PMQs: Cameron focuses on Iran and business tax

David Cameron's first subject of the day: No excuse for Iran taking the British personnel prisoner. What would "a different phase" would involve? Blair was very specific about the location of the British at the time of capture. Cameron said that as they were operating under a UN mandate the UN should be crystal clear in its position on the matter, and the Prime Minister should make sure there are clear rules of engagement for British personnel in the Gulf.

David Cameron's second subject of the day: Blair said it was better for business to cut corporation tax (great laughter), Cameron countered that there are two rates of corporation tax, and the one for small business is increasing. "Why are small firms being punished?".

Ming moment of the day: Menzies Campbell followed up last week's questions with very similar ones, asking why the poorest fifth of our population have a decreasing share of national income, and alleging that people earning less than £18,000 will pay increasing proportions of income tax after the Budget.

Backbench question of the day: Greg Clark highlighted how last week's budget cost charities millions in gift aid, but hid the fact in its publication.

Line of the day: Cameron said Blair should use his last period as First Lord of the Treasury to cut tax on small business, instead of spending his time in a "pointless search for the environment secretary's backbone".

Deputy Editor

Comments

[David Sergeant]

I don't understand why more was not made of the increase in tax on the low paid. In conjunction with the rise in child poverty (I know, I don't accept this logic either, but a lot seem to) this could be a devastating indictment on Brown and NuLab by their standards.

I never understand the Conservative party's ability to ignor open goals.

[Stephen Tolkinghorne]

"I don't understand why more was not made of the increase in tax on the low paid."

Because the Tories will increase taxes on the poor still further, even above the levels (which are just legalised theft) at which they currently stand.

More importantly, Cameron's lack of meaningful response to Bliar's treasonous inaction over the 15 marines and sailors taken hostage by Iran is somewhat telling. Cameron is showing himself to be a man who cannot face tough challenges - a man clearly unsuited to being a Prime Minister (how Bliar-like of him).

[Richard Carey]

Mr Tolkinghorne – having read your shallow right-wing Heffer-esque rants on Guido’s blog amongst others, I was tempted to ignore your criticisms here. However, in the interests of open debate, I will tempt fate by asking you to substantiate your claim that “the Tories [from which I guess you are not one…] will increase taxes on the poor still further” and what possible reason you think we might have for doing so. We have consistently stuck by our commitment to social justice, something that is deeply important to us.

Brown has sacrificed any claim to this as a belief by his attack on the lowest-paid working families, those for whom work barely pays under the complexity of his web of “benefits”, when he removed the 10% rate of income tax. “Oh,” exclaims McCavity Brown, “but you could fill in 15 extra forms and claim the new super-boondoggle working this-or-that tax credit…” David Sergeant above is quite right that we need to keep pushing on the injustice of this proposal, all for a headline-grabbing “non-cut” in the basic rate.

More importantly, Cameron's lack of meaningful response to Bliar's treasonous inaction

You’re not a UKIPper by any chance? I only ask because anyone who immediately rolls out “treasonous” in any political debate that comes their way is probably creasing their blazer, as well as making the rest of us all sound slightly silly when this place gets quoted in the MSM…

[Stephen Tolkinghorne]

"...having read your shallow right-wing Heffer-esque rants on Guido’s blog amongst others, I was tempted to ignore your criticisms here. However, in the interests of open debate, I will tempt fate by asking you to substantiate your claim that “the Tories [from which I guess you are not one…] will increase taxes on the poor still further” and what possible reason you think we might have for doing so."

Oh dear, a Carey diatribe, again ! On the matter of taxes, my suggestion is to read the popular press: 'Taxes on air fares', and that's just for starters on their 'green' taxes. If the Tories are going to cut taxes, they'd say so: they're a vote winner. At the moment they're just avoiding the issue.

As for 'right-wing rants' - you'll find that I argue from a Conservative view-point, a different perspective than the policy-less 'middle-ground' which is the haunt of the media savvy liberal-left. If you so object to conservative views being expressed, one wonders why it is that you joined a, notionally at least, party purporting to represent Conservatism, and not the Liberal Democrats - where you'd clearly be more at home.

Perhaps you consider Bliar's inaction and timidity over the abducted British troops as perfectly reasonable, and thus also Cameron's virtual silence on the matter. In which case, I think that says all I, or indeed anyone else, needs to know about you and your appalling views. If you don't think betraying troops who are putting their lives on the line for you is 'treasonous', then I'd say that you're simply a liberal who has no values or beliefs - beyond obtaining office and retaining it. How Cameroonie of you.

Whilst not a member of UKIP, it seems that they are the only party advocating scrapping tax altogether on low earners. Something the modern Tories, no doubt, find a terrible thing to even contemplate.

"as well as making the rest of us all sound slightly silly when this place gets quoted in the MSM…"

This makes me laugh, as you really don't need any help from me in making a spectacle of yourself. Once again, you're someone who's more concerned about appearance than policy.

[Richard Carey]

Oh dear, a Carey diatribe, again !

I wasn’t aware I’d attained such notoriety – evidently I’m a legend in my own lunchtime…

On the taxation issue, there is a perception problem, I think – while we’ve said that we would want to shift the burden of taxation (“pay as you burn not pay as you earn”, to quote Osborne’s phrase) I don’t think we’ve done as well as we should have at communicating both halves of that message equally.

Perhaps you consider Bliar's inaction and timidity over the abducted British troops as perfectly reasonable

I never actually said that – I was simply pointing out that jumping straight to treason does not a constructive political dialogue make. And I’m not sure how you can say that DC is silent on the issue when it was his leading point to Blair at PMQs, and the Shadow Foreign Secretary has spoken about it repeatedly? I would, however, hope that the Government is doing a great deal more behind the scenes, as it often has to be in these situations, than we have seen. You are certainly right that not to pursue the safe release of our personnel as vigorously as possible would be a grave abdication of responsibility on the part of our Government.

one wonders why it is that you joined … not the Liberal Democrats - where you'd clearly be more at home.

I’m quite at home where I am, thank you, and would not touch the LD Party with a barge-pole. Besides, if I did they may well start winning more elections, so be careful what you wish for!

[James Maskell]

Yet again a thread gets hijacked by these little spats...for heaven's sake people, grow up.

Cameron cant really speak tough over the capture of our soldiers, because we have pledged to not consider the military response. As has been commented before, he cant really bring up the income tax hit from the budget either, as our tax policy isnt fully established and from what weve heard could easily be thrown at us if we dare speak about high taxes, as Blair likes to routinely do.

[Jake]

I agree that - tactically - Cameron should leave the government to deal with the Iranian situation - not jumping up and down but putting careful pressure on them - Blair needs to be watched on everything .

The case of the recent budget is entirely different . In that case the increase in tax on the lowpaid , the decrease in effective pension contributions , the outright lie and deviousness over the pension rescue fund etc all need to be met with outrage and yes - a lot of jumping up and down .
Its what the population of this country want and what the Tories do not provide