Budget 2024

Was that the most boring Budget ever?

The NI cut would barely buy you one drink a week at The Botanist!

 

It’s not intended to buy drinks, it’s to buy votes!

 

In isolation, I don't hate this budget. There are some sensible policies and the tax burden post covid was always going to be high exacerbated by the war in Ukraine.

In the context of 14 years of Tory decline however, it does nothing to reverse the damage inflicted on the country and seems completely devoid of ideas on how to do so. There are times to be sensible and pragmatic and times to give the country ideas and hope - this is the latter.

 

Not even that. Two consecutive budgets with not a penny for OAPs. We'll have a tax cut where the better off be benefit the most.

 

Because the tax threshold has not risen - despite the rise in minimum wage - most workers are likely to be worse off.

 

Botanist you must be loaded.

 

If full time. they'll be better off in their pocket. But won't cover inflation.
Does nothing for pensioners.
Will help those at the higher end.
Eg £100k = £1300 better off. (Using the governments own calculator)

Some will be taken in. A lot of those on lower and middle income included.

He's not ruling out another budget to try sweeten the electorate afore the next election if later rather than sooner.

Tory cnuts.

 

The cut in NI is nothing to do with giving us all a few extra quid in our pay packet. It’s part of the very deliberate destruction of the NHS.

Soon enough both blue and red will be giving it the “not fit for purpose” / “not enough money” sound bites.

 

I find it interesting the number of pensioners complaining that they didn't get anything in the budget.

This ignoring that they already got a 10% automatic increase on the state pension this year. And that they already have everything.

 

As a pensioner, I no longer pay National Insurance so the cut doesn't benefit me, but having paid it previously at the higher rate I now find that due to the tax threshold freeze I am now paying tax on a pension (which I paid my NI contributions for).

 

I have lived through lots of different governments and they are all the same. Promise lots and deliver nothing.

 

Same here.

 

Every cut in NI is probably another year onto the retirement age before you get a state pension, remember that.

 

Well they have lost the pensioners votes!

 

The 10% ‘increase’ was inflation so they got nothing as that’s just to keep it the same. The state pension is almost the same amount as the tax free allowance meaning they will have to pay 20% tax on any pension separate to that.

 

Hunt said today that he wants to get rid of NI entirely.

 

Well, that's their ultimate goal - work until you die,

 

So how would state pensions be funded?

 

They'll be means tested. It's not just Retirement Pensions it's also Statutory Sick Pay and Maternity Benefits that would be affected by a loss of the NI contributions.

 

not after the budget he ain’t