Last week’s first Labour budget for 14 years has prompted much comment, but here, UNISON’s policy team analyses what it means for members and public services
Tax
Let’s look behind the headlines, avoid the spin, and separate the fact from the fiction of this week’s budget
Disturbing that government took a week to see sense
Teetering public services deserve much better
Tax cuts for the rich have deprived the UK public of almost £14 billion
Responding to the Public Accounts Committee report on PFI published today (Wednesday), UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “The report confirms what UNISON has said all along – PFI simply isn’t working for the taxpayer. “It’s a damning indictment that after more than 25 years the Treasury still has no data on the benefits of PFI. “The […]
Governments should not be afraid to make the case for higher taxes to pay for the investment in pay, services and infrastructure our country needs. A higher rate of income tax for those who can most afford it would be a sensible and rational start.
Cutting the income tax for people earning more than £1m per year has deprived the Exchequer of more than £8.6bn over the past five years, according to new analysis by UNISON published today (Sunday). The April 2013 decision to cut the top rate of income tax from 50p to 45p has also saved the richest […]
Tax avoidance on this scale is simply the poorest paying the price for the grubby venality of the rich. Governments around the world now need to develop concrete and workable solutions to root out tax avoidance and crack down on tax havens. David Cameron has planned a summit in May, but warm words will be insufficient.