John Healey has committed highway robbery with higher taxes on savings: Yorkshire Post Letters

Mr Healey delivered his Budget in a calm and considered manner, which to me indicated a Chancellor on top of his brief, with to a desire to instil a positive confidence in both the message and the messenger.

He did not shy away from the various difficulties facing the nation, but set out ways to address some of the issues, and bolster the Prime Minister’s stated aim to support working people, and to give us all a little ‘breathing space’.

To this end, the universal £100.00 allowance per household in Council Tax Bands A to D to help with winter heating costs set a very positive tone. Cuts to VAT on electricity bills, and the abolishment of daily standing charges on gas bills continued the theme, as did the retention of fuel duty at current levels.

Control of certain duties on foodstuffs are also welcome...though gherkins do not feature as one of my favourite foods! Each of these, and some other measures introduced, may not give vast amounts of savings, may be somewhat delayed in implementation, or not be as precisely targeted as some people might wish, but ‘every little helps’.

However, I am extremely unhappy with the swingeing four per cent additional tax to be taken from savings. I will happily pay my share of income tax based on my annual income, that is to be expected.

I will even, though less happily, pay the additional tax on rental income, which in the broadest sense of the word could just merit the description of ‘earned.’ Ordinary tax on interest income from savings, fine....but...an additional 4 per cent tax on income from (hard earned) savings is bordering on the vindictive and immoral. We save so that we are more self-sufficient, especially in older age.

We expect to be taxed on overall income at whatever level is relevant, but this additional tax just on savings interest is tantamount to Highway Robbery. ‘Stand and Deliver!’ It would seem that Dick Turpin rides again.

Paul Morley, Ribblesdale Estate, Long Preston, Skipton.

Although I’m not a Labour voter I have to admire the optimism of those who do.

They keep believing everything the party promises to do to improve their lives and on the occasions when enough of them vote to get Labour in to power what happens? A quick trawl through modern history will show what happens.

Every time without fail a Labour government will waste the taxpayers money to accomplish nothing for the benefit of the country or its people leaving the country virtually bankrupt, heavily in debt and its citizens from the richest to the poorest worse off.

To keep voting for this, unfortunately guaranteed, outcome shows levels of optimism that transcend reality.