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Gordon Brown

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in Britain believe their taxes are too high, according to a poll by ICM Research released by Reform. 57 per cent of respondents think the tax burden should be lower.

Last month, Conservative party member and shadow chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne urged the government to review whether a flat tax should be considered, saying, "What I am really talking about is removing a lot of the complexity from the tax system—a lot of the relief and exemptions—in return for either a lower rate or a bigger tax allowance." Only 33 per cent of respondents believe taxpayers currently receive good value for the money they pay towards public services.

Current chancellor of the exchequer Gordon Brown of the Labour party dismissed Osborne's suggestion, declaring, "What is their new big idea? A flat tax. An idea that they say is sweeping the world, well, sweeping Estonia, well, a wing of the neo-Conservatives in Estonia. (...) The millionaire (would) pay exactly the same tax rate as the young nurse, the home help, the worker on the minimum wage?"

Polling Data

We all pay taxes to fund public services and other areas of government spending. Thinking about the total amount of tax paid by everyone in the country, do you think the tax burden should be...?

Do you agree or disagree? - Taxpayers receive good value for money they pay in tax towards public services

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