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Finance Bill

What the hon. Gentleman needs to consider is what happens to the admittedly small number of people who are responsible for generating the jobs that employ those at the bottom end of the spectrum. If the tax rate in this country is perceived to be entering a period of prolonged excess by international standards—we have been led to believe that the new top marginal rate will place us third in a list of 83 of the most world's most developed countries—this country will not be perceived as an attractive place in which to generate business, which allows the employment of people living here and attracts other people. That is the fundamental issue which seems to be so absent from the debate conducted by Labour Members, and that is where I think the Government are making such a terrible mistake.