Rich pickings

Now that we know the Tories still think it is a top priority to cut inheritance tax, it's worth putting the effect of this policy into some context. Channel 4's "FactCheck" website reports that only the 3,000 largest estates across the UK will receive the full benefit of the giveaway, with the 8,000 next-richest receiving partial benefit, and nobody else gaining anything at all.

Bringing this down to a more local scale: in each one of our local constituencies, on average, the richest five people's survivors will be better off by 270,000 each; a further 12 rich people's survivors will be better off by smaller, but still substantial, amounts; and the remaining 70,000 people will gain nothing.

Can we really afford such handouts to Dave and his chums ?

ARCHIE FLOCKHART

Irvine Place

Aberdeen

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