Selective again
Oh Heathrow Harry, once again you are selecting statistics to suit your arguement. The % GDP is irrelevant and your own figures show an increase in actual Tax revenue and NI every year since 1964. That is the reality and we (well, most of us) know where it is coming from - our pockets.
APD, the thrust of this thread, is just another cash grab and fireflybob has made some very valid points on the matter.
Like others I, too, signed the petition and received only a generic response from my MP.
I do not agree with the cutbacks to defence (almost to the point of defenceless) or to the NHS, but do agree with your remarks on University education and social security - could include foreign aid as well.
You ask how one would get elected on the manifesto that you have described and the answer is, of course, you won't. You merely publish a more acceptable manifest and then do what you afterwards (again, see fireflybob's post).
You will remember "How to tell if a politician is lying....?"