will Labour actually Axe the Tax?

The Labour Party's bus emblazoned with Axe the Tax - a reference to the Government's forthcoming increase in GST - begins its road trip around the country this week.

When asked if the next Labour Government will lower GST back to 12.5% however, the leader of the Labour Party, Phil Gough, says "I can't say that without knowing what our [fiscal] situation is" which most people interpret as another way of saying "no." Why can't he say "yes"? After all, the British Government was able to lower VAT there to combat the recession last year. Perhaps Gough just wants to be seen as being a little more honest than the National Party who before the last election said they would not increase it in their first term.

While on the subject of politicians, here's a joke as told by former US President Ronald Reagan which we like:-

An evangelical minister and a politician arrived at Heaven's gate one day together. And St. Peter, after doing all the necessary formalities, took them in hand to show them where their quarters would be. And he took them to a small, single room with a bed, a chair, and a table and said this was for the clergyman. And the politician was a little worried about what might be in store for him. And he couldn't believe it then when St. Peter stopped in front of a beautiful mansion with lovely grounds, many servants, and told him that these would be his quarters.

And he couldn't help but ask, he said, "But wait, how -- there's something wrong -- how do I get this mansion while that good and holy man only gets a single room?" And St. Peter said, "You have to understand how things are up here. We've got thousands and thousands of clergy. You're the first politician who ever made it."