A 1p / 2p raise to income tax should lawfully trigger a general election

[TesChique]

There are vague promises in manifestos, and there are those which are explicit and should be binding except in exceptional circumstances (war etc)

If labour, or any party reneges on a core manifesto promise it should lawfully trigger a general election

They have lied to the public.

AIBU to think we need to see this change in law?

Don't be so daft. Damn near every govt does this .
See: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2021/sep/07/boris-johnson-national-insurance-ni-tax-rise-covid-coronavirus-nhs-live-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-613745208f0834f88f1ee66d

Don't be ridiculous. Every single party in power has to make decisions which might go against what they initially said. That's life. Things change. The world changes. You'd seriously cause chaos and let Reform in over 1p?

I can't get too annoyed about a couple of hundred a year in tax when there are people struggling with disabilities who literally cannot afford to eat and keep their home warm. I'd much rather any tax rises or welfare cuts hit working people than the sick and disabled.

Anyone who was expecting to get away without paying more tax of some description has obviously not been paying attention.

Don’t be daft.

the tories lied for 14 years about the state of the country’s finances.

Theresa May: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/21/seven-manifesto-pledges-theresa-may-had-axe-queens-speech-election/

It’s possibly the most sensible thing I’ve heard them talk about doing. Although I’d like to see thresholds change too to offer some protection to those earning the least.

I agree with you. You vote for people based on promises so if they duck up everything, oust them. Labour have been worse than truss, boris and Blair in one. Why should I pay more tax when they aren’t cutting costs.

When the Opposition party writes its manifesto it doesn’t have all the information the governing Party has about the state of finances. Maybe that’s an argument for making only the vaguest pledges in manifestos. In fact it probably is but then the manifestos become even more useless as a guide to what you will get.

We can have an election and change parties but whoever wins will have to raise taxation so it won’t change our reality.

Also it's ever been thus. The previous conservative government had an explicit manifesto pledge, written while in government so in possession of all info, not to raise national insurance. They did by 1.25% with their Health and Social Care charge.

I think it’s bad optics given they said they wouldn’t do it.

But - they’re raising our taxes all the time.

Freezing the tax thresholds.

The additional rate was lowered by £25k not long ago.

Etc

If this were true we would be forever having general elections.

Business are bankrupt. People are squeezed. It can’t go on. We are a laughing stock of the world.

More: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/mar/09/how-the-conservatives-pledged-no-rise-in-national-insurance-then-raised-it

Yes they shouldn't have said they wouldn't do it but I don't mind richer people paying more in tax if it means some of the problems are resolved, like the NHS and a more ethical migration policy

I will be pissed off if they just target those of us on PAYE.
But all parties lie.

Yes they shouldn't have said they wouldn't do it but I don't mind richer people paying more in tax if it means some of the problems are resolved, like the NHS and a more ethical migration polic

Rich people don't tend to be on PAYE...

Events. Don't be so bloody stupid.

I’m intrigued as to why you think any rate won’t affect basic rate taxpayers?

OP is being unreasonable but the tax base in this country is already too narrow. Any rate rises are likely to be across the board

For those saying that when in opposition and making promises they didn't know the full extent of the finances, remember that at the last budget we were also told they were making hard choices at the start so they wouldn't have to do it again at the next.

That's two lies on the topic. You may forgive the first, but the second is more of a stretch for me.

Income tax thresholds are the same whether you’re on PAYE or self employed. It’s NI that’s different

But not because of this. We're a laughing stock because we're so divided, because we've thought the UK is so elite for generations (we never were - we're a little island trying to be oh so powerful - a jack russell trying to be an Alsatian). We're a laughing stock because we're poorly educated, think everyone in the world should speak English, we're known for binge drinking,sunburnt tourism, shit food and binge drinking. We're a laughing stock because of racist riots and fights over flags. We're not a laughing stock over 1p.

Poorer people don't pay income tax and billionaires need to pay a LOT more tax

@LittleBearPad I'm taking about people who earn their money via CG...

Only people under £12,570 don’t pay income tax. The vast majority earn over that and I doubt they’d all consider themselves rich.

Ah. Fair point.

Anyone with income over c.12500 pays income tax so even on min wage you’re paying income tax. Fact is if everyone wants better services, everyone needs to pay more tax. You trade less disposable income for a better safety net. If Labour do raise income taxes I would expect it to be on the basic rate ( possibly in addition to an increase in higher rate) but not an increase to higher rate only.