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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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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.

BIossomtoes · 20/02/2025 19:08

twistyizzy · 20/02/2025 19:05

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? I

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

Original poster
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.

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Lambington · 20/02/2025 19:05

Trump hasn't given us a choice. Made worse by 14 years of Tory cost cutting so now it will cost even more to get back to what we need.

twistyizzy · 20/02/2025 19:05

MojoMoon · 20/02/2025 19:02

Yes. But preferably spent on buying UK and European made equipment - eg air defence systems made by SAMP-T in France and Italy rather than US Patriot system.

We can't and shouldn't try and make everything in the UK but should specialize is certain defence technologies while letting our European partners specialize in their areas. That way gets much more efficient results.

The focus should be on improving European security so not projecting force halfway across the world but much closer in.

Also a lot of focus on cyber warfare, hacking, sabotage and irregular warfare like Russian ships "accidentally" damaging critical cables. I see this as a big threat.

Would also pay more tax for healthcare, education and social care.

I certainly don't want war and a decade ago would have been opposed to spending more on defence but things have changed and there are

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? I

MojoMoon · 20/02/2025 19:03

And tax doesn't have to be on income! It should be levied much more on wealth.

Land, inheritance, "trusts" etc.

MojoMoon · 20/02/2025 19:02

Yes. But preferably spent on buying UK and European made equipment - eg air defence systems made by SAMP-T in France and Italy rather than US Patriot system.

We can't and shouldn't try and make everything in the UK but should specialize is certain defence technologies while letting our European partners specialize in their areas. That way gets much more efficient results.

The focus should be on improving European security so not projecting force halfway across the world but much closer in.

Also a lot of focus on cyber warfare, hacking, sabotage and irregular warfare like Russian ships "accidentally" damaging critical cables. I see this as a big threat.

Would also pay more tax for healthcare, education and social care.

I certainly don't want war and a decade ago would have been opposed to spending more on defence but things have changed and there are

Original poster
trainermush · 20/02/2025 19:01

Sounds prescient

indeed

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Original poster
trainermush · 20/02/2025 19:00

It couldn't only come out of income I mean

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EasternStandard · 20/02/2025 19:00

@trainermush I agree with you on dc btw

The IMF said we needed a buffer for the next shock, which they said could be sooner than we expect

Sounds prescient

Not sure on tax, spending can be shifted first

Original poster
trainermush · 20/02/2025 19:00

@twistyizzy I would want everyone or the vast majority to contribute not just workers

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Iwishicouldflyhigh · 20/02/2025 18:56

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?

Food, meds, health programs yes.

Nevertrustacop · 20/02/2025 18:56

Farellyo · 20/02/2025 18:18

No we haven't, this narrative is tired. The US contributes 16% of NATO spend, whilst still a sizable chunk its nowhere near the random, completely made up figures social media is pumping out as fact. They have been scaling back the number of US personnel and stations in Europe for many years, and the bases left are strategic for their benefit rather than being planned and positioned for an altruistic benefit of others. The only country of whom article 5 has been invoked for was the US post 9/11- how much did we spend and how many UK service personnel died supporting the US? Billions upon billions and over 700.

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About 60 British soldiers in Kosovo. 500 US troops. Do you think the US cares about Kosovo? They don't. Do you not think Europe should be funding the peace keeping here in it's entirity? The US does and who can blame them.
I am also sorry to say that other than the British, the other countries who send troops with a few notable exceptions are sending people with little skills or training, poor equipment, who are not capable of doing very much at all on base, or even worse do not believe in the peace.

sleepwouldbenice · 20/02/2025 18:53

Yes I would
We need to protect ourselves from more than we thought it seems

twistyizzy · 20/02/2025 18:53

PaintDecisions · 20/02/2025 18:40

Yes.

Note that Civil Service departments have been told to prepare for 11% budget cuts for 2026-2027.

That's where the money will come from at the moment. We need to increase taxes.

40% of working adults support the other 60% so when you say "increase tax" you mean increase tax for this 40% which is mainly made up of middle earners ie above the threshold for claiming anything but below higher rate tax.
How much more squeezing do you think they can take?
We have to start making realistic decisions based on fact, not wishful thinking about funding all public services. We simply dont have enough income tax coming in.

Original poster
trainermush · 20/02/2025 18:50

@EasternStandard no idea

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Alexandra2001 · 20/02/2025 18:49

Reduce the tax saving on cash ISA's, only have 0% tax rate on ISAs that have say 20% invested in UK.

We've £723billion invested in ISAs, little if any gain for the country vs the cost in tax.

Frowningprovidence · 20/02/2025 18:48

Wasn't tax originally for defence and then it sort of grew to other areas.

I'm inclined to feel increased defence spending would result in conscription being less likely. Presumably good equipment and well trained people are better defence than going call up all the young mem as cannon fodder as we didn't keep up to date with stuff.

So yes, I guess I would.

No idea what I'd cut. But maybe spending in defence would create growth.

Thoughtsonstuff · 20/02/2025 18:48

The US had the right idea (until now) re Ukraine. Spend the money pegged for Ukrainian defence in the US and boosting their own manufacturing and defence industry. It's a shame we have given all our steel production to China as it would come in handy now for defence and also boost jobs and the economy.

BIossomtoes · 20/02/2025 18:48

trainermush · 20/02/2025 18:45

We're maxed out hence the IMF warning on incoming events. The debt servicing is already higher than the defence budget.

I know we shouldn't but I assumed war time was different.

Your assumption is entirely correct. In the event of war all bets are off.

EasternStandard · 20/02/2025 18:46

trainermush · 20/02/2025 18:45

We're maxed out hence the IMF warning on incoming events. The debt servicing is already higher than the defence budget.

I know we shouldn't but I assumed war time was different.

@trainermush how does it work?

Surely the IMF warn countries to not do this incase a major event such as war or pandemic arise

Original poster
trainermush · 20/02/2025 18:45

We're maxed out hence the IMF warning on incoming events. The debt servicing is already higher than the defence budget.

I know we shouldn't but I assumed war time was different.

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EasternStandard · 20/02/2025 18:44

Hence the IMF warning.

It's why they said the risk existed.

Thoughtsonstuff · 20/02/2025 18:44

trainermush · 20/02/2025 18:43

I suppose they could means test DLA & AA but would that raise much?

Well let's give up then. I'm sure we can all learn mandarin. Easy language.

Original poster
trainermush · 20/02/2025 18:44

My boys are fighting age. I do not want them to have to go to war.

I don't want young people to go to war so as I said I would go without to contribute.

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