(3/3) Not easy or perfect but broader tax base with lower and equal rates on spending is preferable to avoid decisions being driven by tax (unless it is a purposeful policy decision).

(2/3) Equalising the rates across all goods & services plus reducing registration threshold for business could raise sufficient sums of money that can be used to either have a lower VAT rate or compensate lower income losers or mix of both.

And as reversal to the Winter Fuel Payment announcement showed, if government does not act fast it looses control of the messaging, and importantly credibility - with credibility being the cornerstone of economic & fiscal policy.

It is interesting how often ‘healthy lifestyles’ come through as important determinants of a biologically healthy body. And yet society still struggles to develop ways to normalise such a lifestyle for all at the individual person level.

Highlighting importance of making it attractive for “educated people” to live in left behind towns…

…by building decent homes, developing accessible & reliable transport & internet infrastructure, and having high quality schools, hospitals & other amenities.