Taxation - and the public spending it pays for - is once again the central issue in British politics. Paying for Progress: A New Politics of Tax for Public Spending makes a powerful case for a new approach.

The report of the independent Commission on Taxation and Citizenship, established by the Fabian Society and chaired by Raymond Plant, Professor of European Political Thought at the University of Southampton, Paying for Progress argues that the UK needs a new debate about the levels of taxation necessary to finance better public services. It articulates a new philosophy of citizenship to underpin taxation in a modern society.

Reporting the results of original quantitative and qualitative research into public attitudes towards taxation, Paying for Progress argues that the public must be 'reconnected' to the taxes they pay and the public services which these finance. To do this it proposes the greater use of earmarked or 'hypothecated' taxes, including a new tax to fund the National Health Service. It argues for the independent auditing of government performance, a new power of local taxation, a more progressive structure of income tax and the greater use of environmental taxes.

Providing a wealth of carefully presented information on the UK tax system, Paying for Progress it will be an invaluable text for students and researchers in politics, economics, public administration, social policy, law and accountancy.

• Paying for Progress: A New Politics of Tax for Public Spending, (November 2000, 388 pages, £9.95, ISBN 0 7163 6003 9) is available from the Fabian Society on 020 7227 4900 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or send a cheque payable to 'the Fabian Society' to 11 Dartmouth Street, London, SW1H 9BN

"Coherent, radical and lucid … this important book raises critical questions for the future of British politics.

— Will Hutton

"The Fabian Society has consistently been at the cutting-edge of this debate"

— Andrew Rawnsley, The Observer

"Highly recommended … The clarity with which it explores the facts and arguments about the tax system makes it an extremely valuable text for students and researchers … it will prove a benchmark for future work on taxation reform"

— Andrew Gamble, Professor of Politics, University of Sheffield