Rachel Reeves taxes us more than ever but there’s no money for defence | Politics | News
Rachel Reeves’ Treasury has been accused of presiding over the fastest rise in taxes by a developed economy while failing to fund the armed forces at a time of global turmoil. Britons are bracing for pain as cost of living rises triggered by the war in Iran. And if they feel like most of their wages are lost in taxes, they’re right.
The UK’s tax burden as a proportion of GDP is expected to rise by 4.5 percentage points between 2024 and 2031, when Labor comes to power. Telegram When the latest IMF figures were examined, it was revealed that this situation contradicts the 1.7% increases in France and 1.2% in Germany.
While Britain is losing its reputation as a low-tax economy, the country’s ability to defend itself is also in doubt. Taxpayers may perhaps understand if they are being asked to pay more for rearmament in a national emergency; They will only be angry if their money is withdrawn and the armed forces are left to disintegrate.
It has been reported that there will be a £28bn funding gap in the Ministry of Defense over the next four years. This week, former Labor defense secretary and ex-NATO boss Lord Robertson went undercover to warn that Britain was “in danger” and that “non-military experts at the Treasury” were guilty of “vandalism”.
Ms Reeves’s department has been widely blamed for failing to agree a “defence investment plan” to fund the urgently needed transformation of the army outlined in Lord Robertson’s strategic defense review. The Treasury also faces allegations that it reneged on an agreement to use central funds for peacekeeping forces in Ukraine.
And former Army Major Andrew Fox has warned citizens will face higher prices at petrol stations and supermarket checkouts if Britain fails to keep “vital sea lanes” such as the Strait of Hormuz open.
The UK’s ability to defend its interests abroad is in serious doubt and there are intense concerns about direct threats to the UK. Is the nation ready to repel drone swarms and missile attacks? Are our submarine communication cables waiting to be cut by enemy forces? Is the UK so dependent on imported energy and food that it risks having supply lines disrupted in wartime?
Chancellor Rachel Reeves sought to shore up support on the Left by describing President Trump’s “stupidity” in attacking Iran without a clear exit strategy.
Such remarks will draw applause but do little to stop a furious Mr. Trump from wanting to withdraw from the NATO alliance. With local elections approaching, the Labor leadership is struggling to survive on a daily basis, but if our long-term security collapses the country will face a much more serious crisis.
Sir Keir Starmer is routinely attacked as a prime minister too weak to force his supporters to support cuts to Britain’s massive aid bill to fund investment in our defence.
England cannot continue like this. Health Minister Wes Streeting, a potential successor, has signaled he would support transferring funds from the welfare budget to defence, saying the money “has to come from somewhere”.
Millions of Britons have been stunned by this government’s priorities, which have raided pensioners’ winter fuel subsidies and increased inheritance tax on farmers. If voters decide that defending the region is not Labour’s primary goal, the upcoming local elections could be an electoral vanishing moment.
