Taxes have risen a lot since the election with policy measures estimated to add around £70 billion to annual receipts by the end of the decade. So in this spotlight we dig into where this leaves the tax burden facing middle earners. This analysis strongly suggests that any politician promising a bigger state and lower taxes on middle earners is not being realistic. So if we want to increase defence spending, then there is a clear case for paying for this through broad-based tax rises that include typical earners paying more.