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Render unto Caesar

An edition of The Economist Bagehot column from a few months ago makes for an interesting read. Its author argues that, on the Left of British politics, a debate is opening up again about the moral basis of taxation and the question of not just who, but what primarily should be taxed. The author’s observations are based on the recent strapline adopted by the Green Party’s Zack Polanski that we should ‘tax wealth and not work’. The moral purpose of this focus, Polanski argued on the BBC, would primarily be to reduce inequality. This goes further than previous debates that have sought to argue about the balance or proportionate burdens of taxation and opens something of a faultline on the British Left. Meanwhile, the taxation plans of the Reform Party have shifted significantly over the last year – from sweeping tax cuts to more modest proposals to tax property, work, fuel and business a little less. In the last month, we have seen hints that the government would break its manifesto pledge on tax, only to reverse course. Nothing in the arena of public taxation seems very clear or especially stable.

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