Politics class: Labour and Tories fall prey to optimism on tax and spend

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Specification:

• Edexcel Component 1, Section 2.2: Established political parties

• AQA Component 1, 3.1.2: Political parties

Background: what you need to know

The article discusses the announcement in the March 2024 budget closing the historic tax loophole for ‘non-doms’ — people who do not pay tax on income earned outside the UK because they are not classified as resident there. This has created a problem for Labour, who were planning to implement a similar policy after the next general election.

The party now has to find other means of meeting its public spending pledges. This includes cracking down on loopholes and tax avoidance — something often promised by parties when they do not want to commit to unpopular tax increases.

Click the link below to read the article and then answer the questions:

Labour and Tories fall prey to optimism on tax and spend

Question in the style of AQA Politics Paper 1

• Evaluate the view that the ideas and policies of the three main political parties have become more similar in recent years. You must consider this view and the alternative to this view in a balanced way. [30 marks]

Question in the style of Edexcel Politics Paper 1

• ‘The policies of the three main political parties are very similar.’ Analyse and evaluate this statement. [25 marks] 

  TIP: Taxation (and economic policy in general) is just one policy area to look at. A successful answer will require you to consider other policies — on welfare, law and order and foreign policy, for example. Make sure that you compare the policies of the parties throughout your answer — and include the Liberal Democrats as well. Don’t fall into the trap of writing separately about each party, as this will limit your opportunities for analysis and evaluation.

Graham Goodlad, Portsmouth High School