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Osborne Can't Remember Visiting Greggs As The Pasty Tax Row Heats Up

The Huffington Post UK  |  By Posted: 27/03/2012 15:35 Updated: 28/03/2012 08:38

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Osborne was forced to defend putting VAT on baked goods.

George Osborne has come under fire from MPs for his decision to add 20% VAT on hot pasties and pies.

In a grilling by John Mann MP, Osborne defended imposing the tax on the baked goods. After Osborne's budget, all food sold "above ambient temperature" would carry VAT.

Mann fired questions at the Chancellor about whether the tax, dubbed the "pasty tax", applied on baked goods that were sold cold - or if originally hot but had gone cold. The Chancellor grimaced as he defended his decision.

Mann suddenly asked Osborne: "When was the last time you bought a pasty from Greggs?'

Osborne admitted: "I can't remember the last time I bought a pasty at Greggs"

Mann shot back: "That sums it up".

If George had been to one of their shops lately, he might know at least one of these fascinating facts about Greggs... including how one of Hollywood's most glamorous stars once nearly became the brand's official ambassador.

While the Granny Tax (with its Twitter hashtag #Grannytax) might not be considered a tax in the strictest sense, enough Cornish people have been incensed by the VAT changes to cause #pastytax to trend on Twitter.

It should be noted for balance, however that David Cameron did visit the headquarters of Greggs in January of 2011.

George Osborne has been warned that the pasty tax could damage the Cornish economy.

Thousands of people have joined a Facebook campaign urging the government to rethink the plans. Cornwall councillor Alex Folkes, who set up the Say No To The Pasty Tax group on Facebook, said: "Plans by the Government to introduce VAT on hot takeaway food from bakeries and supermarkets will actually mean a 'pasty tax' which will cost Cornwall jobs.

What with Tory donor dinners and rows over pasties, we noticed a strange correlation between political scandals and food...

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George Osborne has come under fire from MPs for his decision to add 20% VAT on hot pasties and pies. In a grilling by John Mann MP, Osborne defended imposing the tax on the baked goods. After Osbo...
George Osborne has come under fire from MPs for his decision to add 20% VAT on hot pasties and pies. In a grilling by John Mann MP, Osborne defended imposing the tax on the baked goods. After Osbo...
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clownzozo
Magician, Novelist and an Angry Old Git
166 Fans
 
12:23 PM on 03/28/2012
As far as I am aware, The Chancellor's Tax legislation, is merely that, a Parliamentary Statute, legislation that only applies to those who consent to it. (We are governed only with our consent otherwise suffrage would be pointless.)
The imposition of unfair of unjust legislation can be met by a lawful refusal to comply, because should the Government decide to try and enforce it in Court, it would place its entire taxation policy into the hands of a Jury. The Jury have more power than government or judiciary and are, therefore, our protection against tyranny by Government. These twelve randomly selected group of men and women, represent the views of 'the country' and judge not just according to law, but upon the law itself and whether it is fair, or just.
I can't imagine Mr Osborne risking a lawful challenge, can you?
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Joe Bauwens
4 Fans
01:34 PM on 03/28/2012
Under such circumstances a judge can order a jury to reach a guilty verdict, and if they refuse to comply, imprison them. We take taxes far more seriously than (for example) murder in the UK, as long as it's the little guy paying them.
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clownzozo
Magician, Novelist and an Angry Old Git
166 Fans
 
11:17 PM on 03/28/2012
Wrong, the Judge has no lawful power over the Jury for if that were the case why have a Jury? A Commemorative Plaque hangs at The Old Bailey, 'The Right of Jurors to Judge on the Justice of Law'
'Near this site, WILLIAM PENN and WILLIAM MEAD were tried in 1670 for preaching to an unlawful assembly in Grace Church Street. This tablet Commemorates
The Courage and Endurance of the Jury, Tos, Vere, Edward Bushell and ten others who refused to give a verdict against them although locked up without food for two nights and were fined for their final Verdict of Not Guilty.
The case of these Jurymen was reviewed on a writ of Habeas Corpus and Chief Justice Vaughan delivered the opinion of the Court which established, 'The Right of Juries to give their Verdict according to their Convictions.'

The Bushell Plaque established that Juries are not bound to convict if they feel that the defendant acted reasonably under the circumstances, or the law was unfair, or unjust.. They can declare such a law, a Non-Law and have it removed from the statute books. The judge, has no lawful legaslative role to play, it is the jury who acquit or convict, and decide the penalty, not the Judge or Government sentencing committee.

The Jury are our only safeguard against a Government removing our protection of the Law of the Land and becoming a dictatorship,
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emillio11
90 Fans
12:57 AM on 03/28/2012
I just wonder how many Bakeries are going to admit to selling hot pies etc now? The VAT take will be minimal...that being so...according to Osborn, it would be a waste of time trying to collect it...if it does not raise sufficent money in tax he should then get rid of it and no doubt then he will reduce the Pensioner's tax allowance even further. I'm waiting for the day he taxes us for breathing in and out on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
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clownzozo
Magician, Novelist and an Angry Old Git
166 Fans
 
12:25 PM on 03/28/2012
He already is, disguised as CO2 emission taxes.
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mokgee
Sabu.Satsang, Samsara, Solitude...
127 Fans
06:00 PM on 03/27/2012
These people are not stupid, they have worked on the answers before the questions arise, It is described as, preparation, it is what they are taught at UNI. In normal parlance it is described as, B>>>SHIT, or Bo>>>>>s. and my how there is plenty of it about withion the circles of life...
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Raffern
20 Fans
 
05:05 PM on 03/27/2012
When i get a Greggs pasty they are always cold should i say im not subject to the VAT
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Aaron L Spence
78 Fans
 
04:39 PM on 03/27/2012
I have serious questions about which Government randomly decided that pasties didn't need VAT. I mean, was that actually debated in the House!?
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scouse55
129 Fans
04:38 PM on 03/27/2012
........Mann fired questions at the Chancellor about whether the tax, dubbed the "pasty tax", applied on baked goods that were sold cold - or if originally hot but had gone cold. The Chancellor grimaced as he defended his decision.........

Well, as I interpret that, if what Mann asked is the case, it would mean ALL take away food, hot all cold would face 20% VAT, and the only foods not being so taxed would be the ingredients.

Is is not the case that ALL baked goods need to be heated, in order to become pasties, pies, cakes, biscuits etc?

So, any chance this can be cleared up, as it certainly has me confused.
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emillio11
90 Fans
01:00 AM on 03/28/2012
what about hot drinks of tea and coffee or hot cups of soup. The fella is a lunatic, Osborn should do the right thing and go and live on the Isle of Man..nobody would know he was there.
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