Fuck it - the government will look me

No, they can send it on taxis. It's for mobility, not for a car specifically.

Completely agree!

Sure, but you are increasingly in the minority.

But, we’re stuck with the choices we have. I wouldn’t vote Tory or Labour, but very few choices left.

I don't feel I can vote for anyone, I won't be voting for Reform.

Well that’s a reply with some spice I’ll give you that.

I can see you’re still in the Labour camp, but sadly for them it is declining. I think the budget will be a clincher for even more people.

If they drag teachers, police and train drivers into non working people they’re likely toast.

The Tories were terrible for taxes and they could’ve done so much more. Tackled the welfare bill. Tackled the cliff edges harming productivity. They didn’t. They kept the triple lock and protected pensioners. They kept upping the welfare spend to record numbers.

The public sector has been shielded, I should know, I work in it. We’ve been given pay rises which are unaffordable as the budget isn’t there. The budget isn’t here because the private sector (which funds us) has taken a hammering. Productivity is down. RR set fire to the private sector with the NI and increase in NMW. Companies stopped hiring, jobs were lost, companies folded,

Without a productive private sector and private sector workers, there is no state sector, services or welfare. It is that simple. RR has actively killed productivity and that needs to be owned. It is possible to think the Tories could’ve done better and think Labour are a compete disaster.

She’s gone for the private sector, private schools. Coming soon: pensioners, pension savings, private sector salary sacrifice, anyone over 50k. The only people left are the majority of the public sector and welfare claimants. Hence the kite flying to whip up anger so they can bring in cuts to the latter.

You’re right, everyone needs to pay. Wastage in the public sector needs cutting as does the welfare bill.

UK is a service economy and things like retail are being hit hard. Maybe increasing the tax free allowance would have been better than NI increases. I don't know.

Maybe they have a work ethic

The global economy is just in a bad state right now. Some countries are doing better than others but there are challenges everywhere. You have to vote for the government that will make the most of a bad situation.

The irony is we live in a time of great freedom and individual rights but services are underfunded and under resourced. Goods are expensive and no one has any money.
Move out of the UK? To where? Spain with a massive unemployment rate? USA with its massive layoffs? Good luck

I think most of us can agree that this lot are no better than what went before. 🙄

We are/will pay more, and get less. 🙄.

But, we’re stuck with the choices we have. I wouldn’t vote Tory or Labour, but very few choices left. 🤷‍♀️

Hey, you can do it too! If it's so easy and such a life of luxury, why aren't you doing it?

Someone mentioned culture upthread & I do find that interesting. The majority would argue labours increase on employers NI was wrong & damaged the labour market. But why do higher employer social security taxes work in other countries?

ABL...

Subject is social work. I have a relevant degree (the loans for which I have completely paid off through pre parenthood employment) so would be a one year full time or two year part time masters.

Is it really true that current student loan debt is actually a problem for our economy? Is that not a bit like saying mortgages are a problem for our economy? Many people will be paying them off, with silly interests, for the rest of their working lives and therein lies the business model no? Happy to be educated on this if you have links or references, I’ve just always understood debt like this as another commercial product.

Yes I agree pay to train is a brilliant model. I’ve applied for zillions, they’re mega competitive. I’m fairly smart, hardworking, have worked since I was 16, have a good degree, have done CV seminars etc etc never even got an interview for one 😂 . If there were more of them I think that could only be a good thing. We do also need lots of university trained staff like nurses, midwives, social workers and doctors.

But in the mean time I think the rigidity if our benefits system needs a bit of a looking at. I’d never claimed any benefits until I was alone with a child and I’m shocked at how silly some parts of the process are. I can’t tell you how many times a very lovely and diligent DWP employee has said words to the effect of “I know this is ridiculous but I have no power to make any judgement calls here when computer says no”. So they just continue to give me £1100 per month indefinitely while I stack shelves instead of for two years til I get a better job.

If this was an attempt to refute the fact that ‘entitled’ is not an attitude espoused by a large number of people who argue for benefits, then your post failed to do that.

i tell you what. Even though this thread has been depressing it's been nice to take the focus off the asylum seekers for a change.

True!

ODFOD!

This country didn't go to shit the moment Starmer took the reigns!

We are being fed that narrative in the press because media moguls want Reform in.

If you don't understand why, there's no hope for you.

At least have the decency to look into Reform manifestos and voting records.

If you honestly want less rights, less money and tax breaks for the rich, you crack on.

• "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government, and I'm here to help."
• "In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem."

Ronald Raegan

@Legolava

I think your post is a little convoluted so am not sure what you are saying?

The Tories were terrible for middle earners, or the rich as they are now defined. All the while increasing welfare and pensions.

As pensions & welfare have increased are you saying it's wrong for labour to target them now?

The only people protected so far are: public sector workers and welfare claimants

pensioners are welfare claimants, a large proportion of them & public sectors workers are workers & impacted by tax changes.

There is no-one they haven’t pissed off apart from a hard core few on MN

I can't argue that they should only be targeting one sector, everyone needs to pay more.

It's not just tax payer cliff edges though it's benefit claimant cliff edges (or tapering) so for an hours work you might be £1 better off or something.

No, I'd agree with that, it probably isn't a majority. And I think the proportion that do is going down, not up - but then that was sort of my point.

Well, one thing would seem certain - the more and more taxes which are piled on people by Reeves, the increasing amount of scrutiny there will be of the welfare state, by those same people….

Understandably.

i tell you what. Even though this thread has been depressing its been nice to take the focus off the asylum seekers for a change.

There is a lot of blaming others/the government for people’s own choices and not much responsibility. I feel like a mug for making sensible choices and then being bled dry by the government at every turn.

working a minimum wage job would also be leading a very frugal existence with hardly enough money for the basics. Plus, they'd have to spend most of their waking hours working a boring, hard, thankless job.

Many jobs now requiring a degree, depth of knowledge and years of experience pay minimum wage. The job may be very enjoyable and fulfilling - but it's an employers market, they're getting hundreds of applicants so can offer really crappy pay.