Incompatible promises made by Government

THE Government campaigned promising no extra income tax, national insurance or VAT. They also claimed that they had a solution for social care. These were clearly incompatible promises.

The health service is paid out of general taxation including income tax, so better off people pay proportionately more. Quite right.

National Insurance, however, is the worst way of doing this as a lot of people who are pretty well off do not pay and it also damages businesses who are already suffering. So take the extra needed for a sensible social policy from income tax instead.

John Morrissey, (retired GP paying income tax but not National

Insurance) Belper