To think joke Chancellor Joke Budget joke Government

Yes, I’m living the high life in my dotage, just around 12k a year is wonderful after half a century of working in near minimum wage to help others. Thanks for your kind and helpful input.

I disagree that state pension is a “benefit” I paid into it for over 50 years, yes half a century, paid tax on it and paying tax again now that I get it . Had 2 Children, as was all of could afford. Never, ever received any other benefits. Wish I’d have played the system. Would have been quids in .

It's a shame that SureStart isn't still around. That did so much for the poorest children but fell foul of Tory cuts.

Other than illegal wars Blair was really strong leader - he had direction and conviction. I'm not sure what that list of stuff a different labour government did has any bearing on this one though. New Labour were in theory more centrist that this government, they oversaw massive regulation etc.

Starmer/Reeves are no Blair/Brown, and they already have a welfare state with over twice the cost of what Blair left. Lets if you did a side by side comparision Blairs government would be pretty small state compared to Starmers.

I'd probably take Blair/Brown combo over any of todays options.

I think you are both putting words in the OP’s mouth and over reacting.

£17.25 a week isn't going to encourage anyone to 'pop out as many kids as you can."

I'm old enough to remember what Labour did last time they were in. It was bloody great.

Longest period of sustained low inflation since the 60s.
Low mortgage rates.
Introduced the National Minimum Wage and raised it to £5.52.
Over 14,000 more police in England and Wales.
Cut overall crime by 32 per cent.
Record levels of literacy and numeracy in schools.
Young people achieving some of the best ever results at 14, 16, and 18.
Funding for every pupil in England has doubled.
Employment is at its highest level ever.
Written off up to 100 per cent of debt owed by poorest countries.
85,000 more nurses.
32,000 more doctors.
Brought back matrons to hospital wards.
Devolved power to the Scottish Parliament.
Devolved power to the Welsh Assembly.
Dads now get paternity leave of 2 weeks for the first time.
NHS Direct offering free convenient patient advice.
Gift aid was worth £828 million to charities last year.
Restored city-wide government to London.
Record number of students in higher education.
Child benefit up 26 per cent since 1997.
Delivered 2,200 Sure Start Children’s Centres.
Introduced the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
£200 winter fuel payment to pensioners & up to £300 for over-80s.
On course to exceed our Kyoto target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Restored devolved government to Northern Ireland.
Over 36,000 more teachers in England and 274,000 more support staff and teaching assistants.
All full time workers now have a right to 24 days paid holiday.
A million pensioners lifted out of poverty.
600,000 children lifted out of relative poverty.
Introduced child tax credit giving more money to parents.
Scrapped Section 28 and introduced Civil Partnerships.
Brought over 1 million social homes up to standard.
Inpatient waiting lists down by over half a million since 1997.
Banned fox hunting.
Cleanest rivers, beaches, drinking water and air since before the industrial revolution.
Free TV licences for over-75s.
Banned fur farming and the testing of cosmetics on animals.
Free breast cancer screening for all women aged between 50-70.
Free off peak local bus travel for over-60s.
New Deal – helped over 1.8 million people into work.
Over 3 million child trust funds have been started.
Free eye test for over 60s.
More than doubled the number of apprenticeships.
Free entry to national museums and galleries.
Overseas aid budget more than doubled.
Heart disease deaths down by 150,000 and cancer deaths down by 50,000.
Cut long-term youth unemployment by 75 per cent.
Free nursery places for every three and four-year-olds.
Free fruit for most four to six-year-olds at school.

Where is the growth? Bar the people who choose to have large families.

This stupid feckless government are only in for one term. Reform isnt the answer but a collation between them and the Conservatives- now that would be something to see.

Oh dear - you can tell you are a Reform voter.

It’s sad really. The people who have worked hard and pushed themselves for more now can’t afford more than two children while those on benefits can pop out as many as they want and get us to pay for them! Can’t wait to see what sort of state the country is in another twenty years from now 🤣

I'm old enough to remember what Labour did last time they were in. It was bloody great.

Longest period of sustained low inflation since the 60s.
Low mortgage rates.
Introduced the National Minimum Wage and raised it to £5.52.
Over 14,000 more police in England and Wales.
Cut overall crime by 32 per cent.
Record levels of literacy and numeracy in schools.
Young people achieving some of the best ever results at 14, 16, and 18.
Funding for every pupil in England has doubled.
Employment is at its highest level ever.
Written off up to 100 per cent of debt owed by poorest countries.
85,000 more nurses.
32,000 more doctors.
Brought back matrons to hospital wards.
Devolved power to the Scottish Parliament.
Devolved power to the Welsh Assembly.
Dads now get paternity leave of 2 weeks for the first time.
NHS Direct offering free convenient patient advice.
Gift aid was worth £828 million to charities last year.
Restored city-wide government to London.
Record number of students in higher education.
Child benefit up 26 per cent since 1997.
Delivered 2,200 Sure Start Children’s Centres.
Introduced the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
£200 winter fuel payment to pensioners & up to £300 for over-80s.
On course to exceed our Kyoto target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Restored devolved government to Northern Ireland.
Over 36,000 more teachers in England and 274,000 more support staff and teaching assistants.
All full time workers now have a right to 24 days paid holiday.
A million pensioners lifted out of poverty.
600,000 children lifted out of relative poverty.
Introduced child tax credit giving more money to parents.
Scrapped Section 28 and introduced Civil Partnerships.
Brought over 1 million social homes up to standard.
Inpatient waiting lists down by over half a million since 1997.
Banned fox hunting.
Cleanest rivers, beaches, drinking water and air since before the industrial revolution.
Free TV licences for over-75s.
Banned fur farming and the testing of cosmetics on animals.
Free breast cancer screening for all women aged between 50-70.
Free off peak local bus travel for over-60s.
New Deal – helped over 1.8 million people into work.
Over 3 million child trust funds have been started.
Free eye test for over 60s.
More than doubled the number of apprenticeships.
Free entry to national museums and galleries.
Overseas aid budget more than doubled.
Heart disease deaths down by 150,000 and cancer deaths down by 50,000.
Cut long-term youth unemployment by 75 per cent.
Free nursery places for every three and four-year-olds.
Free fruit for most four to six-year-olds at school.

Can't see how this is a growth budget.

Blimey. Have you got children that both own houses worth over £2 million…

Wow how rude and aggressive torsten bell on sky!!

Maybe Ms Reeves should have called everyone’s bluff and said ‘that’s it, we can’t afford the NHS. Off you pop and either pay as you go or get insured’.
because honestly, what is the alternative when so many (on here at least) wail and whine that they’re paying too much? We need to be healthier, fitter, and cross our fingers for good health unless we want to pay more.

I was expecting a car crash budget by the way and don’t think this is it.

Also, amusingly, my children will both be paying the mansion tax, and we won’t 😂

£17.25 a week isn't going to encourage anyone to 'pop out as many kids as you can."

Maybe Ms Reeves should have called everyone’s bluff and said ‘that’s it, we can’t afford the NHS. Off you pop and either pay as you go or get insured’.
because honestly, what is the alternative when so many (on here at least) wail and whine that they’re paying too much? We need to be healthier, fitter, and cross our fingers for good health unless we want to pay more.

I was expecting a car crash budget by the way and don’t think this is it.

Also, amusingly, my children will both be paying the mansion tax, and we won’t 😂