You have a really weird outlook on things, RC, and use emotional language in very inconsistent way. > Less than 1/3rd of tax raised comes from income tax, most of the tax liability falls on those in the ?20-100,000 bracket. Actually, the top 10% of earners (i.e. over ?50,500) contribute 55.3% of income tax revenues. > By giving that ?0.05p back per pound earned equates to ?40,000 (per million) if this not paying the rich then what is it? They aren't 'giving it back'. They lowering the rate from now on. If the council tax rate falls this year, are the council 'paying' you? They dropped beer duty by 1p in the budget - are drinkers being 'paid' by the government? Obviously, no in all cases. > By having one's income cut without any way of recourse is tantamount to theft. 'Tantamount to theft'? No. That's not theft, unless you drastically redefine the word 'theft'. Are you saying that when Labour put the top rate of tax up to 50% that was 'theft' as well?? Well, by your definition it was.