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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to want spending cuts rather than more tax rises?

999 replies

PinkFruitbat · 05/09/2026 10:07

The foundations are being laid for more tax rises in the October Budget.

https://www.ft.com/content/6d43b599-3d7c-471c-88c2-0f056475a840?syn-25a6b1a6=1

AIBU to ask for savings in spending to help balance the budget rather than more taxes.

With welfare spending at nearly £1bn each day, when is enough, enough?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
23
Stairlifter · Yesterday 14:34

I would be in favour of the two child benefit cap, except that without it children might starve. Until someone can solve that, I reluctantly oppose its abolition.

I would be in favour of ending overseas aid, except that without it, actual human beings in poorer countries will die and our soft power diminishes globally. Until someone can solve that, I reluctantly oppose its abolition.

I would like to pay less tax. But demand for public services is rising, and the proportion of those working in the population is diminishing as we age. Until someone can solve that, I reluctantly support paying more tax.

I would like to cut spending. But whilst it's easy to identify individuals who milk the system, it's almost impossible to identify actual spending that can be cut without serious and unpalatable consequences. Until someone solves that, I reluctantly support current spending levels.

nearlylovemyusername · Yesterday 14:29

LathkillDale · Yesterday 14:23

So, you’d leave those born disabled and unable to ever work, to starve to death?

Show quote history

Working age benefits bill is about 150bn pa.

Where did I say to cut it for truly disabled?

8mn people claiming (that's about 20-25% of working age population) aren't disabled who will starve to death. Some will just have to work.

nearlylovemyusername · Yesterday 14:25

1dayatatime · Yesterday 14:21

Here's a breakdown of share of income tax revenue by salaries and the number of people in that bracket:

Top People Income Tax Share

1% 367,000 £150k 30%
10% 3.67m £60k. 60%
25%. 9.17m. £43k. 75%

Average salary £39k

So for all those suggesting increasing taxation on the "rich" then:
a) who are the rich - top 1%,10% or 25%
b) how much would you increase their taxation by? Because they are relatively few people in the top 1% you would really need to hike it to create any significant tax revenue.
c) if you increase taxation significantly on the "rich" then how do you stop people retiring early, reducing hours or for the very rich leaving the country?

Oh, those pesky intellectuals.

Just tax the rich. Those with broader shoulders and fair share. It's unfair they can keep something for themselves

Differentforgirls · Yesterday 14:25

nearlylovemyusername · Yesterday 14:23

you are really not. This issue was raised on MN gazillion of times, yet you absolutely support this VAT.

Your first question was about unmet needs. What is a NT healthy child is just happily settled at their school and loves it there but has to move now because Labour take more from their parents to pay for someone who can't be bothered?

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Please stop being selfish. My post was to the OP. Stop trying to get attention.

LathkillDale · Yesterday 14:23

nearlylovemyusername · Yesterday 14:19

I'd much prefer 1-2% reduction of tax across the board and reduction of 10% of working age benefits.
Make UC time limited and dependent on previous earnings. In person PIP assessments based on objective diagnosis, not "how it makes me feel".

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So, you’d leave those born disabled and unable to ever work, to starve to death?

nearlylovemyusername · Yesterday 14:23

Differentforgirls · Yesterday 14:18

Well I am sorry to hear that.

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you are really not. This issue was raised on MN gazillion of times, yet you absolutely support this VAT.

Your first question was about unmet needs. What is a NT healthy child is just happily settled at their school and loves it there but has to move now because Labour take more from their parents to pay for someone who can't be bothered?

Differentforgirls · Yesterday 14:22

NowSober · Yesterday 14:21

I’m in the UK. We have ONE layer of LG. One. Not three.

I’m in the UK. We have THREE layers of LG. Three. Not one.

Parish Council
District Council
County Council

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Thanks for proving my original point. The UK is not one mass that is governed the same.

NowSober · Yesterday 14:22

Jaxhog · Yesterday 14:02

How about less children?

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How about less children?

How about fewer children?

1dayatatime · Yesterday 14:21

Here's a breakdown of share of income tax revenue by salaries and the number of people in that bracket:

Top People Income Tax Share

1% 367,000 £150k 30%
10% 3.67m £60k. 60%
25%. 9.17m. £43k. 75%

Average salary £39k

So for all those suggesting increasing taxation on the "rich" then:
a) who are the rich - top 1%,10% or 25%
b) how much would you increase their taxation by? Because they are relatively few people in the top 1% you would really need to hike it to create any significant tax revenue.
c) if you increase taxation significantly on the "rich" then how do you stop people retiring early, reducing hours or for the very rich leaving the country?

NowSober · Yesterday 14:21

Differentforgirls · Yesterday 14:01

I’m in the UK. We have ONE layer of LG. One. Not three.

Show quote history

I’m in the UK. We have ONE layer of LG. One. Not three.

I’m in the UK. We have THREE layers of LG. Three. Not one.

Parish Council
District Council
County Council

Differentforgirls · Yesterday 14:20

NancyThompson · Yesterday 14:16

That's unnecessary, and shows you're not discussing in good faith.

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Having been called irrational I think discussing in good faith left the building with that post.

nearlylovemyusername · Yesterday 14:19

Badbadbunny · Yesterday 14:09

OK, 1% on income tax and 1% reduction on ALL benefits. That way everyone pays! Or are you one of those who wants to continue hammering only workers - i.e. the people we need to keep the economy moving?

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I'd much prefer 1-2% reduction of tax across the board and reduction of 10% of working age benefits.
Make UC time limited and dependent on previous earnings. In person PIP assessments based on objective diagnosis, not "how it makes me feel".

Differentforgirls · Yesterday 14:18

PinkFruitbat · Yesterday 14:17

Yes.

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Well I am sorry to hear that.

Differentforgirls · Yesterday 14:18

strawberrybubblegum · Yesterday 14:14

You clearly haven't read and/or understood the Greens policy declarations (edited, since it isn't a manifesto yet)

Edited
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You’re right I haven’t read it as it would be pointless as I have no option to vote for the English Green Party. Hope that helps.

Original poster
PinkFruitbat · Yesterday 14:17

Differentforgirls · Yesterday 14:12

Does your child have needs that couldn’t be met at a state school?

Edited
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Yes.

OP posts:
NancyThompson · Yesterday 14:16

Differentforgirls · Yesterday 14:15

I think it’s pointless due to your grammar tbh.

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That's unnecessary, and shows you're not discussing in good faith.

Differentforgirls · Yesterday 14:16

EasternStandard · Yesterday 14:14

Could be SNP

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It is SNP. At least you acknowledge their existence. So thank you.

Differentforgirls · Yesterday 14:15

strawberrybubblegum · Yesterday 14:12

O.M.G, please tell me you're not irrational/uninformed enough to vote Green?!?

If you do, this discussion is pointless...

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I think it’s pointless due to your grammar tbh.

Clarabell77 · Yesterday 14:15

strawberrybubblegum · 05/09/2026 10:30

Kemi Badenoch has proposed and costed:

£4bn annually through housing benefit reforms (why on earth should benefit claimants get to live wherever they like? All the rest of us have to live in an area we can afford Confused )

£3.1bn annually from reimposing the two-child benefit cap.

£1bn annually by ending VAT exemptions for motability vehicles.

And £200m per year by scrapping Labour’s deal to give away the Chagos Islands.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/615917bc8ad0e86a

Sounds like a good start!

Sounds bloody awful - the two child cap
was scrapped for a very good reason.

strawberrybubblegum · Yesterday 14:14

Differentforgirls · Yesterday 14:13

No I don’t vote Green. But the way you describe the people who do is worrying.

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You clearly haven't read and/or understood the Greens policy declarations (edited, since it isn't a manifesto yet)

EasternStandard · Yesterday 14:14

strawberrybubblegum · Yesterday 14:12

O.M.G, please tell me you're not irrational/uninformed enough to vote Green?!?

If you do, this discussion is pointless...

Show quote history

Could be SNP

EasternStandard · Yesterday 14:14

Badbadbunny · Yesterday 14:12

It's going to take the IMF instructing the UK to do the same to get things changed to solve the problem. We're not yet at the stage of needing IMF help, but we're definitely getting closer. I suspect a lot of politicians are hoping that happens so they can claim "It's not our fault, the IMF made us do it" when it comes to reducing benefits (inc state pensions), cutting public sector bloat and inefficiency, increasing taxes, etc.

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Just reading mn threads, too many won’t vote for anything bar tax rises and pushing spending / borrowing.

NancyThompson · Yesterday 14:14

ruethewhirl · Yesterday 13:55

So you're advocating that those not from those countries be denied employment, then? What do you expect them to live on, if so?

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Jobs that they do in their own countries.

Differentforgirls · Yesterday 14:13

strawberrybubblegum · Yesterday 14:12

O.M.G, please tell me you're not irrational/uninformed enough to vote Green?!?

If you do, this discussion is pointless...

Show quote history

No I don’t vote Green. But the way you describe the people who do is worrying.

MauveLibrary · Yesterday 14:13

Most people have nothing else left to give or to trim from household budgets to be able to cope with yet more tax hikes....this government is completely obsessed with endlessly squeezing every single penny from people..there doesnt seem to be any realisation that the ordinary people of this country are bled dry already..they will be wanting to tax us for breathing next....