Income tax was introduced in 1798 to fund the war against Napoleon, and as you might have noticed he’s been dead for quite a while now.
Technically, income tax is still a temporary tax – the government has to renew it every year in a Finance Act – and we’ve got rid of it on numerous occasions, only to bring it back again when the government of the day runs out of money to pay for wars or wallpaper…
We’re already hearing the sound of goalposts moving: depending on what you read the tax is either to pay for 2012 (broadband for everyone), 2017 (“next generation” broadband for 90% of the population) or 2032 (another war against France, just for a laugh).
The UK broadband tax: it’ll end up financing another war with France
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