News from Southampton Labour

Southampton MPs challenge Hampshire neighbours to vote against cut to 50p tax rate

John Denham challenges fellow Hampshire MPs to vote against cut to the 50p tax rate in the House of Commons today.

John Denham, Labour MP for Southampton Itchen, has written to all Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs in Hampshire to warn them that a tax break for the richest is the wrong priority at the wrong time. 300,000 people earning above £150,000 are set to gain on average £10,000 from the change in the top rate of tax.

Labour MPs will be voting against the cut to 50p tax rate today.

Figures published by the Government have now revealed that over 14,000 millionaires who currently pay tax at 50% on their earnings over £150,000 will now get a tax cut of at least £40,000 each.

* The Institute for Fiscal Studies has cast doubt over the findings of the review of the 50p rate, saying it is uncertain that the cost of cutting the 50p rate is as low as Ministers claim.

* HMRC’s review of the 50p top rate confirms that the government is cutting taxes for the richest earners next year by £3 billion.

Writing to fellow Hampshire MPs, John Denham said; “George Osborne has taken a potentially hugely expensive gamble. By giving a £3 billion tax cut to the very richest – an average tax cut of £10,000 to every top rate taxpayer – he is betting that he will somehow get £2.9 billion back in extra tax revenues from people currently not paying the top rate of tax. But both the OBR and the IFS have cast doubt over this possibility.

“Many of Hampshire’s families will lose out on £253 as a result of this budget. Pensioners are set to lose £75 a year from April 2013. With rising fuel prices, cuts to tax credits and child benefit, long-term youth unemployment almost tripling in my constituency, I do not believe it is the right time to give a tax cut to people on exceptionally high incomes.”

Commenting on today’s vote on the Finance Bill and the Tory Government’s plan to abolish the 50p rate of tax on earnings over £150,000 a year, Alan Whitehead MP said:

“Most people in Southampton are struggling to cope with rising prices, stagnating wages and higher Council charges. It’s extraordinary that this government is asking those families to pay more, while at the same time cutting taxes for the wealthiest 1%.

“The Government’s own figures show that only 1% of people in the whole of the south-east will benefit from the abolition of the 50p rate. Even in our region where wages are among the highest, 99% of people will not benefit from this change. It won’t help drive growth- all it will do is allow the extremely wealthy to keep slightly more of their money while squeezing ordinary families and businesses even further.

“I’ll be voting against this proposal this evening and pressing the government to instead prioritise cutting VAT to get the economy moving again.”

Other news from Southampton Labour

• Denham highlights persecution of Hazaras in Quetta, Pakistan - 5 February 2013
• Southampton Labour saves Woolston Youth Club's services - 5 February 2013
• Southampton Labour finds breathing space for Newtown Youth Centre - 31 January 2013