UK: Labour finish behind BNP in election humiliation

The Times ^ | 6/27/2008 | Philip Webster and Sam Coates

[bruinbirdman]

Labour came a humiliating fifth place behind the BNP and the Greens last night in the Henley by-election caused by Boris Johnson’s election as London Mayor.

Gordon Brown’s first anniversary as Labour leader began with the party securing only 1,066 votes, losing its £500 deposit, and having its working majority in the House of Commons cut to 65, as John Howell, the Conservative candidate, succeeded Mr Johnson in the Oxfordshire seat.

The Liberal Democrats consolidated their position in second place through their candidate, Stephen Kearney, with the Greens’ Mark Stevenson in third and Timothy Rait, of the BNP, in fourth. Richard McKenzie, the Labour candidate, was fifth with only 3.07 per cent of the vote.

On a 50.5 per cent turnout, the Tories secured 19,796 votes, the Liberal Democrats 9,680, the Greens 1,321, and the BNP 1,243. The lower turnout than the 67.9 per cent in 2005 meant that the Conservatives majority was 10,116.

Mr Howell said that his victory was “a message to Gordon Brown to get off our backs, stop the endless tax rises and help us cope with the rising cost of living”.

Although Labour have been downplaying expectations over the byelection since it was announced, claiming that they would lose their deposit with less than 5 per cent of the vote, Labour MPs still worry that the bad result will further damage morale.

The Conservatives threw substantial resources into the campaign with many MPs visiting Henley several times. They repeated the by-election tactics developed in Crewe & Nantwich, with significant backing from key figures in the key seats operation led by Lord Ashcroft.

The Liberal Democrats also put considerable effort into building up their vote under the guidance of Lord Rennard, their election guru.

[snowman_returns]

Mr Howell said that his victory was “a message to Gordon Brown to get off our backs, stop the endless tax rises and help us cope with the rising cost of living”.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg, I've never seen people so angry with high taxes as they are now.

I predict in the next two years, huge street demonstration's against suffocating taxes, immigration and state interference, and that's just for starter's. People with disposable income aren't too interested in civil disobedience but just you wait till the money start's running out like it's doing now...

[sergeantdave]

I’ve read that Brits are subject to so-called “green” taxes, such as an airline tax, a tax to drive into London. Are these the types of taxes you’re are getting hit with?

For an average British fellow making 100,000 pounds annually, how much tax might he pay?

Generally, are Londoners happy that Red Ken is gone?

[snowman_returns]

I’ve read that Brits are subject to so-called “green” taxes, such as an airline tax, a tax to drive into London. Are these the types of taxes you’re are getting hit with?

Yes, stealth taxes abound!

For an average British fellow making 100,000 pounds annually, how much tax might he pay?

He'll be in the 40% tax bracket so he'll see roughly £60,000 of that.

Generally, are Londoners happy that Red Ken is gone?

Yes, Ken was a big waster of public funds and channeled them into unelected non-accountable quangos that could have instead been used for better transport systems and public utilities. To his credit new mayor Boris Johnson has said he's going to have a bonfire of all this unwanted bureaucracy, but it's early days yet to know whether to believe him or not.

[agere_contra]

Boris’s presence has, as I understand it, already led to a shutdown or freeze of several boondoggle projects.

Which has directly effected the company I work for - our London Transport Planning section suddenly has no work. But that’s the price of doing work for socialist empires like the GLC. I don’t blame Boris.

[Eepsy]

A married person earning 100,000 pounds would pay:

30,626 in tax
04,434 in National Insurance
01,300 average council tax (assuming you live in London to be makin 100k)
00,300 road tax, if they have a car, +8 pounds day congestion charge
01,700 if you ditch the car for London public transport
00,140 telly tax

Then there’s a 17.5% VAT on everything you buy (except food, kids clothes, and reading matter). According to wiki, fuel tax is an eyewatering combined tax rate of 117%. Want a trip to New York- 100 pound long-haul tax per ticket. Want to buy a house? You will owe 3% stamp duty on the purchase price.

[vimto]

Yes, but then most people don’t earn anywhere near that money.

I’m finding life hard and I work hard for a living.

Maybe the government should take it all and just give me pocket money.

[Eepsy]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/06/13/cmcostofliving113.xml

This was an interesting recent article in the telegraph comparing budgets at various income levels.It was discussed on Freerepblc here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2035007/posts