Thread by @SalWitcher

Good news @Keir_Starmer @RachelReevesMP! You can raise more than £5bn without implementing #PathwaysToPoverty [autocorrect] or raising taxes. All you need to do is implement Labour’s Manifesto commitment to clamp down on tax legally owed but unpaid. You’re welcome! 🧵

It also says "Labour will address unfairness in the tax system..abolish non-dom status... replacing it with a modern scheme for people genuinely in the country for a short period..end the use of offshore trusts to avoid inheritance tax..."

The total tax gap—the difference between tax legally owed and actually paid—is estimated at £39.8 billion (HMRC 2022–23 data, published mid‑2024). It’s due to a combination of ‘failure to take care’ (errors), error and evasion, and tax avoidance.

“The scale of tax avoidance and evasion by wealthy people could be much higher than the UK tax authority previously thought, a report by the National Audit Office has found (FT 16/05/25) ft.com/content/bdfdd7…

“The report pointed out that UK tax residents held £849bn in offshore accounts in 2019. It added: “Internally, HMRC has identified a much larger amount of tax at risk from all forms of offshore non-compliance, but it does not publish this figure.””

Of course, it’s very hard to work out just how much of rich people’s wealth is stashed offshore to avoid paying tax. We have a tax system full of loopholes, designed by the rich to benefit the rich – the hidden welfare state for the well-off.

Then there’s the fact that foreign ‘investment’ in British companies often means taking them over, restructuring to avoid paying UK tax, and siphoning profits overseas – another way for the rich to drain our country’s wealth, generated by British workers. blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/produ…

So instead of destroying the welfare state for the people who desperately need it, how about our Government stop fuelling the hidden welfare state for the well off? Just a suggestion…

How about they implement their Manifesto commitment, clamp down on tax owed but unpaid & tighten the gaping loopholes? How about they don’t slash £5bn support for sick/ disabled people & carers and cut Access to Work - neither in the Manifesto?

Labour has no electoral mandate for #PathwayToPoverty cuts. The massive cut to PIP is not part of the public consultation. But they are asking how they might improve safeguarding as they tip people over a precipice into abject destitution.

How is that consistent with their Manifesto which says "Labour is committed to championing the rights of disabled people and to the principle of working with them, so that their views and voices will be at the heart of all we do"?

At/ after 2nd reading it will be confirmed if the Bill is a 'Money Bill'. Looks very likely. If so it will by-pass detailed Committee scrutiny and remove scope for House of Lords to amend,

No electoral mandate for key cuts, no public consultation, no indepth Parliamentary scrutiny of this highly complex legislation with massive consequences for the most vulnerable people. Knowingly consigning 1/4 million to poverty. This is not democracy.

Far from strengthening of democracy after the abuse & corruption of previous govts, it further undermines trust. It clears the path for those who would destroy all democratic checks & balances, even govt itself, with nothing to protect us from rampant profiteering.

When public confidence in democracy goes, all are at the mercy of the rich & powerful. This is a real threat. We see it happening in the States. It can happen here. But there is an alternative. Build a strong, well-informed, participative democracy. Let's do that. Please 🙏