It was the US statesman Benjamin Franklin who said that nothing in this world is certain except death and taxes. He could have added a third.
It is also a dead cert that when taxes go up those who pay more will squeal about it. Rachel Reeves’ budget was the biggest tax hike in recent history and produced more squealers than usual.
GPs, charities, care homes, hospices, nurseries and pharmacies caught by the national insurance rise claim they are special cases deserving an exemption.
Add farmers and non-doms hit by inheritance tax, parents whacked by VAT on school fees, pensioners losing winter fuel payments and students paying £285 more for university and it’s as if the whole nation is howling. Good thing the Chancellor didn’t put any extra tax on ear plugs.
It’s a bit like time-travelling back to 1381 and the Peasants’ Revolt. The events leading up to that will sound eerily familiar.
The country had just emerged from a nasty pandemic, wage controls were failing, inflation rising, and on top of that everyone was hit with a fourpenny poll tax which quickly rose to a shilling.
Farm workers marched on the capital and the government cowered in the Tower of London. Justin Welby should be feeling uncomfortable at this point. The rioters beheaded the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Protesting farmers plan to descend on London again the week after next, GPs say they may have to make staff redundant or even close surgeries because of up to £40,000 in extra costs, and non-doms threaten to hop on their private planes and never come back.
Perhaps that’s why the Chancellor raised air passenger duty on the jets of the super-rich by 50 per cent to £1,000. Her last chance to squeeze some extra tax out of them as they take off for good.
Of course GPs, care homes, hospices, nurseries and pharmacies do much essential public good. But they are also private businesses and liable for tax like any other.
Roger Daltery is patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust which does wonderful work. The legendary Who frontman says the NI increase means they may have to lay off some nurses.
He told the Daily Telegraph: “I am incredibly angry. To lose nurses would be catastrophic.” I don’t know if Roger voted Labour, but if he did I’m sure he’s humming to himself: Won’t Get Fooled Again.
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations said the extra bill facing the charity sector adds up to £1.4billion each year – money which could have been spent on those who desperately need it.
I get all this. I get the fury and frustration of all those affected. But the question I can’t seem to get a decent answer to is if not them who? The money has to come from somewhere.
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The Budget set aside a whopping £11.8billion for victims of infected blood and £1.8billion for sub postmasters wrongly accused of theft. Would we rather that money went to someone else?
Should we skim more off pensioners to give to farmers? Or off farmers to hand to pharmacies? Are GPs really so different from any other small business?
Seven in ten practices are on General Medical Services contracts with the NHS, negotiated annually by their union, the British Medical Association. Armed with the dosh, they decide how their businesses should be run.
They can earn extra money by opting into out-of-hours services – and if they don’t fancy the unsocial hours the NHS will find cover elsewhere.
They can do deals with local authorities to provide care for rough sleepers. Or decide they would rather not. Having a free hand in choosing what, and what not, to do is what being in business is about.
More than half of the £40billion Reeves raised in taxes went to the NHS. If the BMA thinks GPs won’t survive without a big chunk of it, they must make the case when contracts are renewed. That’s what unions are for.
There is an argument for GPs to be NHS employees like hospital doctors. Would they really like to be paid less? We need our GPs, no question. If only to treat the extra earache the budget has caused.
Their average salary is £98,000 with locums earning up to £185,000. Not a bad whack for working in a small business.