Politicians and hyperbole are bosom buddies. It is an ardent, stalwart comrade to them, a companion in the foxhole through thick and thin, darkest and lightest of days, scandal and election campaign alike. It has been the sum of many a Statesman – woman’s – victory: “New Labour,” “We’re All In This Together.” To major boobs like promising to scrap tuition fees, an exaggeration that has been majorly behind the Lib Dems collapse into political mediocrity. The fancy cousin and easy cover up for lies, it stretches the limitations and parameters of what we know or expect to be truth and deception.
Ed Miliband has been subjected to an unfair time since his tenure as leader of the Labour Party. From having to dodge hyperbolic barbs such as accusations of extreme Marxism, to swipes about his father and even his appearance. It seems that habitual culture of blame and accusation knows no level to which it will sink, especially when wielded by Iain Duncan Smith. The Work and Pensions Secretary has been nothing but a savant on the subject of hand outs, starting with an ineffectual Officers career in the army, to the Dole queue, to his wife’s hereditary Oxfordshire mansion. Following his disastrous tenure of Tory party leader, not even lasting long enough to contest an election, he has managed to claw his way back among the ranks of the murder of Tory crows, as Work and Pensions Secretary, over which he has presided like a raven portending nothing but doom, misery and impending death.
Tax Avoidance is the hot potato everyone wishes to throw, in order to mash everyone’s attempts at winning office for the next 5 years. What with revelations of the past week, that spud has gone radioactive! In May 2010, the Coalition government received information that 1,100 HSBC clients were guilty of Tax Evasion and Avoidance schemes. By 2012, promises to the Public Accounts Committee to deliver on prosecutions have fallen woefully short. Ostensible sparing of the rod when it comes to the Tories corporate chums is being met with angry shake offs when the “We’re All This Together,” mantra has turned out to be hyperbole personified. When Iain Duncan Smith today accused Ed Miliband’s own mother of dodging tax when it came to the Labour leader’s father’s will, thus minimising Inheritance Tax.
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A Labour spokeperson has denied any wrongdoing on the part of Mr. Miliband and has demanded an apology from the Conservatives. He told eye of media “Iain Duncan Smith brings politics into disrepute by repeating what is a straightforward lie. Ed Miliband has made sure all taxes due have been paid.
“Mr Duncan Smith should retract and apologise today. If he does not, he will be known for his dishonesty as well as his incompetence.” – Labour Party Spokesman.
Iain Duncan Smith’s tenure as Work and Pensions Secretary has been at the helm of what could be argued as some of the grossest human rights infractions this nation has seen for a number of decades. Sanctions, the Bedroom Tax, Fit for Work tests have all resulted in a viral surge of food banks in a nation once the seat of the world’s largest ever empire. Even a resurgence in a disease common with our seafaring forays, Scurvy. When we are in a sea of cold austerity, politicians think we can be warmed up on a flickering ember of their residual wax lyrical. Many detractors of Mr. Duncan Smith are currently fully aware of the Work and Pensions Secretary’s shortcomings – few can forget his claims of being able to live on £53 a week, whilst claiming £39 for breakfast on expenses.
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Tax Avoidance and it’s criminal counterpart, evasion, are serious issues that should supersede any childish back and forth between the green benches. Last year, it was estimated that £73.4 billion was lost to Tax Evasion, whereas Tax Avoidance costs us £69.9 billion annually. When a documentary on Channel 4, called “NHS: £2 Billion A Week & Counting,” will be aired next Monday (23rd). Such a hole in funding could easily pay for the NHS, something which is being ravaged and scapegoated almost as much as the unemployed are under the auspices of austerity. Akin to the NHS, a bastion and edifice of true democracy, where all are treated fairly in a sanctuary of equality, Tax Avoidance/Evasion must hold the same weight. Contributing to a society is as vital as having a society.
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