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Original poster

Would you pay more tax to boost defence spending

494 replies

trainermush · 20/02/2025 17:42

Obviously we are now in a more precarious position & defence spending has been underfunded for some time. RR had just said we need to spend more money & she will but without breaking her fiscal rules,

"So we will stick to our fiscal rules. But recognising the priority of defence spending in the world that we live in today means that we will have to make difficult choices so that we can spend that money that is needed to keep our country safe."

Mulling it over & even though I think I pay enough tax I would pay more each month towards this (cut back in other areas) as opposed to labour cutting back on something else. I guess thinking about my dc & other loved ones has changed my mind somewhat now things appear more bleak. What do others think?
Conscription of young people terrifies me even though my dc are too young.

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Thoughtsonstuff · 20/02/2025 19:30

trainermush · 20/02/2025 19:26

@twistyizzy I think you are misunderstanding. Read the OP. RR hasn't even said if taxes would be raised just that defence spending would increase. If you asked me days ago about more tax I would have said absolutely not but in the context of war/my dc I would go without. I am not expecting others to do the same hence why I asked the question. I do think if the burden was spread very wide it would be less painful.

Tax rises only with spending cuts and reform of working practices. We will all be in this together, public and private sector.

Tax things that can't just leave the UK. Eg companies that sell here taking advantage of our large market, but aren't based here.

twistyizzy · 20/02/2025 19:29

trainermush · 20/02/2025 19:26

@twistyizzy I think you are misunderstanding. Read the OP. RR hasn't even said if taxes would be raised just that defence spending would increase. If you asked me days ago about more tax I would have said absolutely not but in the context of war/my dc I would go without. I am not expecting others to do the same hence why I asked the question. I do think if the burden was spread very wide it would be less painful.

So how do you think we get to raise the defence spending? RR has the choice of raising taxes or cutting spending ie austerity. She has backed herself into a corner, the economy is fucked and we haven't got the spare cash to raise defence spending.

Original poster
trainermush · 20/02/2025 19:29

No, you should make an overpayment because you think everyone should be taxed extra to fund defence

The lack of comprehension is really starting to ruin debates on MNs.

Put your money where your mouth is and lead by example.

Right, I'll send a tenner over tmw, how do I spread the word & persuade others to follow my lead?

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LaurieFairyCake · 20/02/2025 19:29

What we going to do - kill them again Grin

(One of the best Sean Connery lines ever - in the film 'the Rock')

sometimesmovingforwards · 20/02/2025 19:28

No need to pay more tax, just divert the money from green initiatives, most of which are hogwash, to defence.

LaurieFairyCake · 20/02/2025 19:28

No, we've tons of weapons Confused

Like 8 times enough to kill everyone on the planet or something

Original poster
trainermush · 20/02/2025 19:26

@twistyizzy I think you are misunderstanding. Read the OP. RR hasn't even said if taxes would be raised just that defence spending would increase. If you asked me days ago about more tax I would have said absolutely not but in the context of war/my dc I would go without. I am not expecting others to do the same hence why I asked the question. I do think if the burden was spread very wide it would be less painful.

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Esmeraldaemerald · 20/02/2025 19:26

twistyizzy · 20/02/2025 19:24

No, you should make an overpayment because you think everyone should be taxed extra to fund defence. Put your money where your mouth is and lead by example.

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ridiculous comment

sleepwouldbenice · 20/02/2025 19:25

I think tariffs are the answer 🤔 😏

Cyclingmummy1 · 20/02/2025 19:25

Yes. But I'd expect cuts in other areas too.

MissConductUS · 20/02/2025 19:24

zzpleb · 20/02/2025 18:07

According to Wikipedia, total military spending by NATO countries was 55% of the world's military spend in 2022. And Trump wants that to increase?

The real question is, who will profit from increased military spending?

The problem with that statistic is that 68% of NATO military spending is by the U.S. That's going to be reduced as the U.S. shifts spending to the Pacific to deter China. The U.S. is done with European free riding in NATO.

twistyizzy · 20/02/2025 19:24

trainermush · 20/02/2025 19:23

@twistyizzy so I should make an overpayment today in anticipation of RRs future economic planning?

No, you should make an overpayment because you think everyone should be taxed extra to fund defence. Put your money where your mouth is and lead by example.

Original poster
trainermush · 20/02/2025 19:23

saying they would happily pay more

You are not talking about me then.

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twistyizzy · 20/02/2025 19:23

trainermush · 20/02/2025 19:07

How much more tax would you pay for defence, education + healthcare? You know you can do this already via HMRC voluntary monthly direct debit scheme?

@twistyizzy but this isn't a case of I have got spare cash so think tax should go up. I would not be happy about more tax but would go without food or whatever if it made things safer for my dc.

It's the same thing tbh. Work out how much an extra 1% would be and pay it. Of course it's not "spare" cash but that's what you want others to do so you need to walk the walk yourself.

Original poster
trainermush · 20/02/2025 19:23

@twistyizzy so I should make an overpayment today in anticipation of RRs future economic planning?

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twistyizzy · 20/02/2025 19:20

BIossomtoes · 20/02/2025 19:08

That old chestnut again. We all need to pay it. One person wouldn’t make any difference at all.

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That's the point. Individuals saying they would happily pay more tax need to put their money where their mouth is.
It is easy to say "I will pay more tax happily" because it doesn't get tested. If these people truly are happy then they need to walk the walk. Talk is cheap

ServantsGonnaServe · 20/02/2025 19:19

trainermush · 20/02/2025 18:01

i get the argument re foreign aid but it's a form of fostering relations and maybe we need more of that?

Bluntly, we dont need good relations with poor countries that can't help us.

I'm not against foreign aid btw, I just make the above point to rebuke your arguement.

No, I don't want to spend more on defence. Like someone above said, tax the big corporations. Mars, Starbucks, LOreal etc can pay more. They're making money off UK citizens, all it costs them is a profit margin. Taxing uk citizens more is forcing people to make horrible choices.

Original poster
trainermush · 20/02/2025 19:19

change not check

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caringcarer · 20/02/2025 19:18

MyLimeGuide · 20/02/2025 17:48

IMO I'd rather spend more on defence, less on worldwide climate change problems.

Ditto

Original poster
trainermush · 20/02/2025 19:18

Starbucks is paying the equivalent of single figures as a tax rate on its income, when someone on minimum wage is taxed at 20%...

But that would involve collaboration with other countries to check tax loopholes.

Customers could shop in local independents though rather than give their pound to Starbucks as they wouldn't not exist without customers.

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Esmeraldaemerald · 20/02/2025 19:17

It absolutely makes me despair that so many think that someone else as long as it’s not them should pay more tax to fund essential services including defence . We should all be paying extra tax - if we all paid an extra 1% then the broader shoulders would naturally be paying a larger sum than the poorer citizens . How did we get to be a country that doesn’t know that ultimately we are all responsible for ourselves and therefore have to pay our share

PointySnoot · 20/02/2025 19:15

No. I agree with funding defence measures properly, but the Chancellor could sort out corporation tax and the many many loopholes that allow private equity firms to asset strip.

Individual taxpayers are contributing enough already. Starbucks is paying the equivalent of single figures as a tax rate on its income, when someone on minimum wage is taxed at 20%....so HM Treasury can have a little think about the fact that they are notionally supposed to be socialists, and toddle off to talk to the Broligarchs who literally have more money than they can spend.

Original poster
trainermush · 20/02/2025 19:14

who knows, much of the west is suffering from low birth rates. Russia badly needs younger people, maybe he will do a deal with those anxious youths.

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EasternStandard · 20/02/2025 19:13

unsync · 20/02/2025 19:10

Yes. Defence is about more than boots on the ground and weapons. We are in a precarious position and isolated. Britain is no longer the superpower that people seem to think it is.

I do wonder though how many of the younger generation, who find the thought of holding down a job anxiety inducing, would be capable of bearing arms and defending the country if needed.

Well how capable do you feel?

Original poster
trainermush · 20/02/2025 19:12

I do wonder though how many of the younger generation, who find the thought of holding down a job anxiety inducing, would be capable of bearing arms and defending the country if needed.

🙄

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