To wonder how the UK will look in 3 years time?

It’s really not this. Ik it’s your view but most can see it’s not.

That things feel worse is because we are all still suffering the negative effects of policies implemented by a succession of incompetent conservative governments for many years. Like a large ship being slowed, stopped and turned round, the same is true of an out of control economy. It takes time. Certainly considerably more timethan a year.
We are all still paying for the disaster inflicted on us by the Truss/Kwarteng “government”.

“Even when that pensioner paid high levels of tax for decades and took nothing out? There are a lot of us in that situation. I agree that the triple lock should go and perhaps we should pay NI at the level higher tax payers do, 2% would be acceptable.”

Yes I think so @blossomtoes. It should be the equivalent of what workers pay in NI contributions, same amount, same thresholds.
By all means, make it a care fund then. To go into respite care whatever, there is so much need for this stuff.
I also think that those actually working should get priority on NHS lists for treatment, but that is more controversial. Especially those doing physically demanding jobs. You cannot work if you cannot get treatment quickly. As we have an increasingly ageing population, we will have to make decisions like this.

🤣Where did I say I expected it to all be fixed in 1 year? I expect things not to have got worse. You know, like they have.

Even when that pensioner paid high levels of tax for decades and took nothing out? There are a lot of us in that situation. I agree that the triple lock should go and perhaps we should pay NI at the level higher tax payers do, 2% would be acceptable.

Very true.

More positively about Labour than most. What would you choose dissatisfied or satisfied with Labour in an approval poll?

In theory though, it is absurd that two people working full time on the National minimum wage from 18-65 are not paying enough tax to cover the cost of themselves to the country, at the point they are working. It is basically stealing from the future generation.
I am sorry but the triple lock has to go and pensioners who can have to pay the equivalent of NI into an NHS top up fund. It should not be that a pensioner drawing a 50000 pension a year is better of than a worker with 2 kids, it makes no sense for society.

We have Labour in now and most don’t feel as you do, only 13% do

what do I feel?

Sure for a start I voted remain and thought lockdowns and high spending were off, and said as much at the time.

We have Labour in now and most don’t feel as you do, only 13% do.

Sure for a start I voted remain and thought lockdowns and high spending were off, and said as much at the time.

We have Labour in now and most don’t feel as you do, only 13% do.

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Most of the welfare benefits paid out goes back into the economy or the exchequer in VAT, income tax and spending on retail or services. If you cut benefits to fund other public services you reduce profits and tax receipts. It’s a double edged sword.

If welfare benefits were made time limited/restricted people would be forced into jobs means generate some taxes and preserve most of spending. This would also be beneficial both for mental health (idle mind and all) and role modelling for their children. So no, it's not just direct saving on welfare, it's also growing economy.

@Happyher you are being unfair
we also complain about the weather and neighbours fences!

People think we all want to Iive around some village green watching cricket, sipping tea and watering hanging baskets for the local church - honestly weI would grab one of those Dover boats and head to Calais!

I think the UK has learned to live with embarrassment these past several years.

Does this make you feel better?

Yes, Tory vote is a lost one now so people turn to Reform to escape Labour. And judging by this and parallel threads a lot of Labour voters are moving to Reform as well.
Aren't you terrified by this? I am.

Although most likely, as for pps, Reform would be better for my family financially

We also have more zero rated VAT items vs other European countries but increasing VAT would be an issue.

We don't tax lower and middle earners as much as other EU countries but as I already said the issue is housing costs.

I would also add that the people of this country seem to want fully funded public services such as NHS, Education, Care etc but nobody wants to pay for the true cost of it and all we do is squabble over which group of people pay for it. And blame immigrants.

Basically

It would be the embarrassment that paralysed you!

I am assuming we could reinstate the monarch’s powers and get people executed for treason! Let’s go back to the real fun of days, and we could all route for King Charlie to protect us …………

Most of the welfare benefits paid out goes back into the economy or the exchequer in VAT, income tax and spending on retail or services. If you cut benefits to fund other public services you reduce profits and tax receipts. It’s a double edged sword.

I would also add that the people of this country seem to want fully funded public services such as NHS, Education, Care etc but nobody wants to pay for the true cost of it and all we do is squabble over which group of people pay for it. And blame immigrants.

In every GE one of the two major parties so far. I’m wondering how someone can’t see the fuck ups that the previous gov made... Guess we are all fallible.

Who on earth agrees with every policy of the party they voted for at the last election?

Quite

@MrsSkylerWhite sorry

The number of people claiming both in and out of work benefits continues to defy expectation in terms of growth.

More people claiming both every year, and they are claiming a wider range of support.

Pretending it’s all fine and just needs to be met by the UK, is the ‘head in the sand’ approach.

@EasternStandard you are misunderstanding. In principle I don't see an issue with employers contributing more to NI if we want better public services and better social security.

Should they have been honest? yes.