Talk:Thatcherism

Any association with "lower taxation" is at best a bit of wishful thinking and political bias.

In 1979 she raised VAT from 8% to 15%. VAT was introduced on items that had perviously been zero rated (items that were already at 12.5% where also then charged at 15%). Under her premiership the ceiling on employers' contributions and tax relief for home buyers was removed and excise duties and car taxation (car 'tax discs") increased. Infamously, in 1989 she introduced the Poll Tax (aka "Community Charge") in Scotland, then to England in 1990 - which lead to riots; she was pushed out of office by the end of the year.

She did lower the common rate of income tax (from 33% to 30%) and the lower rate (first to 29% in 1985 and by 1988 it was down to 25%) and more significant cuts in the very top rate, for highest earners.

She cut government spending significantly, but that was reflected in the reduction of deficit as a percentage of GDP, not in lower taxation (rather the means of taxation changed, and government income increased) but these two separate things should not be conflated.

Even after she left office VAT continued to rise under her party, to 17.% in 1991 (and 20% under the Conservative led coalition in 2011). The most significant new tax she introduced, the unpopular Community Charge, was replaced 2 years after she left office. On balance neither her time in office or legacy can be reasonably characterised as one of low taxation.

92.29.224.152 19:03, 14 April 2013 (UTC)
 * I think this, Blairism, Brownism (and so on) shouldn't discuss specific policies are they are hard to pin down, necessarily POV (as you point out) but just say 'the doctrine of the Conservative governments 1979-1990 under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher'. Mglovesfun (talk) 19:12, 14 April 2013 (UTC)