BBC Question Time Young Man Rouses Audience On Inheritance Tax

Surprisingly simple.

A young man surprised the BBC Question Time audience on Thursday with a simple reason for supporting inheritance tax.

In a humourous exchange, the youngster aired his views on a topic ordinarily the preserve of aged newspaper columnists and older politicians.

And the young man even told a fellow audience member to "shut up" when he was rudely interrupted. Watch the exchange, above.

The young man said: 'I feel like we’ve got away from the real issue which is inheritance tax'
The young man said: 'I feel like we’ve got away from the real issue which is inheritance tax'
BBC

Drawing laughter from the audience, the young man said: "I feel like we’ve got away from the real issue which is inheritance tax."

He explained: "I was reading on the Equality Trust website that one of the biggest reasons that people are rich in the UK is because they were born rich.

"And that’s the purpose behind inheritance tax to deal with that.

"The purpose behind the tax is to deal with that trouble. Whether it’s an efficient tax is a question that needs to be answered.

“Whether it’s an efficient tax is a question that needs to be answered”

"If it’s not then we need to look at other ways we addressed the issue of how prosperity, wealth, is derived from who your parents are rather than what you work for."

The BBC’s flagship political show, which was broadcast from Doncaster, was debating the issue of inheritance tax.

The issue has emerged since the Prime Minister published his tax statement on Saturday and it was revealed he had received £200,000 from his mother following his father’s death.

The young man's interjection went down well with many on Twitter.

What a sensible young man explaining purpose of inheritance tax to an ignorant panel,rich ppl are rich because their parents are rich #bbcqt

— Diane Hain (@dianehain) April 14, 2016

Young man talking sense about problem with inheritance tax. Wealth being increasingly concentrated in hands of fewer people #bbcqt

— Linda Lincoln (@The_Molmeister) April 14, 2016

While others highlighted statistics around inheritance tax which provide perspective to the debate.

Just 3.1% of deaths were affected by inheritance tax in 2012-13 (PDF), which is applied to a person's wealth above £325,000.

Labour MP Liz McInnes tweeted figures from Private Eye which contrasted the number of people actually affected each year by inheritance tax with those affected by cuts to disability benefits.

How many "Poor underachievers" are stressing about inheritance tax? #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/kPK6AwYsQZ

— Liz McInnes (@LizMcInnesMP) April 14, 2016

Others highlighted the proportion of tax applied against an estate, arguing it was far from 100%.

Inheritance tax is *40%*. From the way people talk about it you'd think it was 100%. #bbcqt

— George Eaton (@georgeeaton) April 14, 2016

Young viewers were switched on to the inheritance tax debate, however, with many airing their disapproval of the controversial levy.

Inheritance tax has got to go, fundamentally immoral. Simply double taxation that fall on the high achieving middle class. #bbcqt

— Ed Laslett (@EdLaslett) April 15, 2016

Why do we even have inheritance tax? Why tax someone twice? #bbcqt

— Leon French (@Leon_French01) April 14, 2016

InheritanceTax is wrong, its double taxation. People work their entire lives to have what they leave behind plundered by government #bbcqt

— Chris Kirby (@Chris__Kirby) April 14, 2016

do folk actually seriously suggest 100% inheritance tax? I'd rather burn my house down #bbcqt

— Andrew D (@Incognito_D88) April 14, 2016
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