One policy option deliberately ignored by the Labour Government is serious steps to tax the rich. In 1970 there were 8,926 people with incomes exceeding £20,000 a year, getting between them a grand total of £275 million. This was considerably more than the total expenditure of all the local authorities in the country on personal social services such as old people's welfare, child care, aid for the handicapped and a whole range of other services for those deprived of proper care.
Two years ago, Healey promised that a wealth tax would be introduced in this Budget. In February 1974 Fleet Street affected an attack of the vapours when the Chancellor-to-be threatened to squeeze the rich 'until the pips squeak'. The Labour Left took him at his word, happy to be fobbed off with this verbal assurance. Today not a trace of those proposals remain.
Increases in taxation are often defended by the social democratic leaders on the basis that there is no Misery working class.
Steve Potter
...FIGHTING HEALEY'S BUDGET... JOBS: LIES, LIES AND MORE LIES at 10 per cent a year at any time in the last decade.
The real facts, however, are brought out in the recent report of the Cambridge Economic Policy Group. This finds that 1-2 million will be unemployed by 1980. This is the real scale of attack which the vorking class faces.
As for the so-called job protection Every single statement made in the Budget about decreasing unemployment is a lie. Healey claims that the aim is to reduce unemployment to 700,000 by 1979—which would still be an outrageously high figure. But the claim that this can be achieved is based on a 'prediction' that between 1976 and 1979 industrial output will increase by no less than 28 per cent-more than twice the rate achieved even at the height of the capitalist boom of 1972-73. Healey claims that industrial investment to achieve this will increase at 10 per cent a year—a complete fraud in a situation where investment is now actually lower than it was in 1970 and where it has not grown The situation on jobs will be made still worse by the vast social expenditure cuts which are threatened.
The long-term plans of the Government are even worse. For example in the next two years alone it is intended to cut 20,000 jobs in aeroimmediate effect of import controls would be yet greater price rises-cutting the living standard of the working class still further. The next effect would be retaliation by other countries. The only effect of prices and lose jobs. Furthermore it is a reactionary policy as it believes (in any case falsely) that British jobs can be saved at the expense of the jobs of workers in other countries.
bine this demand for import reflation. This demand has partially breakthrough for the working class. It simply means concessions to big business and increased productivity import controls would be to increase The trade union leadership comcontrols with the cry for controlled been met by the Budget. But it is no Hackney rades council delegate ring makya addressing the Charter conference