A major public petition calling on the government to significantly increase the income tax personal allowance has passed a crucial milestone, triggering an official response from the Treasury.
Public Demand for Tax Relief
The petition, directed at HMRC, demands that the Personal Tax Allowance be raised from its current level of £12,570 to £20,000. This appeal to the Labour Party government has now garnered over 10,000 signatures, forcing the issue into the political spotlight. The petition's creators argue that the change is desperately needed to help families cope with soaring living costs.
It states that the increase would provide vital assistance with "increasing rent, mortgages, Council tax, and Gas and Electric bills." The petition highlights a specific crisis point for families, noting that "Some families can’t afford to go back to work after children due to childcare costs wiping their whole income!" The text goes on to describe current tax levels as "ridiculous" and asserts that the minimum wage is insufficient to support an average household.
Political Reactions and the Road to Parliament
The petition has now entered a critical phase. For it to be considered for a debate in Parliament, it must reach 100,000 signatures. The early show of support has not gone unnoticed by political figures.
Liberal Democrats spokesperson Daisy Cooper commented on the public mood, saying, "The number of people who have signed it speaks to the strength of public feeling about this issue." She described the petition as more than just an expression of opinion, but a "cry for help" from families across the country who are gripped by the cost-of-living crisis. She pointed to a "toxic combination" where people see their taxes rise without a corresponding improvement in public services.
Government's Fiscal Stance
In an official response, James Murray, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, acknowledged the views of the petitioners. He stated the government's desire is for taxes on working people and pensioners to be "as low as possible."
However, he firmly defended the government's position of fiscal responsibility. He emphasised that while the administration was elected to put more money in people's pockets, it was also elected to do so responsibly. Mr Murray delivered a stark warning, stating that raising the personal allowance to £20,000 would cost more than £50 billion.
He directly compared this figure to the "£45 billion of unfunded tax cuts announced by Liz Truss in her disastrous mini-Budget," suggesting that such an unfunded move would lead to "economic chaos and the collapse of public services." He concluded that this outcome would ultimately harm working people and pensioners the most.
The petition remains open for signatures, leaving the door open for further political debate as it approaches its next target.
