egafd.com

VAT in the UK doesn't appear high compared to many other places too

sorry can't remember the site, if you do a google for european tax burden it will throw up a load of info

i know what you mean about people living abroad, friends of mine in holland for example pay 50% tax, yes things like public services are good but it's the same old argument - you get what you pay for, we just don't want to pay for anything here

I recall that in the early 1980s, Margaret Beckett was a member of Labour's hard left and supported Tony Benn for deputy Leader. If she objected to the many trots and other marxists associated with that campaign, she never said anything. One of her main interests was in getting American bases of British soil.

Who would have thought that less than 25 years later she would be Foreign Secretary in a government that is the main ally of the most right-wing and reactionary American administration in modern history?

You guys are spoilsports.
Why drag in the facts, that ruins many a rant.

Mart

"this woman is a lightweight ...."


I agree. She's not at all up to this job and has only been put there because she is a TB supporter and a woman (middleclass Labourites love to promote 'wimmin' to positions of power that they clearly would not attain in the natural course of events). I'm sure Margaret Beckett is a nice lady - she doesn't come across as obnoxiously arrogant, condescending, and middleclass as do others of her ilk - Like Harriet Harmen and Patricia Hewitt. But she's clearly not Foreign Secretary material. She has the demeanor of one who is out of their depth and was maybe pressured into taking the job on. I've felt embarrassed for Britain watching her perform on the world stage with all those international political heavyweights - they must be laughing up their sleeves. I would suggest Charles Clarke for Foreign Secretary - the man has the requisite gravitas, girth and intellect to fulfill this important role.



Officer Dibble

shes a puppet.