Tories confused on tax

From the BBC is an article about Lord Mandelson commenting on some of Ken Clarke's recent statements on taxation in light of the Tories' stated aims:

Lord Mandelson has said Tory tax plans have been "thrown into confusion" by shadow business secretary Ken Clarke.

Mr Clarke told the BBC the Tories' main economic goals would be to cut public debt and restore growth rather than cut inheritance tax on homes under £1m.

Later, a Conservative spokesman said the party was still committed to its manifesto pledge to cut the tax.

The Tories' pledge in 2007 to cut inheritance tax was seen as a key point in reviving party fortunes.

It amuse me to see Mandelson making points at the expense of the man who was widely viewed as Cameron's response to the PM giving Lord Mandelson a cabinet position. It amuses me more that it undermines Cameron and Osbourne than because it attacks Clarke. I say that because in my opinion Clarke is one of the few decent Tories, he actually has a realistic view of the world and opposes idiotic ideas like raising the cap on inheritance tax. A move that would be very costly but mostly benfit the super rich; it is after all a tax only paid by 6% of people.

In hard financial times like this the government should be looking after the most vulnerable people in society and stiumlating economic growth in order to reduce unemployment, not give tax breaks to people with £1,000,000 houses.

Council Tax to be retained- Broken Promise No 789766

" We will scrap the Unfair council tax"

Another SNP election promise was broken today with the news that there will be no bill put forward for a Local Income Tax. In this embarrasing climbdown Cabinet Finance Secretary John Swinney announced to Parliament that due to lack of support the plans would not be brought forward.

Labour finance Spokesman Andy Kerr described it as "the biggest retreat in the history of the parliament".

The SNP once more demonstrate that their election manifesto was nothing short of misguided hot air with no workable policies. The fact that local councils face more cuts due to the "historic concordat" should also be duly noted. In a time of bleak economic uncertainty it is frustrating to realise that those in power in Edinburgh are incredibly out of their depth.

We as a party should make sure that the Scottish people are aware how acute the shambles this administration is causing but also take the initative. We have promised to reform the council tax, now with the Nats policy in tatters, is the time to explain exactly how we are going to do that. Fair, workable policies for everyone, not a string of poorly thought out, headline grabbing promises which were always made to be broken.