Funny how Labour used to be the party of the workers.

The concession was for small businesses, i.e. ma & pa operations that have a sale value of less than £750k. These companies are often operated on the basis that the sale of the company on retirement IS the pension plan - and £750k doesn't go all that far as an investment to live off for what could be up to 40-50 years from retirement. Not to mention that this capital gains tax (rather like inheritance tax) is on selling a business who's value has been largely built by people investing money in their business that has *already been taxed*. It's double-dipping, which even at 18% is scandalous.

They come across as a slightly more caring version of the Tories who financially screw you that little bit more. Their attitude on extending the life of ISAs was ridiculously patronising.

So, we have them & the Tories (who I still don't trust as a result of all of their shenanigans in the 90s). What's left? Lib Dems, Greens & (ha!) UKIP.

Is it any surprise that the electorate is so apathetic?

These bloody rich people, creating jobs and providing goods and services! They should all be shot- it's not as though they paid any tax in the building and running of their businesss....

That's what they pay accountants & politicians for.

e.g. http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2005/11/microsoft_slash.html

or further back http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/1998/01/silverstein.html

or even further back (70s?) the press ran the story of the FAMILY (whose name I forget) that owned land/cattle in the USA & a few hundred Dewhurst butchers shops in the UK paid UK 10 pounds tax.