Strictly speaking, it’s not blackmail. Blackmail involves a threat to reveal compromising or personal information. This is a straightforward blunt threat.
For some I would imagine that's the case. But I don't know all the benefits people can claim. Carers/attendance allowance apparantly. From Citizens advice There are 2 different 'rates' of Attendance Allowance - you'll either get £72.65 or £108.55 a week. You can spend the money however you like - it could help you stay independent in your own home for longer. To spend. Others like Low income allowance. Council tax assistance. etc. At the moment it's a bit of a minefield to manage properly for me. A lot of those who don't claim I'm guessing do so out of pride. But pride doesn't pay the bill's.
What we need is proportional representation where every vote counts equally and which would in all likelihood result in hung parliaments, forcing them to work together as you suggest.
If we are not careful -especially given the majority- we could drift towards a totalitarian state - the proposed smoking ban outside pubs being one of them - I'm a non smoker but it doesnt bother me outside/inside the ground/beer gardens etc in the open. If that gets passed then what? It could be a pre cursor to more measures - it reminds me of when young children push their boundaries further and further to see what gets a reaction! I'm not for one minute saying another government will/would be any different (I thought covid sanctions/lockdown proved how government - to a degree could control a nation) but there's something about the recent goings off that feels very invasive and quite dictatorial.
In an ideal world that might happen but in reality it wouldn't and voters would suffer as a result...
They are all pensioners in my particular area but doesn't matter if they are not, what labour are doing is wrong
If you want to express your views on this, fill in this survey in the Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/society...ected-by-proposed-winter-fuel-payment-changes
Not sure what you mean, we'll never get PR or politicians will never work together? A majority of Labour members are in favour of PR. So its possible. We have had coalition government before and probably will again with or without PR.
PR sounds good but it wouldn't work in my opinion as the last coalition government didn't... My thoughts are you would end up with lots of different parties vying for different things and little being done as a result also it gives right wing nut job parties like Reform a platform that they should never be anywhere near.
We got 500 last year so that is per person. Those figures you quote are out of date as far as I can tell also. Copied The Winter Fuel Payment for 2023/24 is between £250 and £600, plus an additional Pensioner Cost of Living payment of £150–£300. The amount you receive depends on your age, living situation, and benefits. Most people born on or before September 25, 1957 will qualify for a payment. Those claiming benefits as a couple only get one payment also.
I quite like the idea of a beer garden without second hand smoke. It's good for public health and hardly Nineteen Eighty-Four.
That of course is your opinion. Not everyone believes what they are doing is wrong. They might be a little miffed as it means they can't use their money for xmas. But when it is used for the right reasons that goes away. I was miffed for about 3 seconds until mi brain functioned properly As for where you live. Is it a Tory stronghold if so. It'll be no wonder if they are skint or not. If skint keep voting tory. They'll never be pulled out of poverty. Any Tory even in tarn I would imagine say the same. Bugger all owt to do with financial status. For those who can afford comfortably. Those in need are the priority. Let's hope they get looked after. The 1st budget will be interesting. With hopefully taxes raised for those on mega earnings. Owt above the last threshold raise to say 70 %. You may think that sounds harsh. Desperate times need desperate measures. 99.25% was the highest level during wwii The highest rate of income tax peaked in the Second World War at 99.25%. It was then slightly reduced and was around 90% through the 1950s and 60s. In 1971 the top rate of income tax on earned income was cut to 75%. A surcharge of 15% kept the top rate on investment income at 90%.
Smoking outside might not bother you, but it does bother me. When I am subjected to inhaling other people's smoke, it often makes me cough and, if subjected to it on a regular basis, I could quite possibly suffer consequences to my health. If I am sitting in a park, when someone smoking sits down nearby, I have to get up and move.
What if your walking near a road and a car goes past with fumes coming from the exhaust? The smoking ban in beer Gardens will be a final nail in many pubs coffins. Another stupid idea. And I'm a non smoker.