Prime Minister David Cameron has announced new devolution powers for Wales, that he claimed will pave the way for a referendum on income tax.
Speaking at the Millenium Stadium on February 27, Mr Cameron claimed the UK Government would guarantee minimum funding and give Cardiff Bay control over fracking and more energy projects.
He said: “Today’s agreement paves the way for a referendum, that could deliver an assembly that’s not just a spending body but is actually responsible for raising more of its revenue too.
“And to me that is responsible devolution, that is real devolution and I think that is vital for Wales and for the United Kingdom.”
But, speaking to BBC Radio Wales, First Minister Carwyn Jones said no commitment has been made to tackle underfunding.
The agreement proposes a guaranteed minimum level of funding in exchange for a referendum on Wales raising revenue through its own income tax.
But Mr Jones said the two issues should not be linked.
He said: “The two things are not linked. Only on Tuesday were we told of the link between a referendum on income tax and fair funding for Wales.
“My answer was ‘no’ as the two things are not related. They’ve stepped back from that in London and I welcome that.
“We’ve had no real commitment from the UK Government, no date when the underfunding of Wales will be dealt with and no sum of money mentioned, just a vague promise.”
Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood claimed the proposals would leave Welsh devolution worse off than Scotland and Northern Ireland and that the announcement on funding public services leaves Wales worse off than Scotland.
Ms Wood said: “For reasons that have not been satisfactorily explained, Westminster has insisted that the people of Wales settle for a powers package that falls far short of the normal going-rate of devolution in the United Kingdom.
“Whilst some inclusions, such as the devolution of powers over fracking, are to be welcomed, this command paper falls well short of the powers that can help us strengthen our communities.
“And it goes nowhere near getting the funding settlement that Wales is owed after decades of disadvantage.”
Giving the Welsh Assembly the power to raise income tax would be madness, they’d destroy private sector business with huge tax hikes whilst increasing an already bloated public sector which will be the only job worth having, and how would they work it, would they tax those who live in Wales or tax those who work in Wales. I for one would be over the border to England’s green and pleasant land of lower taxes.
You would be one of many companies and people who move over the border to England. Wales would become a tax haven for the poor. The wealthy (current 40% ratepayers) would move a few miles across the border. Businesses will simply move their headquarters across to. It’s goodbye to Admiral in Cardiff.
The best thing the Welsh Assembly could do is lower taxes so much that Wales becomes a tax haven for the wealthy. There is a reasons Monte Carlo, Luxembourg, and Switzerland are rolling in it at the moment. Economically it’s sound but politically it doesn’t fit in with their utopian, socialist wet dream.
Would these be the same companies and individuals who have threatened to move from the UK , with their companies, if the populous votes to leave the EU?
Upping sticks and moving abroad is more difficult than moving across the border within the same state where the regulation, employee law, language spoken, accountancy, legal system, jurisprudence is the same. The only different will be different tax rates.
`Upping sticks` should present you with no problems, customer base the same, cheaper employment costs, cheaper property costs, less general taxation costs.probably better weather and better food.(depending where in the EU one settles for. The further awayfrom Wales, I presume, the better for you, due to your total opposition to the Welsh Assembly and all it stands for.?
You do not understand business:
1. “cheaper employment costs” – Not the case. The company will still operate in the country but chose to domicile somewhere else. a great example is Disney Cruise Lines. It is domiciled in London for taxation reasons but its operational headquarters are still in the USA with most of its worker being unaffected by where it chooses to domicile. Sometimes operational headquarters could move to the new country too, but the company still continues to sell in the original country meaning its employment costs are the same since the near enough the same number of workers are need in the original country.
2. “cheaper property costs” – There will need to be substantial offices in the new country of domicile, but if it’s an intra-country move (Wales to England) it’s a case of picking up the telephone and registering a new address.
3. “less general taxation costs” – Portugal (but you have a terrible economy), Ireland (terrible economy also), or Switzerland. Take your pick. Taxation in the UK is generally lower than the EU anyway so this is false. Also, I advocate a tax haven Britain with taxes undercutting all developed nations to bring in companies. Ultimately the tax a company needs to pay has the biggest influence on decisions.
4. “probably better weather and better food” – Superfluous point in the world where anything can be imported. As for weather, the rain doesn’t affect Admiral’s operations.
Giving the Welsh Assembly the power to raise income tax would be madness, they’d destroy private sector business with huge tax hikes whilst increasing an already bloated public sector which will be the only job worth having, and how would they work it, would they tax those who live in Wales or tax those who work in Wales. I for one would be over the border to England’s green and pleasant land of lower taxes.
You would be one of many companies and people who move over the border to England. Wales would become a tax haven for the poor. The wealthy (current 40% ratepayers) would move a few miles across the border. Businesses will simply move their headquarters across to. It’s goodbye to Admiral in Cardiff.
The best thing the Welsh Assembly could do is lower taxes so much that Wales becomes a tax haven for the wealthy. There is a reasons Monte Carlo, Luxembourg, and Switzerland are rolling in it at the moment. Economically it’s sound but politically it doesn’t fit in with their utopian, socialist wet dream.
Would these be the same companies and individuals who have threatened to move from the UK , with their companies, if the populous votes to leave the EU?
Upping sticks and moving abroad is more difficult than moving across the border within the same state where the regulation, employee law, language spoken, accountancy, legal system, jurisprudence is the same. The only different will be different tax rates.
`Upping sticks` should present you with no problems, customer base the same, cheaper employment costs, cheaper property costs, less general taxation costs.probably better weather and better food.(depending where in the EU one settles for. The further awayfrom Wales, I presume, the better for you, due to your total opposition to the Welsh Assembly and all it stands for.?
You do not understand business:
1. “cheaper employment costs” – Not the case. The company will still operate in the country but chose to domicile somewhere else. a great example is Disney Cruise Lines. It is domiciled in London for taxation reasons but its operational headquarters are still in the USA with most of its worker being unaffected by where it chooses to domicile. Sometimes operational headquarters could move to the new country too, but the company still continues to sell in the original country meaning its employment costs are the same since the near enough the same number of workers are need in the original country.
2. “cheaper property costs” – There will need to be substantial offices in the new country of domicile, but if it’s an intra-country move (Wales to England) it’s a case of picking up the telephone and registering a new address.
3. “less general taxation costs” – Portugal (but you have a terrible economy), Ireland (terrible economy also), or Switzerland. Take your pick. Taxation in the UK is generally lower than the EU anyway so this is false. Also, I advocate a tax haven Britain with taxes undercutting all developed nations to bring in companies. Ultimately the tax a company needs to pay has the biggest influence on decisions.
4. “probably better weather and better food” – Superfluous point in the world where anything can be imported. As for weather, the rain doesn’t affect Admiral’s operations.
Off you go then paul.because the Assembly will, quite rightly, gain tax raising and borrowing powers. Perhaps you are correct in that the issues will have some confusion in their implimentation, but unless it is done faily and equitably the politicians resonsible will uffer in the ballot box.
Thanks to Welsh Labour people in Wales have annually faced the highest council tax rises in the U.K. Give these clowns who couldn’t run a bath efficiently the power to raise other forms of taxation and as sure as night follows day Welsh workers will be hammered. Income tax would most certainly rise, corporation tax would rise and anyone who dared buy their own home will face an increase in stamp duty…..that is unless the Tories were to get into power and we both know that there’s more chance of Wales winning the 2018 FIFA World Cup , so come the day that the Assembly are given the power to raise income tax it will be goodbye from me to the People’s Repulic of Wales.
Yet, Whatever your politics, you cannot find a party in the Welsh Assembly that would not embrace the additional powers talked about, so, with your mindset on the subject, and I am not for one minute being disrespectful, it is England for you.
Off you go then paul.because the Assembly will, quite rightly, gain tax raising and borrowing powers. Perhaps you are correct in that the issues will have some confusion in their implimentation, but unless it is done fairly and equitably the politicians resonsible will uffer in the ballot box.
Thanks to Welsh Labour people in Wales have annually faced the highest council tax rises in the U.K. Give these clowns who couldn’t run a bath efficiently the power to raise other forms of taxation and as sure as night follows day Welsh workers will be hammered. Income tax would most certainly rise, corporation tax would rise and anyone who dared buy their own home will face an increase in stamp duty…..that is unless the Tories were to get into power and we both know that there’s more chance of Wales winning the 2018 FIFA World Cup , so come the day that the Assembly are given the power to raise income tax it will be goodbye from me to the People’s Repulic of Wales.
Yet, Whatever your politics, you cannot find a party in the Welsh Assembly that would not embrace the additional powers talked about, so, with your mindset on the subject, and I am not for one minute being disrespectful, it is England for you.
As the BBC/ICM poll reveals 50% DO NOT want the Welsh Assembly to have more powers. Giving powers away would not be democratic without a referendum on the matter.
http://blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/electionsinwales/2015/03/05/support-for-welsh-independence-doubles/
As the BBC/ICM poll reveals 50% DO NOT want the Welsh Assembly to have more powers. Giving powers away would not be democratic without a referendum on the matter.
http://blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/electionsinwales/2015/03/05/support-for-welsh-independence-doubles/
Would this be the same Democracy which forced a Tory led Government on the people of this Country ( The UK) when they were not elected to do so, by any measure of what constitutes a `majority`.?
Would this be the same Democracy which forced a Tory led Government on the people of this Country ( The UK) when they were not elected to do so, by any measure of what constitutes a `majority`.?