Jeff Brunton

Lover of God, family, golf and coffee.

[Alan Smith @AlanJLSmith]

In the 24 months since Labour came to power, we've seen;

• Employer National Insurance increased from 13.8% to 15%.
• The employer NI threshold cut from £9,100 to £5,000.
• Income Tax and National Insurance thresholds frozen until 2031.
• Capital Gains Tax increased from 10% and 20% to 18% and 24%.
• Business Asset Disposal Relief increased from 10% to 14%, then 18%.
• Investors’ Relief increased and its lifetime allowance cut from £10 million to £1 million.
• Carried interest taxation increased and moved towards the Income Tax regime.
• Dividend tax rates increased by two percentage points.
• Savings-income tax rates increased by two percentage points.
• Property-income tax rates increased by two percentage points.
• Most unused pension funds brought into the Inheritance Tax net.
• Agricultural Property Relief restricted.
• Business Property Relief restricted.
• Inheritance Tax thresholds frozen for longer.
• The non-dom regime replaced with a more extensive residence-based system.
• VAT imposed on private school fees.
• Business-rates relief removed from private schools.
• Stamp Duty increased on second homes and buy-to-let properties.
• The Furnished Holiday Lettings tax regime abolished.
• Pension salary-sacrifice benefits capped at £2,000 before National Insurance applies.
• The Cash ISA allowance cut to £12,000 for most under-65s.
• A 22% charge introduced on interest from cash held inside non-cash ISAs.
• Restrictions introduced on transfers and cash-like holdings within ISAs.
• The Energy Profits Levy increased and extended.
• Investment allowances for oil and gas producers reduced.
• A new Vaping Products Duty introduced.
• Tobacco duties increased above inflation.
• Vehicle Excise Duty increased for many new cars.
• Electric vehicles brought into the Vehicle Excise Duty system.
• A new mileage tax announced for electric and plug-in hybrid cars.
• Air Passenger Duty increased.
• Climate Change Levy rates increased.
• Plastic Packaging Tax increased.
• A new Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism introduced.
• Making Tax Digital extended to more landlords and self-employed people.

Together they represent one of the biggest transfers of wealth from households and businesses to the Treasury in decades - with no noticeable improvement in public services.

Whether you're a business owner employing staff, a parent paying school fees, a farmer planning succession, an entrepreneur building wealth or simply someone trying to save for retirement...

You keep less of what you earn.
You keep less of what you invest.
You leave less to your family.

Death by a thousand cuts is becoming tax policy.

[Scott Roberts @ScottRoberts]

Happy Reformation Month!

[Alpha @alphacourse]

When you’re interested in the meaning of life but you also just like free food. 🍕💭

We’re not saying Alpha will change your life. But it might help some of it make more sense. Bring your questions, your doubts, or just your appetite.

[Alpha @alphacourse]

So, this is Alpha?

A space to think out loud about life, faith and purpose. 💭

Head to the link in our bio to find an Alpha near you 📍

[Alpha @alphacourse]

Alpha is for anyone who’s curious. 💭 No judgement, no pressure. Each session unpacks a big question of life, faith, and purpose, and is designed to spark conversation. Come along, see what you think.  

Head to the link in our bio to find an Alpha near you. 📍

[Mark Ritchie @markritchieuk]

So many churches rammed on Easter Sunday
Hundreds in overflows
Four thousand five hundred where I was.
Christianity is alive

[Mark Ritchie @markritchieuk]

People are coming to faith in huge numbers all over the U.K.

[Jeff Brunton @JeffBrunton]

@NelsonGCgreens Great to see the course looking better year on year. Much appreciated.

[Rachael Heffer @rachael_heffer]

Hugely encouraging new research from the Bible Society & YouGov. Church decline in England & Wales has not only stopped, but the Church is seeing dramatic growth, with Gen Z leading an exciting turnaround in church attendance.
The ‘Quiet Revival’ research https://t.co/ZvB7ZE9wXE

[Jeff Brunton @JeffBrunton]

@NelsonGCgreens @PaulFMW_TJGOLF Classy. 👏🏻

[Jeff Brunton @JeffBrunton]

@markritchieuk That’s so bad.

[Elon Musk @elonmusk]

Milton Friedman was the best

[Ｐｅｔｅｒ Ｌｙｎａｓ @peterlynas]

While Kim Leadbeater's intentions may be genuine, her bill on assisted suicide is deeply flawed.

[Kevin Edger @KEdge23]

The return of the sausages.

Labour’s only decent policy.

[Shmergel Flonk @shmergel]

Return Of The Sausages!

(A film by No Idea Keir Studios)

[Conservatives @Conservatives]

Keir Starmer uses his first big speech as Prime Minister to call for the return of the sausages

[Gavin Calver @GavCalver]

I hope that the #PARIS2024 #OlympicGames are a great success. However, it really was appalling to see Christianity so openly mocked in the opening ceremony with the unbelievably crass portrayal of the Last Supper. Utterly insensitive, unnecessary & offensive

[David Robertson @theweeflea]

Kenny Farquharson wrote one of the most hateful, bitter, irrational and intolerant pieces of invective I have ever read. Shame to the Times for publishing it. Here is my response...kudos to Christian Today for having the courage to publish it...https://t.co/dfI6jPwCPb

[David Robertson @theweeflea]

The Indian Council of Scotland
·
Statement:
It is with increased discomfort we view the unseemly language being used to denigrate Kate Forbes MSP – a potential candidate for the office of First Minister.
Let me be very clear; I am not a Scottish nationalist and do not support the fragmenting of the United Kingdom. But that does not prevent me, nor the Indian Councils of Scotland and the United Kingdom, from expressing our collective disgust at the language used to mis-characterise a young, Scottish Protestant, Kate Forbes.
She is in our view, doing her utmost as a devout Christian, to adhere to the teachings of her Saviour.
I have never met Ms Forbes – but I understand her family distinguished themselves in India. Her father worked as an accountant managing the finances of a group of Christian mission hospitals which ensured people living in poverty were able to access free health care.
For that alone, the Indian Councils of Scotland and the United Kingdom, salute the Forbes family.
As a child in India – we know Ms Forbes will have been imbued with a deep love and affection for the people of India, their traditions, religions, and varying social and economic circumstances.
Are some members of her own party and the extremists of the Green party really saying a young Highland lady, and a follower of Jesus Christ, is not fit to hold the highest office in devolved Scotland?
If every other faith was subjected to the scrutiny and opprobrium Ms Forbes and her Church is subjected to – few would be deemed fit for office by the secular ‘religious police’.
Religious intolerance blights our society - and what has been said and written about Ms Forbes, shames us all. I am not from her religious tradition, but I commend her honesty and the uncomplicated simplicity of her Christian faith. Her mother and father laboured as devout Scottish Christians in India. Sadly, it appears, their talented daughter is not allowed to express her faith in her native land.
I’ll finish this note with a quote from Kate Forbes, speaking on the BBC, she said:
“I believe in the person of Jesus Christ, I believe He died for me, He saved me and that my calling is to serve and to love Him and to serve and love my neighbours with all my heart and soul and mind and strength. So that, for me, is essential to my being. Politics will pass. I was a person before I was a politician, and that person will continue to believe that I am made in the image of God.”
Neil Lal
Chairman and President
of
The Indian Council of Scotland and United Kingdom

[Mal Fletcher @malfletcher]

🇬🇧Well done UK! "Making things" accounts for 34.5% of all UK goods and services exports says Oxford Economics study.