I read there's a thousand new claims for pip each day. And 290k 18-34 year olds signed off long term due to mental health a rise of 60k from the year before. Somethings got to give.
Reform of welfare fine but this isn’t it ,it’s cuts for cuts sake , go after those that can afford it not the ones that can least afford it . What we can’t afford as a country is the vast inequalities in wealth that have massively widened in the last 20 years .
Well on that, we can agree. With a bill of 74bn, rising to 100bn by 2030, these proposals, aimed at saving 5bn, are nothing more than tinkering around the edges.
I don't disagree, but Non-Dom tax rules have already changed. The government could bring in a fresh cap on bankers bonuses, but that aside specifically which tax rules do you think should be changed and how much is a fair amount for anyone to be taxed. At the moment we have 19 million in the country living in relative poverty, an insane amount. The cost to move this dial even slightly is astronomic and it is the middle earners who are being hugely taxed to pay for it, making everyone poor. To ne the solution is focusing on growing the economy so we can all benefit, not this insanely shortsighted race to cut benefits and raise taxes.
Because it was a completely half-arsed version of PR on offer. Personally I still think we should have gone with it, but the Tories deliberately put something quite hard to understand for lot of people on the table to give it the smallest chance of getting through.
RE TAXES Some of these billionaires would wipe out any debts. Fund the NHS and not touch the sides of their riches. Mostly built on the back of those they employ. Obscene inheritance. How much re income tax is fair. Look back in history at income tax and through a crisis. eg second world war 96% tax was about the top amount. We are not talking 96% of their entire wealth but staged. They managed quite well. A 70% tax rate above say 350k imo is not in the realms of obscene. Some CEOS of public utilities smash that. With bonuses and pension contributions from the co. Yet the taxpayer has to fund their incompetence. Plus Dividends etc. We can hopefully build and make a fairer society. Unlike the Tories who look after their friends. No government is squeaky clean as there will always be bad eggs so to speak. In any group. RAGGED TROUSERED PHILANTHROPIST. GIVE IT A READ. ALL BECOMES CLEAR. Tax year 2024/2025 Yearly Monthly Weekly Gross salary £350,000 pa £6,730.77 PW Income Tax £143,703 pa National Insurance £9,764.60 pa Take home pay £196,532.40 pa £3,779.47 PW
The big problem with mental health issues is the long wait for counselling. An 18 month wait. This could mean issues become far greater over that time. I'm not seeing anything in here about addressing this.
My thoughts return to the abandonment of people able and willing to work for remploy mate. Which was an outrage at the time but recieved far less publicity than this latest policy. Giving them a sense of worth at least, contributing to society. and in lots of cases work from home. As I say I hope those unable to work or unable to gain employment will not be affected given time, I get it will not happen overnight. But nothing does. I know you hate the tories as much as I do. But they or Reform will be the only challengers imo to form another government when the time comes. Unless the libs or greens make massive inroads. Copied Disabled workers face redundancy after closure of nine Remploy factories https://www.theguardian.com/society...es-closure-disabled-workers?CMP=share_btn_url
I've a lot of conflicting feelings. Looking at the whole shebang, we have zero growth, we're uncoupled from our biggest trading partner, a natural ally is a compromised lunatic. We have huge debt, high tax and our safeguards and public services have been gutted beyond belief. Frankly, if you these were the factors at play in a business, you'd sell, restructure or probably close it down. I have no doubt that in the welfare budget, there is fraud. We also have fraud going on in trades and small business that don't declare earnings for tax. And bigger businesses and the wealthy dodge vast amounts of tax through complicated schemes. The net effect is that billions are not getting into our treasury to pay for basics. Although not easy, I'd be inclined to go for that as a priority. More tax inspectors and though tricky for some, there needs to be a transition from cash so all payments can be traced and taxed. Having said that, the welfare budget has to come down. Getting the NHS working again should help, but the back to work enablers have been stripped to the bone or destroyed by Osborne and his followers. You think of Remploy a decade or so ago. The job centre structure and careers service aren't fit for purpose. So much is broken and it needs money to rebuild, money we're struggling to generate... I'm just not sure this is where I'd be looking to scrape £5bn.
This is the crux of the issue. The rich and super rich aren't being paid wages. There are very few in the country making £350k in wages alone, so a higher tax here doesn't really touch the sides. The wealthy make their money from capital gains and dividends. Taxes here can be looked at, but further taxes on wages very often hit the working man, not the intended target. Higher rate dividends are currently 39%, that's one I'd be looking at. But governments are scared to tax these metrics for fear of taxing business and business owners out of the country. There's a huge drain to tax havens at the moment - Dubai in particular.
Yes, it is tragic how few opportunities there are out there for disabled people. This was a shocking move by the Tories and the truly awful McVey.
Maybe I should have added Re income tax. The first paragraph was intended as you say. I agree, clampdown on what you say. Is a must. But im not capabe of giving answers as to what should happen In those instances.as I rarely look at that side of things.but i do know the threats come. I don't think for one minute the government won't try work out a strategy. And do we want such people in a caring society. I went without wages for 12 months on a principle. Those people you talk about have none. Barring supporting a lavish lifestyle which is fine. But still have billions if not millions left to stick in the offshore bank. For what. a rainy day. Many billion/millionaires choose to give their money to charities. And good on em. (Charities in some cases funded by taxes. Why on earth do we class hospices as charities. They should be funded by a welfare state what we all contribute to if possible.) But re income tax every little helps. How many threatening to leave would do so. Propoganda by the right wing media. Copied The super-rich claim they’ll flee to escape a Labour ‘tax grab’. Here’s an idea for how to stop them | Polly Toynbee https://www.theguardian.com/comment...ritain-labour-tax-grab-exit?CMP=share_btn_url
The most obvious tax change that wouldn't affect those on lower incomes is to remove the upper earnings limit on national insurance which if I recall is a little over £50k. Sadly Labour allowed themselves to be boxed in, so its unlikely to be done, but it's a very easy move to generate a few quid, obviously those who read the daily heil will think its a terrible idea, even if they were nowhere near the cap themselves.
Wealth Distribution: The top 1% of households hold approximately 20-25% of total wealth. The top 10% of households hold approximately 45% of total wealth. The bottom 50% of households hold around 9% of total wealth.
I wish we'd move on from the simplistic view of taxation being fused to income. There are thousands of financial transactions every day which could be taxed more and no one would cry. Someone wants to pay £2000 for a night in a hotel room? Buy a £300k supercar? A £1000 bottle of champagne? Tax at 30%.
Agree there is a myriad of taxes on financial transactions , currency conversions etc by financial institutions that could be levied and are used in other countries
