Your voice, your vote: “They make incredible promises”
- Author, Perisha Kudhail
- Role, BBC World Cup
The parties made “unbelievable” tax promises in the run-up to the election, causing confusion among companies, said the head of a glass company.
“That creates this uncertainty – and there is nothing more damaging to business than uncertainty,” said Alan Taylor, managing director of Mi Glass.
The glass processor and manufacturer happens to be based on a street called Downing Street, an industrial center in Smethwick in the West Midlands.
The Conservative government’s manifesto includes promises to cut national insurance contributions and freeze income tax, VAT and corporation tax rates. The Labour Party has said it will not increase these four tax rates.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank warned last week that the two major parties were in a “conspiracy of silence” because tax increases could hardly be avoided over the next five years.
Other parties have also made tax promises in their manifestos. The Liberal Democrats, for example, want to raise the threshold at which employees have to pay income tax “when public finances allow” and reverse some recent tax cuts for major banks.
The Greens said they would not increase the basic tax rate for workers earning between £12,571 and £50,270 and would instead introduce a wealth tax and a carbon tax. Reform UK announced, among other things, an increase in the income tax threshold and a reduction in corporation tax.
“We feel like (politicians) are making us a lot of incredible campaign promises,” Taylor said.
“The reality will probably be significantly different from what they are promising now.”
He added that companies also wanted more clarity and details from the parties on energy policy, “because our energy bills just keep rising.”
Mr Taylor and his colleagues also said they wanted the next government to do more to support young people in Smethwick.
“There are no community centres or anything else they can do other than hang out on the streets,” says Gail Sprigg, customer service manager at Mi Glass, adding that crime and anti-social behaviour are getting worse in the area.
Ms Sprigg called for more funding to enable schools to run activities for their students.
She also shared Taylor’s concerns that politicians are not being honest with voters.
“You don’t seem to be able to give anyone a clear answer, and that really gets on my nerves,” she said.
“Whoever is elected, I hope that he will be sincere, honest and loyal to the people who elected him.”
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Your voice, your choice
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