“No taxation without representation!”

We’re all familar with the demand that triggered the American war of independence.

Colonists felt it was deeply unfair that they should have no say on how they were governed from afar, but still had to pay duties on luxury goods received via that far-off government.

Nowadays there are those who would like to flip this idea around, claiming that those who pay ‘no tax’ should not be represented in government.

This is based on misinformation of course, ‘no tax’ in this case means ‘no income tax’.   People who are not eligible to pay income tax still pay national insurance, VAT, fuel duty, tobacco and alcohol duties, car tax, insurance tax, and these taxes often represent a significant proportion of their income.

What those suggesting “No representation without taxation” are really saying is “You don’t count.”

Tax is far too important to merely avoid.   Time to think differently about it, before it’s too late.