Now pay for NHS by raising taxes and closing tax loopholes for rich

WE appear to be approaching a new phase in the pandemic. Unfortunately it appears to be the blame game. Public inquiries. Who did what when. Sorry this is not acceptable. Moving forward looking back just ends with a trip and fall.

We need positive action for the future.

The NHS has never been properly funded. Even when there was income available, this was used to artificial keep taxes low.

The revenue from North Sea Oil is a case in point this could have been set aside as with Norway. Sale of state assets – gas, electricity etc – again used to artificially keep taxes down.

As a nation, we need someone to have the courage to stand up in Parliament and say that the NHS can only be maintained through extra taxes for all.

Some measures that could be looked at are tax avoidance schemes in general. All existing schemes should be given one year to resubmit to HMRC, who would apply new criteria.

I am very sorry, but schemes that pretend that monies 
are loans when there is no intention to repay them is unacceptable.

Salary is salary. Sportsman should all be paid as employees subject to PAYE and NI. Limited companies cannot kick a football round a field, nor can paid agents.

Pretending that you live in the Cayman Islands just because there is a company registered there is nonsense.

Pretending that when you buy from Amazon or eBay etc that you are contracting with a company in Luxembourg, or wherever, is nonsense.

These are just words on a screen, nothing goes anywhere. Transfers of funds to tax havens should be subject to a transfer tax.

Thinking about it, the UK has control of many of these tax havens and they should be closed. Full stop.

Time for honesty, not mumbo jumbo. If you want to work, live and trade in this country, you must pay for the privilege. It is your duty.

Unfortunately many of our great and good in and out of politics are enmeshed in the system so it will take a mighty change to get these off their backsides and taking action.

It is just possible that a pandemic and its disastrous financial aftermath might just be enough.

If not, our great grandchildren will be saddled with our current debts, plus their own.

I can hear all the voices raised saying ‘I have always paid my fair share of taxes’.

Sorry, it was never enough to fund the NHS.

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James Mitchinson

Editor