We don't want the government to lurch to the left

@Bargepole45

Are you and your household net contributors or beneficiaries?

It’s normal that the majority are net beneficiaries over their lives and this is impacted by the number of pensioners as the vast majority of pensioners will be net beneficiaries in retirement. Very few will have paid enough tax to support their state pension, education and the NHS.

How much we pay depends on our income. Not everyone will be paying huge amounts, and we all benefit.

Government economics are different to household economics - There is an argument that spending is not funded by tax, with the government being able to simply create the money needed.

I earn over 50k and don’t feel at all ‘hammered’. As plenty of people have said, if we want good services, we have to pay the taxes that go with that. People who go on about paying too much tax will also complain about crap roads, sick, difficult to recruit and under-trained staff, NHS waiting lists and so on. Unless you are very, very wealthy, you can’t have everything. We all have to cut our cloth, even those in the highest tax bracket.

Not really, people can vote still, thankfully.

And if you and others want more taxes you might get that but then you might find people don’t like it and vote accordingly. That’s democracy tg.

So what were the Conservatives doing for the 13 years they were in office. This happens every single time there's a change of political style and government.

That political parties aren't forced to be more transparent about funding their policies is one thing but if the majority of the electorate vote Reform then they deserve everything they get. Or not get which is more likely.

The top 25% of earners are on course to contribute 75% of income tax! Isnt that enough?

Is this figure to do with the top 25% of all earners or just those on PAYE? @Dorisbonson

Funnily enough Mandleson and Mcsweeney were up to their necks in that shite…. And as a lifelong Labour supporter I didn’t vote for backstabbing Starmer and his manipulative corrupt little crew. I’m not surprised they are struggling, I think it’s called Karma.

We have already taxed those that can afford it. Where do taxes on those earning say £80k end? How much of their salary is enough?

We cannot cut public services anymore. At some point we need a fair tax system to give us all the services we need. I don’t bother with the NHS for so many things now and choose to go private, just small stuff but I know the service can’t cope. You end up paying one way or another so I don’t mind tax if it’s enough across everyone to get services up. I’m a higher tax payer in Scotland so already higher than most on here probably

The tax burden is the highest in 70 odd years so some people are paying for it

Are the Tories not responsible for some
of this burden? They froze the income tax bands.

I know - I’m one of them. My projected tax for next year is eye watering, a real significant increase.

Where else people think the money is going to come from otherwise is beyond me, and cutting already struggling services isn’t the answer.

People talk about “not paying it” like they’re only optionally paying tax to begin with. I always laugh at the petulant “I’m not paying more!” people…. you are.

If you don’t like it, you can either choose to earn less or choose to leave. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

Our benefits are not linked to how much tax you pay which is another element different in many European countries and we don’t pay enough tax for our NHS model.

We have an ageing population which is a huge part of the problem.

You can read the original Bank of England report that this is presumably based on here: Monetary Policy Report – February 2026 (PDF. It's a lot more nuanced that the Mail's This is Money implies. Essentially it says that we are subject to the global instability i referenced earlier, but inflation is expected to fall back towards 2%. There was a narrow vote on cutting the interest rate, but they eventually went for keeping monetary policy tight enough to ensure inflation returns to target sustainable, not prematurely.

In Europe lower earners pay a lot more tax. In Belgium the 40% band kicks in at 2000 euros. Find me a country in Western Europe where lower earners pay less tax than in the UK?

This is true that lower and middle earners pay less tax vs other European countries but the issue is housing costs.

I certainly wouldn’t want any more lurching to the left and the thought of Raynor and the likes being PM fills me with absolute horror. We can’t run a country on bitterness and hate

But let’s not ignore OP that the current Labour Government have done many things that have taken away our rights
Planning- calling in planning applications when it looks like public opinion is against them in order to rush them through
Organisations- naming PA a terrorist organisation when it does not come within those parameters
Prison- imprisoning without bail and before trial for long periods of time
Free speech- Labour paused and then significantly changed the Higher Education Act on free speech

So what are Labour really up to anyway.
Right, Left, Centre. They are currently no more than headless chickens
the hens of which have penises

I'm a net contributor. I would pay more taxes. And to those that said we're welcome to - I'm already contributing to charities that fill the gap that the state should support

Which is why I said I'd close loopholes first. Anyone PAYE is an easy target.

It's not turkeys voting for Christmas. There are plenty of people who are happy to contribute more because they think the benefits are worth it.

The tax burden is the highest in 70 odd years so some people are paying for it. The demands for more keep going up though, especially on here. And it’s usually someone else paying up anyway to increase the state.

In a way let the left of Labour go for it, see how it pans out. We can see how higher taxes work out and people can decide.

It absolutely makes a difference.

So you are basically saying I don't pay my way and expect higher earners to subsidise me.

The top 25% of earners are on course to contribute 75% of income tax! Isnt that enough?

In Europe lower earners pay a lot more tax. In Belgium the 40% band kicks in at 2000 euros. Find me a country in Western Europe where lower earners pay less tax than in the UK?

Me too. The higher rate of tax is already similar to Scandinavia. It’s the lower waged that are paying far, far less than in Scandinavia. Are you going to tell them or am I?

wtf?

Net contributors. Is that OK? Worked all our lives.

Gestapo or what.

Jeremy Corbyn was incredibly popular if you remember! Before the antisemitism nonsense

Same.

Everyone wants improvement but not to have to pay for it.