Cognitive Dissonance

The Prime Minister has shockingly called for a snap General Election on the 8^th June, aptly described as a “bolt from the blue” by the Telegraph. Under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011, this requires a two thirds majority vote by MPs, suspending the previous prerogative power to dissolve Parliament at any time. The motion was passed this afternoon by a huge margin of 522 to 13, forcing me to confront a dilemma I have been avoiding for some time.

It’s Not Taxing

It’s said that nothing is certain in life except death and taxes, despite the latter’s variability. I believe we should aim for tax rates to be as low as practically possible, but that doesn’t mean tax is essentially a bad thing. Quite the contrary, it is essential to the functioning of modern society, and can even be pragmatically implemented to influence the market toward long-term societal good over short-term economic good (with duties on tobacco and alcohol, for example). I also think we need a wider reform of the tax system, reflecting the flagship welfare reforms of Universal Credit.