Tax and Social Security

Fair taxation is the means by which individuals and companies make their proportionate financial contribution to a well-functioning society. Through its distributional impact, it also has an effect on equality, wellbeing and sustainability as taxes allow for financing of public spending to pursue these objectives.

We believe that to achieve a caring economy, we need to transform the UK’s current tax system, so it is more progressive and inclusive​. This would increase the proportion of revenue raised by income, wealth and corporation taxes. Revenue that could be invested in our critical social infrastructure that has been underfunded for too long.

The current social security system, on which women disproportionately rely on, falls well short of a caring system. The real value of most cash benefits has been cut in recent years, while the cost of living has risen. The system has become punitive, stigmatising and harassing those applying for means-tested benefits. It excludes many migrants. It fails to address inequalities within households and to treat women as individuals with their own rights.

To achieve a social security system based on dignity and autonomy which ensures that everyone’s needs are truly met, fundamental changes to both taxation and social security are needed.