Home What's New Speeches & Articles Newsletter - Apr 2008 Biography Diary Contact Information Photo Album Parliamentary Highlights Publications Links MEPs' Transparency   Conservative Party Latest News from Conservatives.com Conservative Party Website
		Letter to the Editor Northampton Chronicle and Echo - Wednesday, 4th October 2006 Dear Sir, Three points in response to Andrew Simpson's letter of Oct 4th glorifying the Lib-Dems' tax plans. First, Mr. Simpson peddles the old fantasy that raising tax rates on the well-off will generate more revenue which can be used for good causes. But all the evidence from dozens of countries, over decades, shows the opposite. Higher taxes result in more tax avoidance and evasion, more high-earners moving off-shore (think pop stars and footballers), less inward investment, less capital formation, fewer new business start-ups, earlier retirement, more black market activity, and therefore (counter-intuitively) lower revenues. Raising taxes just doesn't work. Second, it is easy to promise that new taxes will be "revenue neutral" and will be offset by reductions in other taxes. I'll believe it when I see it. Third: but I won't see it, as there is no chance of the Lib-Dems forming a government and implementing their plans. Roger Helmer Conservative MEP for Northamptonshire