tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732407426313451205.post8625957379528430329..comments2024-03-08T15:43:20.236+00:00Comments on Keynesian Liberal: VAT: worry about histroic buildings, not pasties.Peter Wrigleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16481117156930677255noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732407426313451205.post-75885950722346420512021-08-05T12:53:07.598+01:002021-08-05T12:53:07.598+01:00Everyone knows that the latest economic bubble to ...Everyone knows that the latest economic bubble to burst had a lot to do with the real estate industry. And as a result, the entire real estate industry has taken a huge hit in terms of value, investor confidence, as well as in many other ways. This is bad news for those who are now underwater on their mortgages (they owe more on their mortgage than their home is actually worth), and it may seem like bad news for real estate professionals as well. But this is not necessarily the case for those that are able to generate enough real estate leads. <a href="https://www.payitforwardlending.com/" rel="nofollow">best mortgage lenders las vegas</a><br />Carlohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03468914094003766792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732407426313451205.post-41220635768430612772012-04-21T17:35:19.486+01:002012-04-21T17:35:19.486+01:00Rather than impose VAT on alterations to listed bu...Rather than impose VAT on alterations to listed buildings the Government should recognise their importance and make a proper effort to keep them in good order by removing VAT altogether from repairs and alterations. There should also be a sensible adjustment to the fiscal arrangements to recognise that owners of these properties are everyday philanthropists and should have the first £50K spent allowable against their income tax as other donors to the public good are apparently encouraged. The present arrangements lead often to huge hardship to vulnerable individualsMark Pattersonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732407426313451205.post-68667386169750515082012-04-12T19:00:21.859+01:002012-04-12T19:00:21.859+01:00Thanks for your comment, Stuart. That ongoing proj...Thanks for your comment, Stuart. That ongoing projects should be exempt is an obvious first step, but if we show any sense at all we should go much further, not only exempting historic buildings from paying VAT on their repairs and maintenance, but also giving them state support, as happens in France. <br /><br />Many of these buildings are churches and it is ridiculous that the cost of their care and upkeep should devolve on the dwindling band of Churchgoing believers. Their importance to our culture, and, perhaps shamefully, our economic survival, far exceeds their functions as places of worship. <br /><br />The recommended economics textbook for a course I'm teaching at the moment has this to say about the UK's comparative advantage in international trade:<br /><br />"The UK has an abundance of history. Castles, battlefields, the monarchy and parliament all attract visitors. We can produce history better than most and, in exchange, France provides us with wine, India with textiles, Australia with sheep and Barbados with tropical holidays."<br /><br />A bit of a comedown from being the workshop of the world, but perhaps a more durable asset than being a Mecca for financial whiz-kids. I do not relish the thought of our surviving by dressing in smocks, carrying pitchforks and re-enacting battles, but these may be an important reality in our future, and historic buildings will play an essential part. <br /><br />So the government should look beyond the next election and "get real."Peter Wrigleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16481117156930677255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732407426313451205.post-71604565704893807062012-04-09T18:36:56.649+01:002012-04-09T18:36:56.649+01:00Totally agree - is this the big society?
Cameron a...Totally agree - is this the big society?<br />Cameron and Osbourne are philistines.<br />They should go back to the Bullingdon where they belong.<br />Surely ongoing projects should still be exempt?<br />We really are all in it together.stuartnoreply@blogger.com