More executives back Tory National Insurance plans

whathavewedone

A lot of them used to be Labour backers and a fair few of them are government advisors.

Disregarding their opinions on the basis that they are tories is just lazy.

I seem to remember in 1997 Labour parading lists of business leaders who were supporting Labour and many of them had previously supported the tories. That was just one of many signs that the tories were on their way out of office.

Remember too that 95% of businesses in the UK are small businesses who employ fewer than 10 people. These are not hugely wealthy people who can avoid their tax with clever accountants. They are vital to our economy and the national insurance rise will hit them hard.

You can spin this any way you like. Business leaders, large and small turning against Labour is not a good omen for them.

Incidentally the front page of the Times today says that Darling and Mandelson did not want to raise NI, preferring to rise VAT instead. It was Brown who insisted on it, supported by Balls. This does compromise Labour's arguments somewhat.

StevieJ

whathavewedone wrote: »

A lot of them used to be Labour backers and a fair few of them are government advisors.

Disregarding their opinions on the basis that they are tories is just lazy.

You mean they sense a change of govt so wish to be on the right side of, they used to call that boot licking (among other more unpleasant descriptions)

ninky_2

whathavewedone wrote: »

Incidentally the front page of the Times today says that Darling and Mandelson did not want to raise NI, preferring to rise VAT instead. It was Brown who insisted on it, supported by Balls. This does compromise Labour's arguments somewhat.

well good on brown and balls. glad there was a healthy debate about it. but surely a VAT rise also affects business (making the cost of goods and materials more expensive). not only that but VAT rises affect the poorest more as a percentage of their income.

whathavewedone

VAT isn't payable on a lot of essential goods so actually it hits people who are better off much harder.

A rise in NI hits employees and employers and will obviously have a negative effect on employment. At a time when businesses are struggling to survive (especially small businesses) does it really make sense to charge them more money for employing people? It's bound to lead to a lot of unnecessary redundancies.

I'd prefer there to be no rise in taxes at all but given that Labour have been flushing money down the toilet since at least 2001 it's inevitable unfortunately.

Rochdale_Pioneers

I'm glad this story still has legs. Can we have some more big business people come out in favour.of them not paying tax?As the money needs to be raised the simple truth is that if business isn't going to pay and the.city isn't going.to pay and high earners deserve a tax cut too, that just leaves the rest of us to foot the bill.

So were back again with the Tories trying to sell austerity to the majority whilst the minority at the top live it large. "Tax on jobs" may not sound as preferrable as a "tax.on you but not them".

Money_Grabber13579

StevieJ wrote: »

You mean they sense a change of govt so wish to be on the right side of, they used to call that boot licking (among other more unpleasant descriptions)

Whereas you keep to your principles and vote Labour continuously, no matter what trash policies they come up with and no matter how much of the proverbial brown stuff they leave us in?

whathavewedone

Firstly Rochdale, it isn't a tax cut it's not imposing 100% of a tax rise proposed by Labour. Under the tories only those earning over 45k will have to pay, under Labour it will be everyone on over 20k - that means that Labour's tax plans will hit low earners and small employers thhe hardest.

Secondly there is a big difference between the general public's perception of business owners and bankers and MPs. You only have to look at the popularity of shows like Dragons Den and the Apprentice to see that.

People appreciate that without business owners we don't have jobs and if business owners are emphasising that this is a tax on jobs it doesn't take Einstein to work out that if this tax rise goes ahead, their jobs could be at risk. Think how many people are employed by the likes of M and S, Sainsburys and B and Q. Those who are not employees know these companies and know that they are hugely successful. For Mandelson and Brown to call them stupid is just, well, politically very stupid. They are running their businesses a whole lot better than Labour are running the country.

The latest revelations that Darling and Mandelson were against Brown and Balls just shows how divided and tired this government is.

One thing I do agree with you with about Rochdale is that it's great that this "story", ie a very popular policy from the Conservatives, still has legs. Carry on like this and the polls should continue to widen:rotfl:

StevieJ

Money_Grabber13579 wrote: »

Whereas you keep to your principles and vote Labour continuously, no matter what trash policies they come up with and no matter how much of the proverbial brown stuff they leave us in?

I won't be voting Labour, what makes you think that?

marklv

Spartacus_Mills wrote: »

What rot. These business leaders are supporters of whatever party they think is going to help their business.

The NI increase will make a difference to the employer who has to pay it. It may be pennies to the individual but to the employer it can be a small fortune.

Labour are on the backfoot on this and are struggling to get off it.

Small fortune? !!!!!!!!. What? £15 per employee a small fortune? For companies with turnovers in the billions? Rubbish.

marklv

doire wrote: »

Oh so all these buisness brains are all Tory voters :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

So where are all the Labour voting buisness leaders. Surely they would come out fighting for Brown the Clown?

Caan is one of them. Anyway, who the hell cares? All the business leaders care about is lining their own pockets, nothing more. They'll sell their souls to the devil if they end up making a profit from it.