Fairness is a basic tenet

That successive governments fail to do so, enabling the rich, the “famous”, establishment figures and those affording the services of chartered tax advisers (giving if not borderline criminal advice then certainly the morally and ethically bankrupt sort) to avoid paying tax is unbelievable.

Similarly, that multinationals operating in the UK, reaping the benefits of an educated and healthy workforce, enjoying a transport infrastructure and communications network paid for by the British taxpayer and bolstering their businesses, are able to pay little or no tax to the Exchequer (with that same Exchequer accepting paltry settlements in corporate tax liabilities from these organisations rather than chase their tax wizards from court to court to obtain revenues due) astounds.

Contrast this with an increase in basic rate income tax that would be off the statute books and out of Joe Public’s pay packet within the month.

Fairness is a basic tenet, not only of a just society, but also of the way by which honest people live their lives.

That governments cannot legislate without the bureaucratic loopholes that deny fairness and overburden the poorest in society is worrying and wrong.

A Waterhouse, Barmby Road, Bradford