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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think 51% tax is ridiculous, and already to be planning to move to Asia

805 replies

hedgiemum · 22/04/2009 14:33

Namechanged. Married to someone who earns well in excess of £150,000 a year, though neither does he earn 7 figures.
He is still quite young in his career - a recent promotion to a senior position, but has not been earning this kind of money of long, so we still have a mortgage and haven't saved large amounts (what we have saved is through his pension which is no longer going to be particularly worth doing.)

He phoned me a minute after end of budget to say he'd watched it with his boss whose reaction was that he would move the company (not a bank, but in finance) to Asia. Probably Hong Kong - 12% tax rather than the 51% we'd be paying here.

Seems like a kneejerk reaction, and clearly we can afford to pay more, but boss doesn't feel he'll get good productivity from staff if they are getting to take home less than half their income. Plus it decreases ever-present risk of them being headhunted by companies in lower-tax economies.

AIBU to be PLEASED (I used to hate tax exiles.) Partly because it just does not seem fair. Partly because this country has been run so badly by New Labour of whom we had such high expectations, and the medical care we have received has been shite, the local schools are shite, the roads are insanely busy and yet is costs so much to live here.

OP posts:
Kathyis6incheshigh · 22/04/2009 19:31

LOL - AIBU to find it not at all surprising that someone could live in England for the last 10 years and not notice the Labour party are socialists?

spokette · 22/04/2009 19:31

Huntress You would never see this in the USA?

Remind me again,
how many of your citizens do not have healthcare insurance?

How many of your children attend schools that are patrolled by armed security?

How many families are homeless due to losing their homes and jobs?

I bet you would not complain about our tax-funded NHS if you had to have treatment for a chronic illnesses

pointydog · 22/04/2009 19:31

do they know of reginald perrin in the US?

theyoungvisiter · 22/04/2009 19:32

And yes, how wonderful to be American and disadvantaged in some way

All this "I'm alright me" is fine if you are able-bodied, intelligent and living in an area where work is available, but not so great if, god forbid, you become one of the disadvantaged.

Considering much of the current economic crisis is down to how American institutions (banks) treated those who were unable to understand the system, pushing unaffordable loans on people unable to understand how the repayment system worked, I think it's pretty rich to come and complain about the way that the UK is trying to sort out the problems caused by the economic crisis.

Sorrento · 22/04/2009 19:33

Too be fair it's probably the whole screwing the country for their 2nd homes type scenario's that made her think the government weren't socialist ?

pointydog · 22/04/2009 19:33

agree, nancy - I lolled at this one "I worked damn hard to get where I am"

ho ho

policywonk · 22/04/2009 19:34

I have found this thread, and the majority of the responses, highly enjoyable I sometimes despair at the rather right-wing (to my taste) nature of MN but this thread is an exhilarating exception.

huntress - there's a long and honourable tradition of socialism in this country. It's why you can turn up in a hospital emergency department here and be treated without being presented with a bill. We like it this way.

spokette · 22/04/2009 19:35

Huntress

The difference betweeen a third world country and the USA is that the people are use to having nothing but what little they do have, they share. In the USA, it is everyman for themselves.

For a nation that considers itself christian, its christian values (love, charity, temperance, service etc, are seriously wanting) when it comes to the poor.

noddyholder · 22/04/2009 19:36

I am keeping so tight lipped about the US here its not funny dp is literally restraining me from posting what i want to say.Although a couple of you are pretty close.

goodnightmoon · 22/04/2009 19:36

standanddeliver - i meant more like Peckham Rye or Lewisham. I have been looking for quite a while, and fortunately the tide has turned. But currently you could not get a house in Clapham for £450k. Possibly in Tooting or Balham.

I live in south London, so please stop your jeers. oh, and we rent, despite our six-figure income, because it is still much better value.

thehuntress - i am with you. though i think it is perfectly constitutional to apply a higher tax rate. I think what you are referring to is a tax aimed at a specific group, such as was attempted on the AIG bonus earners.

theDreadPirateRoberts · 22/04/2009 19:37

PW - - but I don't get the impression that thinking things through is one of thehuntress's core skills...

TheCrackFox · 22/04/2009 19:38

I would rather pay a lot more tax than my fellow citizens living in a tent.

tent city in LA

spicemonster · 22/04/2009 19:39

I repeat for those that are hard of hearing - for the record, the only countries in the EU that have a higher rate tax band which is under 40% are former Eastern bloc countries. OP - how do you fancy Latvia? I hear it's lovely at this time of year.

And huntress, the higher rate income tax in the US is 49.5% so it's not like this is going to be a big hike for you poor non-doms is it?

Honestly, anyone we were in Zimbabwe, the amount of bleating that goes on

theyoungvisiter · 22/04/2009 19:40

ALSO huntress

(sorry, have had a glass of wine already and it's gone to my cheeks)

"In America, it is unconstitutional to impose a tax which is a penalty"

What was all that business about Bush whacking a 200% tax on roquefort if not to piss off penalise the French?

policywonk · 22/04/2009 19:43

Dread

Lord, that tent city is really shocking isn't it? In the richest country on earth. Shameful.

ABetaDad · 22/04/2009 19:46

noddyholder - go on I want you to. I really really really do. Don't let your DP hold you back. My DW ignores me all the time.

goodnightmoon · 22/04/2009 19:47

theyoungvisitor - who are you, Gordon Brown, trying to blame the yanks for this country's problems? we manufactured our own debt crisis, they just pulled the trigger.

and spokette - i assume you contribute either money or time to charity/volunteering, as the majority of Americans do??

FrannyandZooey · 22/04/2009 19:49

haven't time to read all thread
i presume vast majority of posts are saying "bye then"?
i do hope so

sarah293 · 22/04/2009 19:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

wb · 22/04/2009 19:58

Haven't read most of the thread.

Hedgie, it must be hell.

policywonk · 22/04/2009 20:00

Franny - yes, it's largely door/hit/arse/way out

noddyholder · 22/04/2009 20:01

abetadad I really can't would get booted off Mn and am v ill atm and am at home 24/7 and am using it loads!

Nancy66 · 22/04/2009 20:05

noddy - go on don't be a coward. you can be firm and get your point across without being abusive I'm sure.

To defend the OP she has been very good humoured about it, does say she knows she is privileged and doesn't come across as some ranting young Tory - well not to me anyhow.

francagoestohollywood · 22/04/2009 20:06

Policy, do you really find mn that right wing? I often come on here to enjoy a bit of leftiness...

daftpunk · 22/04/2009 20:06

only read op..yabu, but i can understand..£150,000 isn't a fortune if you live in london....i wouldn't buy your ticket yet though...maybe the conservatives will win the next election and the country will go back to making the rich even richer.