I WANTED to respond to John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, over his refusal to say that the general level of taxation would rise under a Labour government.

Specifically he said that only those earning £70-£80,000 would have to pay more, despite just 15 per cent of people earning over £42,000 and just one in 20 earning £78,000 per year.

We need an honest debate about tax to ensure that are public services are protected.

It’s deeply disappointing to hear the shadow chancellor back away from a radical shake-up of the tax system to truly redistribute wealth and support our public services.

The truth is that that anyone paying higher rate tax is in the top 15 per cent of earners in the country, and we should be asking them to pay more to stop our NHS crumbling and our welfare state being destroyed.

Indeed the general level of taxation in the country should be going up.

That’s why the Green Party will, in the coming weeks, reveal a bold tax plan which would provide Britain with world-leading public services.

Rachel Smith

Green Party County Council candidate for Minchinhampton Division