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Where Will The Money Come From?
Gordon Brown tells us that we must “live within our means”.

Yet Britain is a country of huge wealth. That wealth, however, remains largely in the hands of a tiny elite. The richest 20 percent of the population receive more than 45 percent of all post-tax income. Corporation tax is the lowest in Europe, yet millions live on incomes that are below the official poverty level. The profits of the oil companies and the banks are at record levels.

There is no longer any significant difference between the establishment parties on these issues. They all subscribe to the same basic economic model of privatisation and the freedom of the market. Respect rejects this. We stand for a transformation of society that will ensure that the wealth of society is used for the benefit of the vast majority of the people, not just to make a profit for a tiny few.

TO FUND OUR PROPOSALS RESPECT CALLS FOR:

> A massive cut in military spending. Disband Britain’s weapons of mass destruction and scrap nuclear weapons.

> Decommission Trident.

> Transfer resources from military to useful production.

> Nationalise the arms industry.

> Tax currency speculation.

> Abolish VAT and replace it with increased direct taxation.

> Raise the top rate of income tax.

> Raise the tax threshold to ensure that no one on the minimum wage pays income tax.

> A big increase in corporation tax, with an additional tax on the super-profits of the oil companies and the banks.

> A turnover tax on multi-nationals doing businesses in Britain.

> Raise the top rate of inheritance tax whilst putting higher duties on other transfers of wealth and financial transaction.

> Increased stamp duty on stocks and shares.

> A crack down on tax evasion by big companies and action against offshore tax havens.

> Abolish the ceiling on National Insurance contributions.

These measures would provide major new funding for public services and allow us to take important steps towards the elimination of poverty.
 

News and articles of interest

Here are some articles and news reports we think are worth looking at

From Triumph to Torture by John Pilger
Two weeks ago, I presented a young Palestinian, Mohammed Omer, with the 2008 Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism. Awarded in memory of the great US war correspondent, the prize goes to journalists who expose establishment propaganda, or "official drivel", as Gellhorn called it.

SATs school tests criticised by official report by Harvey Thompson and Linda Slattery
In May, millions of school children throughout England undertook their Standard Assessment Tasks (SATs) in English, mathematics and science. The statutory tests are widely considered to be flawed and almost universally reviled by teachers and children alike.

Health: Who asked for choice? - Morning Star
IF Health Minister Ben Bradshaw believes that there is political capital to be made by taking on our NHS doctors, he will quickly come unstuck.

Afghanistan troop deaths outnumber those in Iraq by Angela Balakrishnan and agencies
Militants in Afghanistan killed more US and Nato troops than those in Iraq in June after a fresh spate of rebel attacks that highlighted the growing strength of the Taliban.

Iran legally entitled to develop nuclear energy, says UK MP
Iran is legally entitled to develop nuclear energy under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, according to a British MP visiting Tehran for the first time. George Galloway, who was expelled from Britain's ruling Labor Party for his outspoken opposition to the Iraq war, also criticized the hypocrisy of Israel's belligerence towards Iran, which has its own illegal stockpile of nuclear weapons.

In the Cause of Fear and Ignorance by John Pilger
Muslims are alone as they watch the British state, with its "obstinate incomprehension" of their faith, do to them as it would never do to those of other faiths. Imagine Jews treated this way. You cannot imagine it; the profanity is too great. The silence of British Jews, who have the history, is also great.

Migrant Myths by Adam Ford
As part of her degree course, Kurdish migrant Filiz Celik researched the conditions that workers from overseas face in the United Kingdom. The full text of her study can be read here, but this summary by Adam Ford gives some idea of the reality behind the media-generated myths.

Tesco shareholders reject TV chef's chicken welfare call
Tesco shareholders today voted against a resolution from TV cook Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall which called for the retail giant to improve its chicken-rearing standards.

Academies expelled 10,000 pupils
Academies have been accused of excluding disproportionately high numbers of students after it emerged that they excluded nearly 10,000 pupils for poor behaviour last year.

Let companies run state schools for profit, says Sir Simon Milton
Private companies should be allowed to run state schools at a profit and be free to dismiss teachers who are not up to the job, the head of the Local Government Association (LGA) said yesterday.

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