Not sure where you’re getting this idea we have the highest tax rates.
While UK taxes are higher than in most other English-speaking developed economies (such as Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the United States), they are considerably lower than in most other western European countries (average tax revenue amongst the EU14.
As for school fees. The cost of educating a child in a state school is about £7k while the tax subsidy that a private school child gets is about £8k.
I realise that the idea of a state school in a failing area is horrifying to some but regardless of that, why should the poor subsidise the rich to receive a better education.
With regards to the majority of adults claiming benefits, it’s true but 12 million of them are pensioners. In work poverty is a real thing and tax credits are a way for the government to subsidise employers paying poor wages. A better way would be a rise in minimum wages.
The tories have pursued trickle down economics for the last 13 years and we have paid for it with austerity and it’s nonsense. The idea that tax cuts for the wealthy would lead to an increase in investment is nonsense. Unless they are compelled to invest they’ll simply squirrel the tax away.
The only credible way out of recession is a Roosevelt style new deal. You borrow to fund infrastructure investment. Schools, roads bridges, internet etc. Austerity cuts suppress the flow of money in the economy and cause uncertainty amongst the working population who rein in their spending leading to less money in the economy.
There is a fairly good argument that if you want to inject cash into the economy you stick it in at the bottom end anc hope it trickles up. If you give a poor family an extra £50 then they’ll go straight round to Tesco and spend it.