Furthermore, it was always implied that this would ease the burden on income tax which has simply proved untrue. It has massively contributed to the rising tax burden on our people and with only non-EU Canada as an exception amongst leading nations, VAT has risen in all countries from the levels at which it was first imposed.
The Wall Street Journal points out that this naturally contributes to: heavier (and clearly more frivolous, government spending), lower levels of income growth and lower job creation.
Sometimes things which are 'the norm' fall below our radar. Like the EU itself, VAT must always remain in the forefront of our thinking.