A Question Time audience member went on a bizarre rant slamming tax increases – despite earning £80,000 a year.
The man criticised Labour’s plans to tax the top 5% of earners in the country – saying his healthy annual income was “nowhere near even the top 50%” of earners in the country
Labour MP Richard Burgon and host Fiona Bruce went on to attempt to explain how those earning £80,000 are in fact in the top 5% of earners.
However, he continues his rant, saying: “I would like to call Labour out as liars.
“I am one of them people he will tax more and I am nowhere near in the top five so I am calling you a liar.
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(Image: BBC)
“That 5% is a lie, I am nowhere near that and you are going to tax me as an employee.
“You are not going after the billionaires, you are going after the employees because its easy money and I have no choice because its PAYE.”
Burgon goes to say: “You are mistaken – we are not going to raise income tax apart from those in the top 5%.
“And thats why were not going to increase your income tax.”
If the man earned £80,000 a year before tax, it would put him in the highest-earning 5% of taxpayers in the country – according to official government figures from 2016/17.
Labour’s tax changes are expected to apply the 45p additional rate on earnings over £80,000 instead of the current threshold of £150,000.
That means under Labour, the man would have to pay roughly an extra £50 for every £1,000 he earns over £80,000 – excluding any other changes to the system.
(Image: BBC)
(Image: BBC)
However, the audience member continued his ‘misjudged’ rant – saying: “You are – I have read your policy and its above £80,000.”
“I am nowhere near the top 5% – I’m not even in the top 50%.”
Fiona Bruce then interjected for clarification asking the man to confirm his income, to which she replies: “I think that is in the top 5%.”
The audience member goes on to say the “top 5% don’t even work because they’re rich” – calling out “doctors” and “solicitors” as those who should be taxed more.
Question Time viewers took to Twitter calling out the audience member.
(Image: BBC)
Josie Hall said: “God I would love to earn £80,000 a year!
“My husband and I run a 2 man business, work hard and earn not a fraction of that! Yet every year we pay Corporation tax and happy and willing to pay more so we are all secure! I just don’t understand.”
Tom Joad said: “The beauty of a manifesto that only raises taxes for those earning over £80,000 a year is that it only highlights the greed of those affected when they shout about it like this idiot did.”
Jeremy Corbyn vowed yesterday to raise more than £80bn a year for his programme without raising Income Tax, VAT or National Insurance on 95% of people.
IFS think tank director Paul Johnson said it was “not credible” to say other earners would not be affected at all. He said: “You cannot raise that kind of money in our tax system without affecting individuals.”
But Mr Corbyn said the manifesto was fully costed – and stuffed with policies “the political establishment has blocked for a generation”.
