Government

This week on Trading Post, Matthew Lynn and his guests will be discussing the government.

Since he became Chancellor in 1997, and then Prime Minister last year, Gordon Brown has steadily increased the tax burden. Overall, the government now takes 40 per cent of national income in tax. According to the accountants Ernst & Young, national taxation has now reached its highest level ever.

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Already we are seeing companies starting to leave the country. Only this week, Shire Pharmaceuticals said it was moving its head office to Ireland to reduce its tax bill.

At the same time, the rising burden of personal taxes is adding to the pressure on family finances. So have tax levels now reached a stage where they are doing real damage to the British economy?

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To discuss this, Matthew Lynn spoke with Corin Taylor, research director at the Taxpayer's Alliance.

Matthew Lynn also spoke to John Meadowcroft, lecturer in public policy at King's College, London about a new book from the Institute of Economic Affairs on prohibitions. Has the nanny state gone too far?

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