Weather Watch

I agree with a lot of what you say but because it wasnt thought through is exactly the reason some people will probably die this winter. So for me the cut is wrong, full stop. Yes its not needed by some, yes some will have too much but its that bottom line for me. Vulnerable people are overlooked far too often in our society and here we are again with some people really scared. Its not good enough from a Labour government Im afraid

 

I like the sentiment but it’s a little misplaced. The elderly aren’t the only vulnerable. In a lot of cases they aren’t particularly vulnerable at all.

People on the streets will die this winter. We can’t afford to house them.

People under pensionable age on low incomes will die this winter. We can’t afford to heat their homes for them.

Disabled people will die this winter. We can’t do everything.

We need to look after ALL of our vulnerable. We realistically can’t afford to do it.

Sending £200 to £300 indiscriminately to what, over 10million people would detriment as many vulnerable people as it would help. At least.

Freeing up a couple of billion or whatever it is can fund something else that is needed. Whether or not it is used correctly is another argument - it probably won’t be - but fear of some people wrongly being adversely affected isn’t a strong enough reason to blindly give a load of money away based solely on date of birth.

What would you cut as an alternative? What else would you do?

 

It’s white all over Darton, kek and mapp just like the exit polls said it would be.

 

I am a person who now no longer gets the allowance and I accept that position even though I dont see myself as wealthy. Have they set the bar correctly , I am not sure but the worst off can now claim pension credit and also get the allowance. There may be some on the fringes that need it and miss out but so far I have not seen any figures to indicate the full picture. Make of this what you will, but one oap turned to me and said "ha well the grandkids will just have to have less at Xmas" (suggesting that the money wasnt going on heating in the first place).

 

Its trying to here in the Normy/Altofts area.
But its not settling because its mostly just heavy sleet at the moment.

 

Id have RAISED corporation tax. We're the lowest in the G7 I believe
Edit: and where is the sentiment in looking after vulnerable people misplaced? FFS man. Its irrelevant if other people are struggling, which they are. The Labour Government have made more vulnerable people struggle. You can paint it how you like, and I sympathise, but thats what theyve done. The right-wing media will lap it up and over-egg it of course but thts not the point. Labour have let some weak people down

 

In an ideal world you do tax the ones who can afford it most more yes.

Would this work though? Corporation tax has already gone from 19% to 25% in 2023/2024. One thing the Tories did late on which actually made some sense. It only remained at 19% for companies making under £250k profit.

Given the increase in employers NI contributions too, it would be very questionable as to whether a further increase would bring more money into the coffers. Smaller businesses would struggle - meaning some would fold. Larger ones would trade in the U.K. but register elsewhere to avoid it. This already happens. More would follow.

Amazon, eBay, Adobe, Google, Cisco, Facebook, Microsoft, and Apple all famously pay tiny fractions in the U.K. - more and more would do the same.

You clearly have strong feeling about this, and fair enough. But my assertion of misplacement remains. Older people aren’t the only vulnerable people who need protection and help.

How many pensioners missing out on the payment will actually suffer? How many who now don’t qualify won’t be able to afford to heat their home?

Is that number significant enough to warrant paying everyone just in case?

How many would still be struggling regardless of an extra £200 because they aren’t receiving everything they are entitled to in the first place? Labour, whilst implementing the winter fuel payment changes, also had a heavy drive in Pension Credit awareness.

The DWP drove this, contacted all local authorities as well as charities working with older people to get as many who are entitled to pension credit to make a claim as they possibly could, meaning they still also get the fuel payment.

Is the line in the sand in the right place? It’s hard to say. But this had to become means tested, there is no justification for a universal payment - and in my view they did everything they could to protect those who’d miss out who shouldn’t.

The right wing media you mention of course over-egg it - but given the level of bias to that side of the spectrum a lot of the news and noise emanates from; a lot of opinion on this is forced that way regardless of whether you are aware the bias is there or not. So your conclusion that the government have made more vulnerable people struggle - is that right? How do you know?

Some vulnerable people may struggle - but for all we know, a heck of a lot more vulnerable people who would have struggled may not as much now, as they are now getting pension credit they’d not claimed before, as well as a fuel allowance, and are doing so because the drive on getting those entitled to claim to do so found them and helped them.

Of course some will slip through the net. With means tested benefit that is inevitable sadly. But that doesn’t justify paying everyone of pensionable age just in case. If the money was there, yeah why not. Same as giving all low income families help, providing warm shelter to all that need it, increasing income for those with disabilities etc. I’d support all that.

But it needs to be balanced and paid for. Increasing tax burden will go so far but it has to be gradual else it’s counter productive and forces high earning people and business away. It’s a balancing act.

 

Most we’ve had at once for a good while!
Good job it didn’t do this yesterday!

 

its profits below £50000, anything from £50000-250000 get whacked with a higher rate on a sliding scale, but it’s closer to 25% than 19%

couple that with pretty much year on year reduction in the tax free dividend allowance, increase in personal dividend tax , paying your personal income tax bill a year in advance and having to pay for your own robust income protection policy unless you want to have bash at getting by on £90 a week whilst still getting someone to do your job , or just let your business rot.

 

The most snow I have seen in a while. Think since March 2022.

 

without wishing to be trite. Are you entitled to it and have you claimed?

 

Youre correct in many things I think (particularly the unfair 'gift' to people who dont need it) but I come at this from a slightly different angle as you can tell. You've said yourself that some will slip through the net regardless of how it gets implemented. And its that that causes me concern - that some people will 'slip through the net'. I can't morally agree with it. After this winter there is uptick in the pension I know but now, at this particular moment I do have real concern for SOME pensioners, particularly isolated ones, up and down the country. I'm fairly healthy and not worried about myself. I hope you're healthy too. When we are healthy though we sometimes forget how weak others are because things like this don't impinge on us. SOME pensioners are scared and it makes me uneasy. I think Labour got this wrong this year so we'll just have to agree to disagree.

 

Stay healthy buddy

 

Pompey!
If not postponed they have a trip to Sunderland this afternoon.

 

I have had to handle five inches this morning….all Mrs Puppy could say was make sure you clear a path to the bins!!

 

@Stephen Dawson

 

@Stephen Dawson loves a good dusting.

 

I'm a pensioner who, although not wealthy, can afford to live without the fuel allowance. I agree with the scrapping of the universal benefit, and I hope "my" £300 goes to help someone genuinely needy.
The mistake I do think the Government has made though is in introducing the cut so quickly. For me they should have announced their intention to do it next year, giving people time to adjust and prepare and implementing the pension increase ahead of the cut.
The one extra year they've saved by doing it now is peanuts in relative terms, and has resulted in a huge reputational loss and damage to public perception of them.

 

A good 6 inch settled here in Burton Leonard. The dog is loving it.