Episode 32: "Andy Burnham Just Became PM. Here's Why That Should Terrify”

Episode 32: "Andy Burnham Just Became PM. Here's Why That Should Terrify”

This week a man walked into Number 10 having told the TUC that our economic model “doesn’t work well enough for ordinary people.” I want to be fair to him. He probably means it. That isn’t the danger. The danger is that we’ve heard those exact words before — and I can show you where they led. In this episode I explain, in plain English, the real difference between capitalism and socialism. Then we go and look at what happened the last time Britain picked the second one. Inside: * Why nobody on earth knows how to make a pencil — and why that’s the whole argument * The 83% tax on earnings and the 98% rate on savings. Not a typo. * September 1976: the Chancellor turns back at Heathrow as the pound collapses, and Britain borrows more than any nation had ever asked of the IMF * The winter the rats took Leicester Square and the gravediggers of Liverpool went on strike * The strongest arguments against my case — made properly, then answered * What Thatcher actually did, and the real price communities paid, which I don’t dress up * “But what about the sewage?” — the statistic almost nobody knows Nobody who built the 1970s wanted coffins stacked in a warehouse. They all meant well. Good intentions are not a policy. 🎧 Listen now — 40 minutes. 🔒 Paying subscribers get The Receipts: every figure sourced, including the Budget speech where a sitting Chancellor calls the 98% rate “an absurdity” that raises almost nothing. Think for yourself. Keep what’s yours. Get full access to Taxed & Taken: Money, Power & Freedom from the State at patelankeet.substack.com/subscribe [https://patelankeet.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Episode 31: Gary Stevenson Is Wrong About Inequality (But Not for the Reason You Think)

Gary Stevenson has become one of Britain’s most influential voices on inequality, arguing that the rich are getting richer while everyone else falls behind—and that a 2% annual wealth tax is the solution. In this episode, I take Gary’s argument seriously and examine it from first principles. We explore: * Why house prices and asset values exploded after 2008. * How Quantitative Easing and government borrowing changed the financial system. * Why savers were punished while asset owners benefited. * Whether billionaires really take your money—or whether government takes far more throughout your lifetime. * A detailed worked example of a £100 million business under a 2% annual wealth tax. * Why many European countries abandoned wealth taxes. * What Britain can learn from countries such as Ireland, Estonia, Switzerland and Singapore. * And finally, my alternative vision for reducing inequality—through lower taxes, greater ownership and a smaller, more focused government. Whether you agree or disagree, this episode challenges one of the biggest economic debates of our time. Get full access to Taxed & Taken: Money, Power & Freedom from the State at patelankeet.substack.com/subscribe [https://patelankeet.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Episode 30: The Housing Crisis Isn't About Houses — It's a 50-Year Cover-Up

Why do homes feel more unaffordable than ever? Most people blame greedy landlords, property developers, foreign investors or a lack of supply. But what if they’re only looking at the symptoms? In Episode 30 of Taxed & Taken, we take a completely different approach to the UK’s housing crisis. Instead of asking “Why are houses so expensive?” we ask a much bigger question: What happened to our money? In this episode, you’ll discover: * 🏠 Why rising house prices don’t necessarily mean homeowners have become wealthier. * 📉 How the collapse of the Bretton Woods system in 1971 changed the global monetary system. * 💷 The impact of money printing, quantitative easing and fiat currency on property prices. * 🪙 Why pricing houses in gold tells a completely different story. * ⚡ How expensive energy, planning restrictions and regulation have dramatically increased the cost of building homes. * 🏗️ Why simply promising more “affordable housing” doesn’t automatically make housing affordable. * 🇬🇧 What Britain could do to restore genuine housing affordability for future generations. This isn’t an episode about politics. It’s an episode about economics. Whether you’re a homeowner, a first-time buyer, a landlord or simply curious about why the housing market feels broken, this episode will challenge the way you think about property forever. If you enjoy the episode, please consider sharing it with someone who is trying to get onto the property ladder or anyone who believes rising house prices automatically mean a country is becoming wealthier. 🎙️ Welcome to Taxed & Taken: The Podcast They Don’t Want You To Hear — where we challenge conventional wisdom, question the policies shaping our lives, and explore the economics behind the headlines. Get full access to Taxed & Taken: Money, Power & Freedom from the State at patelankeet.substack.com/subscribe [https://patelankeet.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Episode 29: The Property Secrets the Wealthy Never Tell You | Tax, Retirement & Generational Wealth Part 2

Most people think property investing is about buying houses. The wealthy know it's about building freedom, protecting wealth and creating opportunities for generations to come. Over the past two episodes we’ve explored how to build a profitable property portfolio. But building wealth is only half the challenge. In this episode, we explore how experienced investors think once they’ve built a successful portfolio. We discuss why many investors use limited companies, the impact of Section 24, how retained profits can accelerate growth, and why property should be viewed as a cash-generating engine rather than the end goal. We also cover how rental profits can help fund pensions, diversify into other businesses, create multiple retirement income streams, and support long-term financial freedom. Finally, we examine succession planning, inheritance, family businesses and why financial education may be the greatest asset you can ever pass to the next generation. Whether you’re buying your first investment property or already have an established portfolio, this episode is about thinking beyond the next purchase—and starting to think in generations. In this episode we discuss: * Why many experienced investors use limited companies * How Section 24 changed buy-to-let investing * Retaining profits to accelerate portfolio growth * Property as a cash-generating engine for future investments * Capital allocation and how wealthy investors think * Using property profits to build a pension * Creating multiple retirement income streams * Succession planning and protecting family wealth * Frozen shares and growth shares explained simply * Why financial education is the greatest inheritance * The real purpose of property investing: freedom If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing, sharing it with a friend, and leaving a review. It really helps the podcast reach more people. Get full access to Taxed & Taken: Money, Power & Freedom from the State at patelankeet.substack.com/subscribe [https://patelankeet.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Episode 28: How Ordinary People Build Wealth Through Property Investing | Part 1

Welcome back to Taxed & Taken: The Podcast They Don’t Want You To Hear. This is Part 1 of a special two-part series on Property Investing. In this episode I explain why property remains one of the most powerful wealth-building tools available to ordinary people and how successful investors think differently from landlords. We discuss: ✔ Why property creates wealth ✔ The five wealth engines of property investing ✔ Why cash flow matters more than house prices ✔ How to calculate ROI correctly ✔ Why becoming an expert in one area gives you an advantage ✔ Why many Northern properties outperform Southern properties on cash flow ✔ The importance of stress testing investments ✔ Why every property should have a six-month emergency fund ✔ Why rent increases are essential for long-term profitability ✔ How inflation quietly reduces the real value of debt ✔ Why property is a 10–30 year investment ✔ How refinancing and compounding can turn one property into many If you’re serious about building long-term wealth through property, this episode is for you. Get full access to Taxed & Taken: Money, Power & Freedom from the State at patelankeet.substack.com/subscribe [https://patelankeet.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]