Letter: Budget losers

Kenneth Torricke-Barton
Friday 12 March 1999 20:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: The Government's latest tax increase, which puts 17.5p on a packet of 20 cigarettes, will devastate low-income smokers and force more people into dishonestly buying cheap smuggled cigarettes.

The Chancellor is flying in the face of economic reality. He admits it is a tax he cannot properly collect yet he continues to increase it.

How long will it be before the Government realises that reducing tax is the only way to stop this social and economic chaos?

KENNETH TORRICKE-BARTON

Fair Cigarette Tax Campaign

Tonbridge, Kent

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in