The VAT Ditty

Petition: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petit...

Lyrics:
Listen to this song from Wakefield Cathedral where we're in a right old mess.
It's taken four years to start our renovation, now the Budget's caused us real distress;
There's a threat to levy extra VAT on any Changes to buildings of antiquity,
So please sign the e-petition launched from our Cathedral -- please help, this is an SOS!

Wakefield Cathedral's not rich and famous but suddenly we're headline news ... we're
Really very poor and now we have no floor. We've even sold the pews to raise
Funds this listed building to renovate, for future generations to appreciate, but
Now we're in the mire, the VAT bill's just got higher, and legally work has to stop.

Work has to stop 'coz charities and churches must by law have funds to pay every bill, so if HMRC want to charge more VAT it brings our project to a major stand still. This
Change is anti-Community - unlikely to build Big Society as local groups discover this VAT they can't recover so they might as well pack up and go home.

So come on Mr Osborne, do the decent thing - there really is no excuse ... to tax
Buildings that are listed, this VAT must be resisted where the building's for community use. You tax people's incomes before they fundraise to save their local building so please reappraise and stop this double taxation you're imposing on the nation to raise VAT that causes projects great harm.
I hope this song will twist your arm.

• Category

  Autos & Vehicles

[obscurasky]

The CofE receives millions pounds of tax payers money every single year for repairs and renovations, and that's despite having an investment fund of four BILLION pounds. They should stop bleeting on about how much more money they want from the rest of society and put their own financial house in order first.

[bobirving99]

Isn't he also going to p*ss off all his rich friends who own listed houses in the Cotswolds as well?

[Stephanie de leng]

sorry to be thick but where is the petition??? Looked around a bit in vain.

[David Robson]

Excellent way of protesting without the usual anarchistic rant - good luck!

(I wonder what LAnonHubbard will grow up to be - Marxist or Muslim or a B?anker or simply just an extremist for the sake of.......????))

[wearetheMAZE]

The issue is not whether churches should pay VAT or not, It is that such a major change of £200,000 should have been phased in with due warning! So that responsible decisions about expendeture can be made. As you can see once the floor is up its too late to delay the project and raise more money. The community raised enough money to support the rennovations and now £200,000 have been added on to what has already been raised.

[WakefieldCathedral]

I am sorry, but we have reluctantly had to move to pre-approved comments due to some individuals who thought might be it amusing to post highly obscene and defamatory remarks under the video. We are still approving comments both for and against the VAT increase, including your own. I think most people would agree that both views are being represented equally.

[LAnonHubbard]

There's a YouTube channel called WakefieldCathedral who also have this video up. Comments were not being censored initially. I posted a few messages on there as did others who didn't agree with the VAT exemption. GUESS WHAT? Those messages have been wiped out and comments are now pending approval! Way to go religious entities... you are in keeping with your tradition of obliterating opposing views!

[AJF2149]

It's an extra tax not on income but on repairs / restoration of listed buildings whether religious or not (tho' a great proportion are religious for historical reasons). They are part of the national architectural and cultural heritage which belongs to everyone. This is an intelligent secular argument, not one based on a narrow economic definition of viability.In fact cathedral attendances have increased by 30% in recent years but listed ancient monuments etc need exemption from this extra tax.

[LAnonHubbard]

"They are not disposable assets to be downsized..."

But if they're not viable, why not? It's nothing to do with secularism. Do you think an Islamic state (i.e. an example of a non-secular state) would maintain this building? Admittedly a bit tongue in cheek, but I'm trying to show it's not a dichotomy of "get the tax break or it's the fault of secularism".