The Government has done such a hapless job of replying to these critics, I am no longer surprised they won’t entertain a capital gains tax or meaningful restructuring of the tax system in favour of working people. Labour MPs simply don’t have the political skills to make arguments for things that are not already popular.

Tax purity is good, but it’s not everything. Fairness matters too. From each according to your ability to pay is a more important principle than “simplest possible tax system”, because the simplest system is none at all.

If you think there are better ways to help working people, you are probably right, but it means a tax switch to cut income tax, and make up the revenue with wealth taxes and capital gains taxes

Josie's column in the Post this week discussed GST off fresh fruit and vegetables.