"BRITAIN is in a real mess.

"You have to be incredibly lucky to find an NHS dentist, while millions of us are still waiting for NHS treatment. That’s before we even get to unaffordable energy bills and councils having to divert scarce funds to maintain essential services, or even going bust.

"The result? Children with the worst dental health in living memory, reduced street cleaning services and pothole-ridden roads.

"It will get even worse unless we can find more funds for the public purse.

"Meanwhile, corporations like Google and Microsoft with billions in turnover get away with paying ludicrously small amounts of tax and the wealthiest individuals in the country exploit tax loopholes to pay far less than their fair share.

"In 2022-23, our Prime Minister Rishi Sunak paid £508,308 in tax on overall gains of £2.23m - a rate of 23 per cent, almost half the top rate of 45 per cent.

"There is ample room for a more progressive tax regime to extract fairer amounts of tax from these corporations and individuals to help rectify our country's budget shortfalls. And let's be honest: they would hardly notice.

"The government needs to deliver a budget that works for people in our area and breathe life back into Britain.

"Rather than rumoured tax cuts - which tend to benefit the very wealthiest - the Chancellor should make the tax system fairer to invest in this country, our high streets, and our healthcare system.

"He could raise tens of billions of pounds by closing unfair tax loopholes, and ensuring that super-rich people and companies pay what’s fair.

"This way, tax can be used for good, so that everyone benefits. Will the Chancellor do the right thing for once?"

Bob Bater
Nailsea resident