The Free Enterprise Not The Harrow Times

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, has written to the HRMC demanding an investigation of a donation by Ken to the Labour Party. “There now appears to be prima facie evidence that Mr Livingstone was channelling untaxed income paid to Silveta Ltd directly to the Labour Party as a political donation-in-kind, which I understand to be a stark breach of HMRC rules,” he wrote. “I reiterate my belief that the employment of [staff] for Mr Livingstone’s campaign cannot be defined as expenses incurred ‘wholly and exclusively’ for the purposes of Silveta’s trade.” It was claimed that Ken broke HM Revenue and Customs rules by offsetting the £19,202 donation to the Labour Party made through his private company - Silveta against tax. HMRC say expenses can be claimed only when “wholly and exclusively” incurred for the commercial purposes of a company. Mr Livingstone has said that Silveta was formed only to handle personal earnings from media appearances, writing and afte...

Respect candidate Mr Galloway’s victory in Bradford West was an astonishing reversal for Labour and sparked fresh questions over Mr Miliband’s leadership. At least he had his photo taken eating a Greggs pasty. Mr Galloway, who was expelled from the Labour party in 2003, swept to victory by more than 10,000 votes on a swing of nearly 37 per cent from Labour.

All this fuss about VAT on pies. I must say, I do like my Greggs pasties. So do Labour it seems - so why don't they say they will reverse the VAT on hot snacks? Obviously because they can't have their pie and eat it !

4754 – number of days Labour was in power. 31 – number of days it had the 50p income tax rate Then they even abstained on the vote! Nothing like meaning what you say eh? - This certainly wasn't ! (source: Evening Standard)

Boris Johnson is to spend £50 million redesigning London’s worst traffic bottlenecks, accident blackspots and dangerous crossings to improve safety and speed journeys. The funding will come from Transport for London’s surface transport budget over the next four years, to bring in wider lanes, new roundabouts and separate right-hand turn lanes at problem roads and junctions. Another reason not to dip into TFL’s coffers for an election bribe !

More than one in three people being reassessed for incapacity benefit payments have been found to be fit for work, according to the first set of official statistics released by the Government. Employment minister Chris Grayling said: "These first figures completely justify our decision to reassess all the people on incapacity benefit. To have such a high percentage who are fit for work just emphasises what a complete waste of human lives the current system has been. Figures for the first 141,100 claimants to start the reassessment process showed that 37% of those whose claims had been concluded had been found fit for work, with the rest entitled to employment and support allowance (ESA).

Trade unions have been given £7 million of taxpayers' money for "modernisation" projects including a new computer system for Bob Crow's RMT, it has emerged. MPs attacked the “scandalous waste and abuse” of public funds under the scheme which was put in place by Labour in 2005. Tory MP Priti Patel said abolishing the UMF was “long overdue” as the funding was “a scandalous waste and abuse”. She added: “Political activities of trade unions have clearly been subsidised and other Labour supporting organisations have gained financial benefits.” Fellow Tory MP Dominic Raab said: “Hard-pressed taxpayers will be shocked to learn that Labour threw millions of pounds of their money to subsidise this union boondoggle.” Who funds the Labour Party?

Announcing the biggest ever rise in the tax-free allowance, an increase of £1,100 which will let people earn up to £9,200 before being taxed, the Chancellor declared: “We are in touching distance of the goal of £10,000 personal allowance that we all share.” George Osborne spared 400,000 middle class families from child benefit cuts in a move today while handing another £3.5 billion in tax cuts to working families. The chancellor said the 50 per cent top tax rate would be dropped to 45p in the pound for those earning over £150,000 from April next year. He countered with a hike in stamp duty on homes worth over £2million from five per cent to seven per cent, while, in another measure personal tax allowances were increased to £9,205, saving individuals £220 each. Mr Osborne told MPs in the Commons: “This Budget supports working families and helps those looking for work. It unashamedly backs business. And it is on the side of aspiration: those who want to do better for themselves and for ...

Top City experts delivered a damning verdict on Ken Livingstone's plan to cut fares by seven per cent if he is elected mayor. They claimed Transport for London faces years of financial turmoil and even economic collapse if the cuts go ahead.Ratings agency Moody's, which delivers verdicts on the financial health of organisations, is warning that any fall in TfL revenue could put its credit rating under pressure. Experts warned that could lead to a "downgrade" in its credit rating. Fare cutting could cost £1billion in lost revenue. Check this out - www.notkenagain.com

Education secretary Michael Gove accused Labour of hypocrisy, saying: 'For years, they ignored warnings about the baby boom and splurged billions on extravagant secondary school projects instead. When we said there was a problem, they dismissed our calls as nonsense.' Mr Gove claimed Labour cut funding for extra primary school places by 26 per cent, while the coalition has  doubled funding to £800million a year.

Pollsters YouGov, which predicted the result of the 2008 election, said today: "Following a month in which he has faced criticism, there have been significant drops in the public's perceptions of Ken Livingstone."London government expert Tony Travers said revelations of Mr Livingstone's personal tax affairs had damaged his position, adding: "This is fascinating. The same happened in 2008 when Johnson started to pull ahead of Livingstone as election day approached."Perceptions of Ken appear to have been damaged by stories about his tax affairs. After falling behind, Boris has started to make an effort and it appears to be paying off."

Boris has delivered 91 per cent of his promises — 98 out of 108 — Mr Johnson challenged his mayoral rival Ken Livingstone to release his own report on his time at City Hall. Ken - we're all waiting.

Ken Livingstone, who has attacked tax avoiders as “rich b-------” who should “not be allowed to vote”, has allegedly avoided at least £50,000 in tax by having himself paid through a personal company. Mr Livingstone, who has called for a top tax rate of 80 per cent, has made attacking “the rich” a key part of his campaign. He has criticised tax avoiders, saying: “These rich b------- just don’t get it… No one should be allowed to vote in a British election, let alone sit in Parliament, unless they pay their full share of tax.....Cameron’s problem is too many of his team have become super-rich by exploiting every tax fiddle… [We should] sweep away tax scams and everybody should pay tax at the same rate on earnings and other income.”

Not The Harrow Times is proud to support Boris Johnson for re-election as London Mayor.