Cameron faces revolt from his local church pulpit over £20m Budget tax raid

April 14th, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

By
Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED:

18:45 EST, 13 April 2012

|

UPDATED:

18:56 EST, 13 April 2012

David Cameron is facing a mounting backlash from the Church over a £20million Budget tax raid.

Clergy in Mr Cameron’s Witney constituency in Oxfordshire have joined a campaign against the plan to impose 20 per cent VAT on alterations to historic buildings.

The Church of England has warned that the tax could lead to work on thousands of church buildings being delayed or scrapped.

Wise move? David Cameron has come under fire from his own church after plans to impose a tax hike on historic buildings

The Bishop of Exeter, Michael Langrish, described the proposal – which the Treasury says is needed to correct an ‘anomaly’ in the VAT system – as a ‘tax on churches’.

‘The VAT change shows muddled thinking on behalf of the Government,’ he said. ‘It is a poorly thought-out aspect of the Budget, and shows a complete misunderstanding on their behalf. They didn’t really think through the implications.’

Retired bishop Bill Down, chairman of the £750,000 restoration appeal for the medieval St Mary’s Church in the centre of Witney, has written to the Prime Minister, warning that the move unfairly penalises the Church.

Critical: The Rt Revd Michael Langrish, Bishop of Exeter has condemned the 'tax on churches'

Critical: The Rt Revd Michael Langrish, Bishop of Exeter has condemned the ‘tax on churches’

Local churchwardens have also signed the letter. Mr Down said: ‘If we have to pay VAT of £150,000 it could make all the difference between success and failure.’

The row comes days after Mr Cameron called for a ‘Christian fightback’, following attempts to ban prayers in town hall meetings and the wearing of crosses.

Straightforward repair work on listed buildings have long attracted VAT, but churches are able to claim some of that money back from a special Govern- ment fund.

Mere alterations to historic buildings had been zero-rated for VAT purposes. The Government’s rebate scheme is to be extended to cover this work, but only £5million of new money has been announced. Figures suggest churches are already unable to claim back more than half of the VAT they incur on renovations.

Churches say they are investing increasingly heavily in alterations to bring their buildings up to date and open them up for community use.

Examples include improving accessibility, installing toilets and kitchens and creating new rooms and storage areas. Harriet Harman, Labour’s culture spokesman, urged the Government to reconsider its VAT changes. ‘Listed buildings are our country’s heritage – our past and our values built into bricks and mortar,’ she said.

‘The Government’s plan to scrap the zero-rating for approved alterations – alterations which will allow them to continue serving their communities – threatens their future as well as their past.’

Home from home: But those at St Mary the Virgin Church in Witney, Cameron's local church, will be less pleased with his taxing

Home from home: But those at St Mary the Virgin Church in Witney, Cameron’s local church, will be less pleased with his taxing

The Treasury insisted the measure was justified. A spokesman said yesterday: ‘It is not right that a church already pays VAT on repairs but a millionaire can stick a swimming pool in his listed mansion, VAT-free. This simply corrects this anomaly in the VAT system.’

The Church of England said the change will cost its congregations ‘up to £20million per year on works to its 12,500 listed church buildings, assuming of course parishes and cathedrals can now afford to go ahead and undertake the works required’.

It added: ‘This is a real blow to communities who are seeking to maintain and develop their churches to enable [them] to be more widely used by the community.’

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Vote UKIP

– Betty Windsor, Sherborne, 14/4/2012 08:06

Dave attacks anything traditionally English: churches, marriage, giving to charities, etc.
I used to be a Conservative-voter but what is the point? Even the socialists didn’t attack marriage and the church.

– George, Bolton, 14/4/2012 07:54

I am glad that such a body as the clergy has spoken on this topic . Young Cameron and his Chancellor are precisely that . . . . . young , inexperienced and foundering . Post 1950s , people and groups got together to help , protect , restore and save our historical buildings , all that which gives our country it’s identity and heritage . To impose a further tax on an already highly costly endeavour is iniquitous . So what is the gov’t saying ? We’ll tax you on preservation and we will tax you FOR conservation ? It seems that this gov’t (Cameron ) is as ineffective in power as he was in opposition . I now also want to know directly from Clegg and Osborne et al , why they wish to undermine and destroy the little pride left for this country . This extra tax is a precursor to ruin in all senses . How this can be justified and rationalised is beyond my understanding. It seems this gov’t , led by Cameron , is happy to tax history and values out of existence .

– Angela Baring, London and Berkshire ., 14/4/2012 07:44

Is nobody safe from this government (apart from the rich). I wouldn’t be surprised if they returned the window tax, anything to rob and control those less well off than their own little clique…

– increasingly_disillusioned, London, 14/4/2012 07:34

wow, discontent regarding his performance has finally reached his own constituency. Only Samantha and the children left, and the children can`t vote……

– thommo, solihull, 14/4/2012 07:11

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