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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to want spending cuts rather than more tax rises?

1000 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:
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Differentforgirls · Yesterday 11:00

Ginmonkeyagain · 05/09/2026 10:47

The only way you can make a meaningful dent in the welfare budget is by looking at the state pension. Everyone who wants to "cut the welfare bill" finds this out at some point.

Looking at it in what way?

EasternStandard · Yesterday 11:00

ruethewhirl · Yesterday 10:54

You do realise it would have been quicker just to write 'I want the poor and vulnerable to starve so I can keep more of my money', right?

Or the response - there’s no limit to how many tax rises we want.

RainbowMoonbeam · Yesterday 11:02

Ginmonkeyagain · 05/09/2026 12:07

@Binnyforthewin You would spend the savings made policing it. Also why stop there - eat too much, drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week?, don't do the recommended amount of exercise? No benefits for you

Although I think those things go a bit far, I do think if a doctor tells you to make lifestyle changes and you flat out refuse or make no effort, there shouldn't be further treatment until you do.

Goota · Yesterday 11:02

PinkFruitbat · Yesterday 10:37

Well 42% get extra time in exams which would suggest some form of disability.

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/ofqual-investigates-extra-exam-time-at-private-schools/

I think about this and extra time. Like in the real world if there's a deadline at work. Do you get "extra time" because you're disabled?

I know a girl who because she had an "Intensive Learning Plan" managed to get extensions on all assignments and got her own notetaker in lectures.

JLou08 · Yesterday 11:07

Take a billion each from the multi billionaires, they don't need it, it's just tucked away earning them ££££s in extra wealth that they don't need. How many people could be living comfortably just from taking a few billion in assets from the super rich? The Government would have the money to really invest in services that will change people's lives and get them healthy and working, increasing income generated from taxes and reducing the welfare bill and health and social care. No one needs even 1 billion, never mind upwards of 20. It's crazy how they have the middle class fighting to protect their wealth for them.

NancyThompson · Yesterday 11:09

JLou08 · Yesterday 11:07

Take a billion each from the multi billionaires, they don't need it, it's just tucked away earning them ££££s in extra wealth that they don't need. How many people could be living comfortably just from taking a few billion in assets from the super rich? The Government would have the money to really invest in services that will change people's lives and get them healthy and working, increasing income generated from taxes and reducing the welfare bill and health and social care. No one needs even 1 billion, never mind upwards of 20. It's crazy how they have the middle class fighting to protect their wealth for them.

So then they leave, taking their massive contributions with them. Billionaires are the most mobile of demographics.

Goota · Yesterday 11:11

ruethewhirl · Yesterday 10:54

You do realise it would have been quicker just to write 'I want the poor and vulnerable to starve so I can keep more of my money', right?

I'd rather people paid their own way instead of relying on me TBF. Why should they steal from us?

daisyfallout · Yesterday 11:11

DontBuyAnotherBook · Yesterday 10:54

DLA is not means tested if your child qualifies which then you could have used to pay for the kitchen or your landlord should have done.

Yes there is something stopping me working more. No family nearby and no childcare will take him for very long. I suspect you would know that if you were as knowledgeable as you say you are. I did say I would work more if I could.

Private rentals don't quite work like that. And a DLA application is practically a part time job in its own right.

I have literally no family in the UK. Not one person. I've been a single parent since the birth of my second child, which happened to coincide with my eldest's SEN becoming impossible to ignore and my husband deciding that life with an autistic child was simply too stressful and that he deserved something better.

My son then spent nearly as much of primary school excluded than actually in school before eventually moving to specialist provision (yes private). Private fees are now around 40% of my total net income, and I am an additional rate taxpayer. The school actually has been brilliant for him and I hope he will be able to move to a mainstream now (although again heavily subject-specific, maths of course, what else).

If we're doing the compassion olympics, let's get the scorecards out.

User134098 · Yesterday 11:11

PinkFruitbat · 05/09/2026 19:38

No doubt what I have seen in one dept may be rolled out across others.

Cutting to 2021 level (-25%) is entirely reasonable.

This thread isn’t about ‘modelling’ Civil Service cuts. and it’s not something I am going to do.

Departments are all very different from each other and you haven't seen one department. You've seen a small part of one department. The thread is entitled 'AIBU to want spending cuts' and you've provided a few examples, one of which is the Civil Service. It's not going off topic to discuss some of your ideas and whether they're workable.

Talking about stats, there hasn't been a 25% increase in Civil Servants since 2021. I've looked up the stats and current headcount at the end of March 2026 is 557,825 headcount, reducing to 523,795 FTE. In 2021 the headcount was 484,880, reducing to 452,830 FTE. That's an increase of 15%.

Goota · Yesterday 11:11

JLou08 · Yesterday 11:07

Take a billion each from the multi billionaires, they don't need it, it's just tucked away earning them ££££s in extra wealth that they don't need. How many people could be living comfortably just from taking a few billion in assets from the super rich? The Government would have the money to really invest in services that will change people's lives and get them healthy and working, increasing income generated from taxes and reducing the welfare bill and health and social care. No one needs even 1 billion, never mind upwards of 20. It's crazy how they have the middle class fighting to protect their wealth for them.

They set up and created amazing companies that give us things we need and employ loads of people

strawberrybubblegum · Yesterday 11:13

JLou08 · Yesterday 11:07

Take a billion each from the multi billionaires, they don't need it, it's just tucked away earning them ££££s in extra wealth that they don't need. How many people could be living comfortably just from taking a few billion in assets from the super rich? The Government would have the money to really invest in services that will change people's lives and get them healthy and working, increasing income generated from taxes and reducing the welfare bill and health and social care. No one needs even 1 billion, never mind upwards of 20. It's crazy how they have the middle class fighting to protect their wealth for them.

The UK is home to approximately 157 to 171 billionaires. Not even multi-billionaires!

After you've stolen their money one year, what will you do the following year when they have relocated (or no longer own the business you stole in taxes)?

Oh, and some of those top individual taxpayers have been found in recent disclosures to already be paying upwards of £100 million to nearly £200 million each annually.

How will you replace that income every year going forward - again, once they've relocated due to excessive theft or had to dissolve their company?

strawberrybubblegum · Yesterday 11:16

People have the weirdest delusions about how much money is swilling around in the UK just waiting to be stolen appropriated!

I blame Labour's populist, fictional ranting.

DontBuyAnotherBook · Yesterday 11:18

daisyfallout · Yesterday 11:11

Private rentals don't quite work like that. And a DLA application is practically a part time job in its own right.

I have literally no family in the UK. Not one person. I've been a single parent since the birth of my second child, which happened to coincide with my eldest's SEN becoming impossible to ignore and my husband deciding that life with an autistic child was simply too stressful and that he deserved something better.

My son then spent nearly as much of primary school excluded than actually in school before eventually moving to specialist provision (yes private). Private fees are now around 40% of my total net income, and I am an additional rate taxpayer. The school actually has been brilliant for him and I hope he will be able to move to a mainstream now (although again heavily subject-specific, maths of course, what else).

If we're doing the compassion olympics, let's get the scorecards out.

You have to have compassion in the first place to start that competition. Actually if you do the form a little each night it isn't too bad. Don't moan to me you had to pay for something when you are more likely entitled to something to help but you haven't filled it in.

strawberrybubblegum · Yesterday 11:19

Goota · Yesterday 11:11

They set up and created amazing companies that give us things we need and employ loads of people

Good point! You'll not only have to replace the lost tax from year 2 @JLou08 , you'll also have many more unemployed people to pay for.

Unfortunately, we're seeing already how this pans out..

RainbowMoonbeam · Yesterday 11:19

lazyarse123 · 05/09/2026 14:01

Can someone who wants the triple lock to end tell me what we should replace it with? We hear it all the time I would like to hear some solutions.

We shouldn't replace it. 25% of pensioners are millionares, and every single one of them knew they would age.

DontBuyAnotherBook · Yesterday 11:20

daisyfallout · Yesterday 11:11

Private rentals don't quite work like that. And a DLA application is practically a part time job in its own right.

I have literally no family in the UK. Not one person. I've been a single parent since the birth of my second child, which happened to coincide with my eldest's SEN becoming impossible to ignore and my husband deciding that life with an autistic child was simply too stressful and that he deserved something better.

My son then spent nearly as much of primary school excluded than actually in school before eventually moving to specialist provision (yes private). Private fees are now around 40% of my total net income, and I am an additional rate taxpayer. The school actually has been brilliant for him and I hope he will be able to move to a mainstream now (although again heavily subject-specific, maths of course, what else).

If we're doing the compassion olympics, let's get the scorecards out.

Single parent but can afford private fees? Yeah you are in a different league financially to me and many others. Yet you begrudge any benefits I might receive.

Whatalunatic · Yesterday 11:21

Goota · Yesterday 11:11

I'd rather people paid their own way instead of relying on me TBF. Why should they steal from us?

ODFOD. What happens when there is no welfare state? The have nots will look to those who have for survival. That means more opportunistic street robberies, more planned, organised robbery, the use of weapons and violence in achieving aims, a general kind of survival of the fittest. The upper classes will end up in gated communities with security essential. The middle classes will need to do with weighing they can to protect what they have. Violence will be pervasive across society as a whole. Police and courts will be available to purchase by the highest bidder.

Be careful what you wish for. Look at how people li e in some parts of the world. It an happen here. We are not immune.

daisyfallout · Yesterday 11:23

JLou08 · Yesterday 11:07

Take a billion each from the multi billionaires, they don't need it, it's just tucked away earning them ££££s in extra wealth that they don't need. How many people could be living comfortably just from taking a few billion in assets from the super rich? The Government would have the money to really invest in services that will change people's lives and get them healthy and working, increasing income generated from taxes and reducing the welfare bill and health and social care. No one needs even 1 billion, never mind upwards of 20. It's crazy how they have the middle class fighting to protect their wealth for them.

But you realise that much of this is "virtual" wealth, right? It represents claims on economic resources, not £1 billion worth of actual goods and services sitting in a vault somewhere.

A billionaire's yacht is worth £50 million because somebody else (another billionaire) is willing and able to pay £50 million for it. Its underlying real economic content is the labour, materials and productive capacity used to build and maintain it. A mansion might have a market valuation of £100 million, but confiscate it and use it to house the proverbial widows and orphans and it does not magically provide £100 million worth of housing services. It provides however much housing that particular building can physically provide.

The same problem applies more broadly to wealth confiscation. Seizing £1 billion of assets gives the state £1 billion of nominal claims on the economy, assuming those assets can actually be sold at their previous valuations. It does not conjure £1 billion of additional real resources into existence.

You cannot spend your way to unlimited bread and circuses if the farmers aren't producing enough bread and there aren't enough circuses built. At that point you're redistributing claims over existing output, not creating new output.

That distinction between nominal wealth and real productive capacity is rather important, and attempts at mass expropriation (eg. Soviets in 1917 and 1930s) have historically provided some fairly brutal demonstrations of it.

daisyfallout · Yesterday 11:27

DontBuyAnotherBook · Yesterday 11:20

Single parent but can afford private fees? Yeah you are in a different league financially to me and many others. Yet you begrudge any benefits I might receive.

Would you have preferred that I did absolutely nothing with my brain and my degrees? Even though the taxes generated by putting them to use are helping to pay for other people's children, while I pay for my own?

I'm sorry, but this crab bucket mentality never ceases to amuse me when I encounter it in the wild.

Differentforgirls · Yesterday 11:28

TangyChina · 05/09/2026 13:15

We do need more prisons anyway.

😱

EasternStandard · Yesterday 11:31

DontBuyAnotherBook · Yesterday 11:20

Single parent but can afford private fees? Yeah you are in a different league financially to me and many others. Yet you begrudge any benefits I might receive.

This isn’t helping. It doesn’t get you more funding even.

Goota · Yesterday 11:32

Whatalunatic · Yesterday 11:21

ODFOD. What happens when there is no welfare state? The have nots will look to those who have for survival. That means more opportunistic street robberies, more planned, organised robbery, the use of weapons and violence in achieving aims, a general kind of survival of the fittest. The upper classes will end up in gated communities with security essential. The middle classes will need to do with weighing they can to protect what they have. Violence will be pervasive across society as a whole. Police and courts will be available to purchase by the highest bidder.

Be careful what you wish for. Look at how people li e in some parts of the world. It an happen here. We are not immune.

If a "not" came to rob me or my family we'd put them in their place and show them a thing or two. Before we had the welfare state communities looked after each other, we had private charity and people strived to do well on their own.

RainbowMoonbeam · Yesterday 11:37

PinkFruitbat · 05/09/2026 16:20

Because the online assessments have introduced a huge amount of fraud, and the only way to be sure is to re-do all the assessments.

...or we could just ask peoples doctors and cut the rudiculous costly assessments all together.

Differentforgirls · Yesterday 11:40

Goota · 05/09/2026 14:04

Nothing. People get the state pension and they ideally live off their private pensions

So it stays the same amount for ever?

Do the same with wages.

RainbowMoonbeam · Yesterday 11:41

Badbadbunny · Yesterday 10:41

I agree, we need to tax the super wealthy more (though it's hard because it's international), but we also need to cut the benefits bill and increase the efficiency of public spending. We need to chip away at lots of different things to make a dent.

But we also need to find ways of keeping the "super wealthy" in the country. Under Brown/Blair, the govt made "sweetheart deals" to get international firms to move to/stay in the UK. Deals were struck with millionaire Olympic athletes to exempt them from UK taxes for them to come to the London Olympics. Imagine what a flop the London Olympics would have been had the likes of Mo Farah decided not to come!

Edited

Tax international transfers to outside of UK.
If people want to earn money here and send it overseas, cool, but charge a tax on it.

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