tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post9024731355079637799..comments2024-03-28T22:32:50.562+00:00Comments on Liberal England: Polly Toynbee's Elementary Mistake of the DayJonathan Calderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00730157683743989696noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post-17744216411802794762010-06-25T15:07:16.323+01:002010-06-25T15:07:16.323+01:00Give Polly her due, she probably knows more than m...Give Polly her due, she probably knows more than most journos about how 'real' people livg - her book about poverty, and the articles she's written about the Clapham Park Estate do suggest some really understanding what happens at or near the poverty line.<br /><br />Talking of the Grauniad, Gerald Kaufman's letters are pretty good!Marknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post-76446372903557005582010-06-23T18:11:43.744+01:002010-06-23T18:11:43.744+01:00Terry,
VAT is regressive, but less regressive tha...Terry,<br /><br />VAT is regressive, but less regressive than the main alternative - raising income tax - and considerably less regressive than council tax, which has been frozen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post-78064390784145069412010-06-23T12:05:22.971+01:002010-06-23T12:05:22.971+01:00It's not just a matter of being out of touch; ...It's not just a matter of being out of touch; most journalists give every impression of being chronically innumerate.<br /><br />The Graun, in particular, has a disconcerting predeliction for confusing 'million' and 'billion'.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post-38790012756833500742010-06-23T11:44:35.389+01:002010-06-23T11:44:35.389+01:00Polly goes over the top in her pro-Labour rantings...Polly goes over the top in her pro-Labour rantings - she won't easily forgive the Editor for backing us at the election.<br /><br />But she is right about the regressive nature of VAT, which far too many Liberal Democrats do not seem to appreciate. What little good our ministers managed to sneak past Gideon is dwarfed by the impact of this swinging hike in a tax which has proportionately three times as high an impact on the poorest fifth of the population as it does on the wealthiest fifth.Terry Gilbertnoreply@blogger.com