oh dear. Once again my comment seems to have disappeared into cyberspace. I can't figure it out. Oh dear. Once again my comment seems to have disappeared into cyberspace.

I can’t figure it out.

]]> By: Riddiford of England http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/08/22/fuel-poverty-and-tax-poverty-what-gord-gives-with-one-hand-he-takes-with-another/#comment-23596 Riddiford of England Sat, 23 Aug 2008 16:26:27 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1358#comment-23596 when oh when will we understand that our Provincial Government at westminster is forbidden by Brussels to alter VAT rates and much else. It is not a Competence of the English government. The Soviet EUnion receives the majority of its income by sequestering VAT so the tampering therewith is verboten. (Soviet in russian simply means Council so is apposite here) when oh when will we understand that our Provincial Government at westminster is forbidden by Brussels to alter VAT rates and much else.

It is not a Competence of the English government.
The Soviet EUnion receives the majority of its income by sequestering VAT so the tampering therewith is verboten.

(Soviet in russian simply means Council so is apposite here)

]]> By: APL http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/08/22/fuel-poverty-and-tax-poverty-what-gord-gives-with-one-hand-he-takes-with-another/#comment-23590 APL Sat, 23 Aug 2008 09:43:35 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1358#comment-23590 Bazman: "What about poverty caused by companies? A tax of overcharging? Elitists bleating about overheads, whilst living luxury lifestyles. Fat 1234." Do you really mean companies cause poverty? A company that creates something that people voluntarily buy. The company makes a profit which it distributes to its shareholders all the while paying its employees. So far as I can see, every party to the transaction is better off. The employees get paid, the shareholders get dividends, the customer who freely purchased his widget has a widget he wanted. No one is impoverished. Mark Wadsworth has crunched a few numbers on Centrica for example, a while ago they announced their profits to much gnashing of teeth and wailing by the socialists in the BBC. Mark says: http://markwadsworth.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-08-01T14%3A24%3A00%2B01%3A00&max-results=12 That Centrica it seems, makes £62.50 per customer per year profit. The rest is handed over to the government to waste. On things like the 'John Lewis List', not buying the best equipment for our soldiers, Making sure the MOD has the best marble in the MOD lavatories, another lash up on the Comet airframe the usual sort of big government graft. Anyway, £62.50 per customer per year seems a pretty good premium, to make sure I get gas whenever I turn the gas tap. Bazman: “What about poverty caused by companies? A tax of overcharging? Elitists bleating about overheads, whilst living luxury lifestyles. Fat 1234.”

Do you really mean companies cause poverty? A company that creates something that people voluntarily buy. The company makes a profit which it distributes to its shareholders all the while paying its employees. So far as I can see, every party to the transaction is better off. The employees get paid, the shareholders get dividends, the customer who freely purchased his widget has a widget he wanted. No one is impoverished.

Mark Wadsworth has crunched a few numbers on Centrica for example, a while ago they announced their profits to much gnashing of teeth and wailing by the socialists in the BBC. Mark says:

http://markwadsworth.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-08-01T14%3A24%3A00%2B01%3A00&max-results=12

That Centrica it seems, makes £62.50 per customer per year profit. The rest is handed over to the government to waste. On things like the ‘John Lewis List’, not buying the best equipment for our soldiers, Making sure the MOD has the best marble in the MOD lavatories, another lash up on the Comet airframe the usual sort of big government graft.

Anyway, £62.50 per customer per year seems a pretty good premium, to make sure I get gas whenever I turn the gas tap.

]]> By: John http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/08/22/fuel-poverty-and-tax-poverty-what-gord-gives-with-one-hand-he-takes-with-another/#comment-23589 John Sat, 23 Aug 2008 09:27:05 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1358#comment-23589 If the Tories get in at the next election, how long will it take for the general public to feel the change? I noticed that as utilities are putting up fuel prices Brown was handing out millions of pounds to Afghanistan. This is our money. How dare he give it to a hostile state. What are you proposing to do? If the Tories get in at the next election, how long will it take for the general public to feel the change? I noticed that as utilities are putting up fuel prices Brown was handing out millions of pounds to Afghanistan. This is our money. How dare he give it to a hostile state. What are you proposing to do?

]]> By: Bazman http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/08/22/fuel-poverty-and-tax-poverty-what-gord-gives-with-one-hand-he-takes-with-another/#comment-23586 Bazman Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:27:13 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1358#comment-23586 What about poverty caused by companies? A tax of overcharging? Elitists bleating about overheads, whilst living luxury lifestyles. Fat 1234. What about poverty caused by companies? A tax of overcharging? Elitists bleating about overheads, whilst living luxury lifestyles.
Fat 1234.

]]> By: mikestallard http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/08/22/fuel-poverty-and-tax-poverty-what-gord-gives-with-one-hand-he-takes-with-another/#comment-23579 mikestallard Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:30:51 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1358#comment-23579 I truly hope that the difference between the Conservatives and the Labour is this: Conservatives (as you say) will tackle the real problems: impossible taxation, lousy Comprehensive education based on the 11+ SATs, hopeless bureaucracy etc, storage and supply of electricity, oil and gas and some new efficient coal. And so on. Labour: helping the poor community and the vulnerable community who are in poverty of fuel, power, education and health. Anyone who has any knowledge of human nature will assure you that the people are reewarded thrive and become the majority, whereas the ones who are not rewarded, but taken for granted will maybe just survive or, more likely, decline. This means that if you reward the vulnerable, the dispossessed, the criminals, the unworthy, the work shy, the incapacitated and so on, then - bingo! - you get lots and lots more of them. If, on the other hand, you reward the people who work hard to serve the people who need it (business word there!), then you get more of them. And these people, unless you interfere, will do well and prosper without government help for the most part too. If only the Labour could understand this very simple point. Giving out £150 to OAPs like me is, frankly, an insult. It wouldn't even cover one of their "business breakfasts". I truly hope that the difference between the Conservatives and the Labour is this:
Conservatives (as you say) will tackle the real problems: impossible taxation, lousy Comprehensive education based on the 11+ SATs, hopeless bureaucracy etc, storage and supply of electricity, oil and gas and some new efficient coal. And so on.
Labour: helping the poor community and the vulnerable community who are in poverty of fuel, power, education and health.

Anyone who has any knowledge of human nature will assure you that the people are reewarded thrive and become the majority, whereas the ones who are not rewarded, but taken for granted will maybe just survive or, more likely, decline.
This means that if you reward the vulnerable, the dispossessed, the criminals, the unworthy, the work shy, the incapacitated and so on, then – bingo! – you get lots and lots more of them.
If, on the other hand, you reward the people who work hard to serve the people who need it (business word there!), then you get more of them. And these people, unless you interfere, will do well and prosper without government help for the most part too.
If only the Labour could understand this very simple point.
Giving out £150 to OAPs like me is, frankly, an insult. It wouldn’t even cover one of their “business breakfasts”.

]]> By: APL http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/08/22/fuel-poverty-and-tax-poverty-what-gord-gives-with-one-hand-he-takes-with-another/#comment-23575 APL Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:35:22 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1358#comment-23575 Ian H: "Such a shame the “Fuel Poverty” advisor did not announce the Brown administration is going to cancel the 5% VAT on Fuel,imposed by …er, the Brown Administration" If fuel poverty is such a concern for this government, why not abolish fuel duty and abolish Vat on fuel. Since the tax on as an example, a litre of petrol accounts for about 80% of the retail price. This single act by the government would do more to address fuel poverty than any waffling by the fuel poverty adviser. Ian H: “Such a shame the “Fuel Poverty” advisor did not announce the Brown administration is going to cancel the 5% VAT on Fuel,imposed by …er, the Brown Administration”

If fuel poverty is such a concern for this government, why not abolish fuel duty and abolish Vat on fuel.

Since the tax on as an example, a litre of petrol accounts for about 80% of the retail price. This single act by the government would do more to address fuel poverty than any waffling by the fuel poverty adviser.

]]> By: Stuart Fairney http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/08/22/fuel-poverty-and-tax-poverty-what-gord-gives-with-one-hand-he-takes-with-another/#comment-23574 Stuart Fairney Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:30:40 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1358#comment-23574 Interesting that the government makes arbitrary definitions of poverty (60% of mean annual income), fuel poverty (10% of disposable income), and anyone favoured received handouts. (I cannot help but wonder if electoral poverty maybe defined as a non-elected prime minister languishing at 26% in the polls?) This helps neither those who get the state benefits (in fact it further traps them in dependency), nor those who pay for them out of heavy general taxation. Interesting that the government makes arbitrary definitions of poverty (60% of mean annual income), fuel poverty (10% of disposable income), and anyone favoured received handouts. (I cannot help but wonder if electoral poverty maybe defined as a non-elected prime minister languishing at 26% in the polls?)

This helps neither those who get the state benefits (in fact it further traps them in dependency), nor those who pay for them out of heavy general taxation.

]]> By: Johnny Norfolk http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/08/22/fuel-poverty-and-tax-poverty-what-gord-gives-with-one-hand-he-takes-with-another/#comment-23573 Johnny Norfolk Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:42:27 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1358#comment-23573 Spot on again john. Why cannot Labour see things as they are. Let people keep more of their money and create an enterprise economy. ah but then they wont vote Labour. Spot on again john. Why cannot Labour see things as they are. Let people keep more of their money and create an enterprise economy. ah but then they wont vote Labour.

]]> By: Louise http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/08/22/fuel-poverty-and-tax-poverty-what-gord-gives-with-one-hand-he-takes-with-another/#comment-23571 Louise Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:31:57 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1358#comment-23571 John I would be interested in your views on the appalling waste of tax payers money regarding Government advertising. As I dislike television I do not own a set. However I do listen to the radio and get bombarded every ten minutes with warnings about tv licensing dodging, car tax evasion , tax credits, benefit fraud, health and safety on the roads. The gist is "we are watching you always" In my opinion this is a complete piece of idiocy as criminals will ignore these injunctions and the tax payer foots the bill. Would David Cameron consider stopping this bombastic expense which I suspect is designed to encourage the "Big Brother State" It reminds me of Stalin's Soviet Empire with loud speakers shouting about five year targets. Louise Reply: I agree there is too much of it and its is intrusive. I want us to cut it as one of our many changes to cut out waste and unpleasant spending. John
I would be interested in your views on the appalling waste of tax payers money regarding Government advertising. As I dislike television I do not own a set. However I do listen to the radio and get bombarded every ten minutes with warnings about tv licensing dodging, car tax evasion , tax credits, benefit fraud, health and safety on the roads.
The gist is “we are watching you always”
In my opinion this is a complete piece of idiocy as criminals will ignore these injunctions and the tax payer foots the bill.
Would David Cameron consider stopping this bombastic expense which I suspect is designed to encourage the “Big Brother State”
It reminds me of Stalin’s Soviet Empire with loud speakers shouting about five year targets.
Louise

Reply: I agree there is too much of it and its is intrusive. I want us to cut it as one of our many changes to cut out waste and unpleasant spending.

]]> By: Iain http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/08/22/fuel-poverty-and-tax-poverty-what-gord-gives-with-one-hand-he-takes-with-another/#comment-23569 Iain Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:58:08 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1358#comment-23569 Robert, I agree, the Tax Credit system is just a way of companies getting the tax payer to subsidise salaries that are too low and don't offer a living wage. Unfortunately Cameron’s Conservatives seem intend on continuing this market distorting tax policy and continuing to feather bed sweat shop employers. If Tax Credits are required it suggests one thing, wages are too low. Unfortunately the mechanism for adjusting wages in the market place has also been corrupted, for when CBI bleats that they can't get the staff, ( what they really mean is that they can't get the staff for the wages they are offering) the normal market route is to up the wages to attract the labour they require. Regretfully the CBI's bleating has had the Government respond with flooding the market with cheap immigrant labour, which is going to impose a massive social cost, as well as making Tax Credits essential and a permanent feature of tax policy. Robert, I agree, the Tax Credit system is just a way of companies getting the tax payer to subsidise salaries that are too low and don’t offer a living wage.

Unfortunately Cameron’s Conservatives seem intend on continuing this market distorting tax policy and continuing to feather bed sweat shop employers.

If Tax Credits are required it suggests one thing, wages are too low. Unfortunately the mechanism for adjusting wages in the market place has also been corrupted, for when CBI bleats that they can’t get the staff, ( what they really mean is that they can’t get the staff for the wages they are offering) the normal market route is to up the wages to attract the labour they require. Regretfully the CBI’s bleating has had the Government respond with flooding the market with cheap immigrant labour, which is going to impose a massive social cost, as well as making Tax Credits essential and a permanent feature of tax policy.

]]> By: jeff todd http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/08/22/fuel-poverty-and-tax-poverty-what-gord-gives-with-one-hand-he-takes-with-another/#comment-23565 jeff todd Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:43:50 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1358#comment-23565 I think the biggest loser through Fuel Poverty will be the Government (read Labour And Tory). Both administrations have slavishly jacked up fuel taxes on environmental grounds for decades. However the whole economy now relies on taxation from a product (oil), whose use the same taxes are supposed to curtail?!?! Bizarre. Where will Government (Lab & Tory) find the missing billions (once a viable alternative appears - eg hydrogen)? Are there any MPs honest enough to point out to the non-driving section of the population that the motorist funded subsidy (currently about 50 billion) will end quite dramtically? And at that point they will have to stick their hand further into their pocket and actually start to pay a fair share of running the country. Just because motorists have been soaked for years does mean they automatically accept "new" taxes to make up the inevitable treasury shortfall. Or are Government well aware, hence the real reason for, and the current fixation with, Road Pricing? I think the biggest loser through Fuel Poverty will be the Government (read Labour And Tory). Both administrations have slavishly jacked up fuel taxes on environmental grounds for decades.

However the whole economy now relies on taxation from a product (oil), whose use the same taxes are supposed to curtail?!?! Bizarre.

Where will Government (Lab & Tory) find the missing billions (once a viable alternative appears – eg hydrogen)?

Are there any MPs honest enough to point out to the non-driving section of the population that the motorist funded subsidy (currently about 50 billion) will end quite dramtically? And at that point they will have to stick their hand further into their pocket and actually start to pay a fair share of running the country.

Just because motorists have been soaked for years does mean they automatically accept “new” taxes to make up the inevitable treasury shortfall.

Or are Government well aware, hence the real reason for, and the current fixation with, Road Pricing?

]]> By: Neil Craig http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/08/22/fuel-poverty-and-tax-poverty-what-gord-gives-with-one-hand-he-takes-with-another/#comment-23563 Neil Craig Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:09:21 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1358#comment-23563 Fuel poverty would be virtually gone if we were getting nuclear electricity at half the present price as we could have had if the politicians had not prevented development of the nuclear industry. The Renewables requirement adds 12% to elcetricity prices. Nothing we can do to change that instantly but we could build new nukes in 4 years if the government regulators didn't first demand spending 5 doing the paperwork. If we don't do that (& by now perhaps even if we do) we are not only going to see prices keep climbing, we are going to see blackouts. It is dishonest of politicians to pretend that by passing a regulation or windfall tax they can cut costs. It is more dishonest to blame the producers. Fuel poverty would be virtually gone if we were getting nuclear electricity at half the present price as we could have had if the politicians had not prevented development of the nuclear industry. The Renewables requirement adds 12% to elcetricity prices.

Nothing we can do to change that instantly but we could build new nukes in 4 years if the government regulators didn’t first demand spending 5 doing the paperwork. If we don’t do that (& by now perhaps even if we do) we are not only going to see prices keep climbing, we are going to see blackouts.

It is dishonest of politicians to pretend that by passing a regulation or windfall tax they can cut costs. It is more dishonest to blame the producers.

]]> By: wrinkled weasel http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/08/22/fuel-poverty-and-tax-poverty-what-gord-gives-with-one-hand-he-takes-with-another/#comment-23561 wrinkled weasel Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:07:14 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1358#comment-23561 At the bottom of this is the fact that us wide-eyed hopefuls who swept New Labour to power in 1997 are now feeling a bit fed up with having to buy cheaper wine, possibly even from a Supermarket, and not replace the Range Rover this year. This sort of situation hurts. Verbs might be right out this Winter as well. Which is not nice. Perhaps, a bit too satirical, because in actual fact, the fuel poverty/tax poverty situation is hitting average wage earners - the people who prop this country up, people with used Mondeos and back-garden hobbies and trainers to buy for their growing kids. They are now overtaking those who inexplicably vote Labour regardless of what whacky "policies" they implement. What I do not understand is how come we are taking this fiscal fisting and not taking to the streets to demand an immediate General Election? At the bottom of this is the fact that us wide-eyed hopefuls who swept New Labour to power in 1997 are now feeling a bit fed up with having to buy cheaper wine, possibly even from a Supermarket, and not replace the Range Rover this year. This sort of situation hurts. Verbs might be right out this Winter as well. Which is not nice.

Perhaps, a bit too satirical, because in actual fact, the fuel poverty/tax poverty situation is hitting average wage earners – the people who prop this country up, people with used Mondeos and back-garden hobbies and trainers to buy for their growing kids. They are now overtaking those who inexplicably vote Labour regardless of what whacky “policies” they implement.

What I do not understand is how come we are taking this fiscal fisting and not taking to the streets to demand an immediate General Election?

]]> By: Louise http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/08/22/fuel-poverty-and-tax-poverty-what-gord-gives-with-one-hand-he-takes-with-another/#comment-23557 Louise Fri, 22 Aug 2008 09:01:42 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1358#comment-23557 Surely New Labour have a vested interest in such devices as tax credits. They brainwash poor people into feeling that the Government helps them by allowing them to claw back some money rather then letting tax payers retain control over their own finances. This breeds irresponsibility and doesn't encourage ambition or independence. Re education Labour disliked the 11 plus because it offered an escape route from poverty and I suspect that they felt that people who progressed would not vote Labour. I spent a year at a Grammar school before the dreaded comprehensive system arrived and effectively my formal education finished then. These days many British people behave like sheep blindly obeying political correctness and ignoring common sense. Witness the stupidity of the Bins fiasco. How long before an epidemic breaks out due to uncollected rubbish and NICE refuses to fund treatment on the grounds that the rubbish shouldn't have been put out to begin with. Surely New Labour have a vested interest in such devices as tax credits. They brainwash poor people into feeling that the Government helps them by allowing them to claw back some money rather then letting tax payers retain control over their own finances. This breeds irresponsibility and doesn’t encourage ambition or independence.
Re education Labour disliked the 11 plus because it offered an escape route from poverty and I suspect that they felt that people who progressed would not vote Labour.
I spent a year at a Grammar school before the dreaded comprehensive system arrived and effectively my formal education finished then.
These days many British people behave like sheep blindly obeying political correctness and ignoring common sense. Witness the stupidity of the Bins fiasco. How long before an epidemic breaks out due to uncollected rubbish and NICE refuses to fund treatment on the grounds that the rubbish shouldn’t have been put out to begin with.

]]> By: no one http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/08/22/fuel-poverty-and-tax-poverty-what-gord-gives-with-one-hand-he-takes-with-another/#comment-23556 no one Fri, 22 Aug 2008 09:01:36 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1358#comment-23556 oh and i meant to say the large public housing wastelands where everyone is on state benefits and they suffer terrible schools and health care are NOT as it is generally thought a lost cause to the conservative vote most of the folk in these estates above ALL else want a decent education for their kids, and they can see its not happening if the conservatives genuinely addressed this one issue the labour party would take a massive hammering of course it needs more than words and politically correct nonsense, it needs radical multi dimensional action to massively ramp up the education available to the kids in these areas oh and i meant to say the large public housing wastelands where everyone is on state benefits and they suffer terrible schools and health care are NOT as it is generally thought a lost cause to the conservative vote

most of the folk in these estates above ALL else want a decent education for their kids, and they can see its not happening

if the conservatives genuinely addressed this one issue the labour party would take a massive hammering

of course it needs more than words and politically correct nonsense, it needs radical multi dimensional action to massively ramp up the education available to the kids in these areas

]]> By: Robert http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/08/22/fuel-poverty-and-tax-poverty-what-gord-gives-with-one-hand-he-takes-with-another/#comment-23553 Robert Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:18:00 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1358#comment-23553 Is there perhaps a link between poverty and the minimum wage? Why should emloyers be subsidised by the tax payer as wages are kept low and those inpoorly paid employment have to apply for means tested tax credits? Is there perhaps a link between poverty and the minimum wage? Why should emloyers be subsidised by the tax payer as wages are kept low and those inpoorly paid employment have to apply for means tested tax credits?

]]> By: anon http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/08/22/fuel-poverty-and-tax-poverty-what-gord-gives-with-one-hand-he-takes-with-another/#comment-23552 anon Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:14:48 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1358#comment-23552 Dear John When you have the time could you comment on the following, please? "<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/aug/18/terrorism.civilliberties" rel="nofollow"> Britain's terror laws have left me and my family shattered I am innocent yet was detained without charge in solitary confinement for days on end. It was a devastating experience </a>" Reply: I cannot comment on the individual case as I am not fully acquainted with it, but have made general comments that the anti terrorism laws go too far and are being used in some cases for other purposes. Dear John

When you have the time could you comment on the following, please?

“
Britain’s terror laws have left me and my family shattered
I am innocent yet was detained without charge in solitary confinement for days on end. It was a devastating experience
”

Reply: I cannot comment on the individual case as I am not fully acquainted with it, but have made general comments that the anti terrorism laws go too far and are being used in some cases for other purposes.

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