Ever wondered how our hard-earned taxes our spent?

Ever wondered how our hard-earned Taxes our spent by Mr G. Brown?. Click HERE.

P.S. Petrol Taxes went up today.

Cutting Taxes

The Conservative announcement to reverse Gordon Brown's increase in National Insurance contributions is great news for millions of employees and employers up and down the country.

The NIC rise was both unjust and unnecessary. For a once Socialist party to hit lower earners in this way was quite astonishing.

I am glad that the Conservatives have shown which side they are on: lower taxes for lower earners, cutting waste and debt and creating the conditions for Britain to become an enterprise economy once again.

After the Budget dust settles, we learn that Labour's cuts will be more savage than the Thatcher years (in their own words)

After months and months of attacking the Conservatives for planning huge cuts - and promoting fear amongst the electorate -Chancellor Alistair Darling, said today on the BBC, that a Labour Government would make more savage cuts that occurred under Prime Minister Thatcher during the 1980s.

As always, this was a Budget full of smoke and mirrors. Hidden tax hikes, hidden cuts and re-announced measures. It was a Budget, which attempted to get the Government out of a deep hole of its own making and it failed.

Unfortunately, it will hit hard working families in Harlow hard:

• 3p more tax on each litre of petrol;
• 15p more tax on each pack of cigarettes;
• 2p more on each pint of beer, and 10p more on each bottle of wine;
• Higher National Insurance for Harlow's 40,000 workers - an extra tax on jobs, for anyone who earns over £20,000;
• A stealth hike in Income Tax, because the tax bands were frozen instead of rising in line with inflation. At the 20 per cent basic rate, this means that a Harlow taxpayer will lose an extra £48 in income tax this year, while a two-earner couple will be clobbered for an extra £96;

If this were not bad enough, The Budget red book shows that the national debt will soon be £1.4 TRILLION, or £23,114 per head. We will paying back Gordon Brown's debts for generations to come.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Time for the dog to eat Mr Brown's canine tax bill

Ever wondered what five years more of Labour would be like? Well we now hear that Gordon Brown is proposing a new tax on dog owners. Well, as the saying goes, I hope the dog eats the tax bill.....

For more details see below:

The proposed tax would apply to all dogs – including poodles and chihuahuas. The Government has announced a consultation which includes proposals to compel all dog owners to pay for compulsory third party insurance to be allowed to own their own dog. Families would face “penalties” - fines or criminal sanctions - for breaching this requirement.Whilst, it is possible for dogs to be exempted from the ban, owners must have their dogs neutered, muzzled and obtain third party insurance.

What is even more bizarre is that In practice, this ‘dog tax’ would not affect the owners of the most dangerous dogs as The Dangerous Dogs Act already bans the ownership and sale of fighting dogs like pit bull terriers. Owners of dangerous dogs which are already illegal are unlikely to take out such insurance as they will just continue to defy the law.

There are an estimated 5.4 million households with dogs across England and Wales, including up to 8,829 homes across Harlow and some 13,381 in neighbouring Epping Forest who would be required to pay a compulsory dog tax. Although some homes may already have pet insurance, the poorest homes will be hit the hardest by the new levy.

The Government has admitted this dog tax may result in more stray dogs and greater pressures on dog rescue centres. As always, Gordon Brown sees tax as the solution to every problem. His plans for a dog tax will penalise almost 9,000 households of law-abiding dog lovers across Harlow and do nothing to target irresponsible dog owners. I fear this will hit the poorest homes the hardest.

We need tougher laws against the growing problem of dangerous dogs being used in acts of violence. But it is a sledgehammer to crack a tin of Pedigree Chum to impose a dog tax on a poodle.

Lets hope the dog eats the tax bill!

P.S. Talking of poodles reminds me that not so long ago, canvassing around Taylifers in Sumners, I met a magnificent large white poodle on the doorstep. I am pleased to say that the owner was a convert from Labour to the Conservatives, although I can't say which way the poodle voted, other than giving me a kind smile, despite having disturbed his peaceful Saturday morning.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

More debt, more taxes: Everybody suffers under Labour

Today's Pre-Budget Report marked the end of the Labour Party's claim to be the party of aspiration. Every child born will be saddled with a debt of £23,000. Every employee earning over £20,000 will face an increase of 1 pence on their National Insurance Tax. Every home owner will continue to have to pay huge stamp duty - an added burden of HIPs if they sell their house. Every motorist will face ever rising petrol taxes.

The result is that every family across the country will face an increase in taxes of around £370 a year.

A bankrupt Government, bereft of ideas, is on the verge of bankrupting the country. It is time for change.


Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Alan Sugar - your fired

Despite enjoying The Apprentice, I have never understood why Gordon Brown appointed Alan Sugar to spearhead the Government's task force for business. Only last week, Mr Sugar thought it apt to lay in to struggling small businesses stating:

"I can honestly say a lot of problems you hear from people who are moaning are from companies I wouldn't lend a penny to. They are bust. The moaners are bust. They are bust and they don't need the bank - they need an insolvency practitioner." (Daily Mail, 4 November 2009)

The arrogance of this comment is breathtaking, particularly, when many small businesses are struggling to keep to keep afloat - because of Gordon Brown's mishandling of the economy.

I am sometimes asked, so what would Conservatives do differently to help small businesses in this difficult climate. I thought it might be useful to set out Tory policies below (incidentally, the Conservative Spokesman for small businesses is Mark Prisk (neighbouring MP for Hertford and Stortford):

Conservative action for small business

Simpler, fairer taxes

We will reverse Labour's planned increase in small company corporation tax, from 22p in the coming year back to 20p.

We will simplify the tax system, to reduce complexity for small businesses.

Securing finance

We believe Labour's loan guarantee schemes are too complex, narrow and bureaucratic. We believe that, during the recession, there should be a single national loan guarantee scheme, to guarantee billions of pounds of loans for all business sectors and for viable firms whatever their size.

Cutting the burden of regulation

We will create a one in-one out requirement where any new regulation must include cuts in old laws which, together, produce a net 5% reduction in the total regulatory burden.

We will apply a 'sunset clause' to all regulators. During the first term of a Conservative Government all regulators will be re-assessed and their duties, size and functions reviewed. Our aim is fewer, smaller and cheaper regulators.

Many small businesses complain of unfair treatment in employment and discrimination tribunals. We will consult carefully on reforming these tribunals so that the system is fair to all sides.

The powers of government inspectors will be curbed, by letting businesses arrange their own, externally audited inspections and, providing they pass, to refuse entry to official inspectors thereafter.

Helping people start and grow new businesses

We will introduce a Work for Yourself programme to help people become self employed. Working with proven specialist organisations like the Prince's Trust and the Bright Ideas Trust we will enable the building of a network of business mentors and appropriate business support and loans to help the next generation of entrepreneurs.

These policies at least give some impetus to business and are far removed from Alan Sugar's approach of harsh criticism. There is a big difference between a reality TV programme and the real business world.

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Dreading petrol price rises

Every time I fill my car up with petrol, I have a renewed sense of dread - as prices seem to be going ever upwards - substantially by the day. My car is diesel (a Kia), and only last week, when I was in Darlington, it was £1.01 a litre. Today, passing a BP garage in Central London, diesel was £1.09/litre. Admittedly, BP is usually the most expensive petrol company, but nevertheless, the huge price, represented a sign of things to come.

If the price increases were not bad enough, Gordon Brown seems determined to go ahead with petrol tax increase of 2.3 pence from 1 September. The Labour Government continues to penalise the motorist time and time again. This latest increase, could not come at a worse period, particularly as so many people are struggling to pay the bills - because of the state of the economy. What is astonishing is that fuel prices indicate that we in England, pay 20% more on petrol than most of our European neighbours because we have higher taxes to pay.

The question is, are we going to see fuel prices, reach the horiffic prices of last year? And if so, what on earth will be the effect on our faltering economy? It doesn't bear thinking about.

P.S. I tend to find that the cheapest garage for me in Harlow seems to be the Shell Station on the A414, just off the M11 - the only catch is that sometimes the pumps are 'empty', and only the more expensive 'premium' fuel is available.

By Rob Halfon ~ Working hard for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon & Sheering. http//roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Time for a political revolution

If there is one lesson we need to learn from recent weeks - seeing events unfold in Parliament - is that there needs to be increased openness and accountability in spending of taxpayers’ cash. Politics is changing and voters have a right to know what their taxpayer's money is being spent on.

That is why I am backing new plans to increase openness across local government, Whitehall and Parliament - to help rebuild the public’s trust and confidence in politics, and to ensure proper accountability for the way their money is spent.

Under a national Conservative blueprint for local government, councils - including Harlow District Council and Epping Forest District Council - will be required to publish online details of all expenditure over a set limit, detailing all payments for goods and services.

This has already been done by Boris Johnson in London’s City Hall (publishing information on items over £1,000) and by Conservative-run Windsor and Maidenhead (publishing figures over £500). This would bring one of the biggest shake-ups to town hall accountability since Margaret Thatcher championed a Private Member’s Bill in 1960 which forced councils to open their meetings to the press and public.This greater transparency and accountability would help reduce wasteful expenditure, saving taxpayers’ money.

Both local residents and local newspapers could scrutinise this new information, creating a new citizen-led financial discipline on local government. At the same time, there should be greater openness in central government.

Under new Conservative plans for a ‘People’s Right to Know’, every single item of central government spending over £25,000 and all public sector salaries over £150,000 would be published online. Furthermore, as part of a package of measures to clean up MPs’ expenses, all claims made to the Parliamentary Fees Office would be published immediately online as they are made.

Almost 50 years ago, Conservatives made councils hold their meetings in public. This transformed local government for the better. In the 21st century, we should go further and use the power of the internet to shine the light on public spending and help improve value for money. Greater openness, in both local and central government, is vital to help restore the public’s trust and confidence in our political system.

At a time when the public finances are so tight, every penny counts. Openness will impose a citizen-led financial discipline to Harlow and Epping Forest district councils, Whitehall departments and Parliament.

The public should have a right to know how exactly their money is being spent. We need a political revolution.

By Rob Halfon ~ Working hard for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon & Sheering. http//roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Budget Nightmare continued

I said I would provide you more details about the Government Budget nightmare. Well, the Conservative Treasury Team have put out the below statement, and it makes grim reading.

"Yesterday, we had a dishonest Budget. The Chancellor described the worst recession, the fastest rising unemployment, and the worst public finances that this country has had since the Second World War. But he could not describe a credible solution. In fact, he based all his forecasts on optimistic growth forecasts that the IMF discredited just over an hour later.

Even on his figures, thanks to Labour's economic incompetence, our national debt is going to double again to £1.4 trillion, and every child born will come into this world with a debt of £22,500.

Whatever the spin about taxing the rich, Labour's tax rises are for the many and not just the few. They are planning to raise taxes on fuel and on average earners. And the result will be a £1,000 tax rise on every family over the next two years.

Public spending

Not for the first time, it will take a Conservative government to get us out of Labour's mess. We understand that we need spending restraint to tackle Labour's debt crisis and avoid crippling tax rises in the recovery. Spending restraint that needs to start now, rather than in two years' time.

50p top rate of tax

We do not believe this new tax rate is the right thing to do. We don't support it, but we're not going to get dragged into playing Labour's games. There are a number of new tax rises we don't agree with, but this one will have to take its place in the queue. The Conservative priority is that of all of Gordon Brown's tax rises, the most important one to avoid is the National Insurance increase for millions of people earning £19,000 or more.

Fuel duty increase

Family budgets are being squeezed yet further as a result of the measures set out in the Budget. We are consulting on plans for a fair fuel stabiliser to replace the current fuel tax regime, so that tax falls when the price rises, and rises when prices fall. This would protect the public finances from fluctuations in the international oil price, and help families cope with rapid changes in the cost of living. "

In summary, this means: taxes up, debts up and unemployment up. No wonder, a number of people in Broadwalk yesterday told me how furious they were with Gordon Brown. They know a con when they see one.

P.S: The latest opinion polls, post-Budget, show Labour support slipping to 27% and the Conservatives up to 45%. It seems like the Government have been rumbled.

P.P.S: The highly respected independent Institute of Fiscal Studies has put out a statement saying:

"The government must close a £90bn hole to bring the budget into balance . That would cost every UK family £2,840 per year by 2017-18 in higher taxes or public spending cuts."

Taxes, Taxes, Taxes. Enough is Enough

Visiting, the gents (alone), after an excellent lunch with David Jackman of Everything Epping Forest fame, in the Crusader Pub in Roydon yesterday, my eyes alighted on an excellent poster on the wall. As you can see, the poster highlights the unfairness of beer tax, which now accounts for a third of every pint. What is interesting, is that this picture, would not have appeared a few years ago, as most people thought that paying a bit of extra tax, was worth it, if public services were going to improve.

Now the opposite is happening. People ask again and again "we have paid all the taxes, so where has the money gone?".

As they see public services, - for the most part getting worse - and taxes higher, no wonder so many people are upset. It explains why The Taxpayers Alliance (which campaigns for taxpayer value), has more than 20,000 members. The anger about high taxes has increased, as the economy has gone down the plug-hole, unemployment has reached over two million with the Government drowning us in debt. And its not just taxes on beer. Tax on Bingo, Tax on fuel, tax on tobacco, tax on motorists, tax on business, tax on savings, tax on pensions, tax for selling houses, tax for buying houses, stealth taxes and much more tax besides. Our tax burden just rises and rises, at a time when we all have less income because of the credit crunch.

As the picture shows, the climate has changed, and everyone is fed up with waste and bad government. They want lower taxes. Expect a lot more pictures like this to pop up - in the most unlikely of places - over the coming months.

P.S. I Just found out that the Crusader Pub, earnt its name as Knights Templar from the Crusades, were given the Manor of Roydon.

Rob Halfon ~ Working hard for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon & Sheering. http//roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Help for Small Businesses

I visit small firms in Harlow often and thought you might like to see below some Conservative plans to help small business during the Recession

PROSPECTIVE MP WELCOMES MOVE TO HELP SMALL FIRMS DURING THE RECESSION

Prospective Harlow Conservative Parliamentary Candidate Robert Halfon has welcomed Conservative plans to cut taxes and paperwork for small shops and small firms.

In a new initiative, small business rate relief would be given automatically to firms across England, rather than making businesses claim it and complete time-consuming forms.

Small business rate relief was introduced in 2005, allowing small firms to claim up to 50 per cent off their business rate bills.

However, firms have to fill out paperwork to claim the rate relief, despite the fact Whitehall’s tax inspectors know precisely which firms are eligible.
After rent and staff, business rates are typically the next biggest cost to local firms. Business experts have warned that 32,300 businesses will fail in 2009.

Firms face a hammering this April from the Government thanks to soaring business rates.

Mr Halfon said: "Small shops and businesses across the Harlow area are facing tough times in Labour’s recession. These firms, from our corner shops to local pubs, are the lifeblood of our local community. A responsible government would do more to help them. Yet Gordon Brown is making it difficult for small firms to claim the tax relief to which they are entitled. He is adding to their misery by finding new ways to drive up business rates by stealth.

"Conservatives would ensure that small firms automatically receive rate relief, cutting their paperwork and tax bills, giving many of them a fighting chance to stay afloat."

The amount of Small Business Rate Relief granted in Harlow has risen by almost £45,000 in the last three financial years, to £178,638 in 2007-08.

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Praise for “community focused" council over council tax rise

A proposed 2.5 per cent increase in Epping Forest District Council's share of council tax bills for the next financial year should be welcomed.
The Conservative-led authority is set to approve a 2.5 per cent rise - one of the lowest district council increases in Essex.
During these times of economic hardship I know that local council tax payers will be relieved that Epping Forest District Council is able to control its budgets and spending levels so that council tax payers can stomach a relatively small increase in their council tax bills for the next financial year.
It would have been easy for the authority to have increased its fees and charges, and added a few more pounds to council tax bills to make life easier for the budget-setters, but this has not been the case.
We have already seen the district council freeze pay-and-display parking charges, and it is welcoming to see it continuing to be community-focused and putting its residents at the forefront of its decision-making when it comes to next year's council tax.
“It remains true that Conservative councils cost you less.