Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Politics
Original poster

Spring Statement - what nonsense!

82 replies

Dragonflytamer · 03/03/2026 12:55

So according to Reeves it is all going swimmingly, Labour are doing a great job, and we should all be grateful.

She lives in a different world.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dragonflytamer · 03/03/2026 18:02

jasflowers · 03/03/2026 17:57

So freeze all in work benefits, pensions, pension credits, disability benefits, all at a time of high food and utilities inflation.

& thats before we get to the effects of that clown Trump on Tariffs and war.

Political suicide too.

Show quote history

Its going to happen at some point. It is completely ridiculous that as a country we disincentivise work so much.

But we get it you're in the benefits for all camp.

OP posts:
jasflowers · 03/03/2026 17:57

Dragonflytamer · 03/03/2026 17:43

Keeping welfare spending at 2024/25 levels rather than the current sweeties for all would have saved 30bn alone. The government can't keep on giving more and more money to people. The amount people get from welfare insane.

Show quote history

So freeze all in work benefits, pensions, pension credits, disability benefits, all at a time of high food and utilities inflation.

& thats before we get to the effects of that clown Trump on Tariffs and war.

Political suicide too.

Original poster
Dragonflytamer · 03/03/2026 17:43

jasflowers · 03/03/2026 17:30

Neither would come remotely close to the amount needed.

Show quote history

Keeping welfare spending at 2024/25 levels rather than the current sweeties for all would have saved 30bn alone. The government can't keep on giving more and more money to people. The amount people get from welfare insane.

OP posts:
jasflowers · 03/03/2026 17:39

Papyrophile · 03/03/2026 17:15

Just to add to the general gloom, the OBR calculates that in 2030-- thanks to fiscal drag, the tax burden on income will be 38.3%, which beats the record of 37.2% set in 1948. Pensioners without any private pension will be above the tax threshold, and while the Chancellor has said that state pension will not be taxed
as income, any savings interest will be. So much for saving prudently.

Rishi Sunak froze TH until 2029 and various previous Govt's froze student loan TH for 10years.

Our tax burden might seem high for us but in a European context, even at 38% it is still low.
With both Germany and France far higher.

Even with tax on savings interest, you still get to keep 20% and if you re a higher rate pensioner, you don't need it "The Shroud has no pockets"

jasflowers · 03/03/2026 17:30

nearlylovemyusername · 03/03/2026 16:08

or fundamentally review welfare. And not to remove child benefit cap

Show quote history

Neither would come remotely close to the amount needed.

EasternStandard · 03/03/2026 17:30

Papyrophile · 03/03/2026 17:15

Just to add to the general gloom, the OBR calculates that in 2030-- thanks to fiscal drag, the tax burden on income will be 38.3%, which beats the record of 37.2% set in 1948. Pensioners without any private pension will be above the tax threshold, and while the Chancellor has said that state pension will not be taxed
as income, any savings interest will be. So much for saving prudently.

Blimey that is so high. Agree with your pp too, that’s bad too.

Papyrophile · 03/03/2026 17:15

Just to add to the general gloom, the OBR calculates that in 2030-- thanks to fiscal drag, the tax burden on income will be 38.3%, which beats the record of 37.2% set in 1948. Pensioners without any private pension will be above the tax threshold, and while the Chancellor has said that state pension will not be taxed
as income, any savings interest will be. So much for saving prudently.

PocketSand · 03/03/2026 17:13

@nearlylovemyusername 75% of the costs of renewable options are being moved from energy bills to general taxation. Given that poorer households spend a greater proportion of income on energy costs this meant that poorer households were contributing disproportionately. The new framework means that those with higher band tax rates are paying more. Both groups benefit from lower energy costs. Hence a reduction in costs to the poor and higher costs to those earning enough to pay higher rate tax. It’s redistribution to ensure that the poor are not paying disproportionately. Not taxing the rich. HTH

Papyrophile · 03/03/2026 16:37

Until the politicians (of every party) take the brakes off small businesses, and lighten the regulatory and tax burdens, there won't be new jobs and investment, so there won't be any growth. You would have to be barking mad to start a new business in this country now.

anyolddinosaur · 03/03/2026 16:27

If the tories had not grossly mismanaged covid and thrown money at their pals the country would have been in a better state when Labour took over. They inherited a disaster and the tories would have raised taxes too. Hunts NI cuts were deliberate booby traps.

I dont agree with everything Labour have done, especially ending the benefits cap and being too generous with the thresh hold for winter fuel payments but hospital treatment is a little easier to get and inflation id falling. The fuel cuts came from switching the green levy to general taxation.

EasternStandard · 03/03/2026 16:10

Sesma · 03/03/2026 15:56

There was talk of a watering down, U turn of the young persons minimum wage because no one wants to employ them because you may as well employ an older experienced person, I wonder when that will be

This is basic stuff, I’m not sure why they need to learn it as they go.

nearlylovemyusername · 03/03/2026 16:08

jasflowers · 03/03/2026 15:34

She raised 30bn, i don't like it anymore than you but the reality is we need the money.
We need more defence, better roads, NHS/GPs/Dental.

Reversing Hunts NI cuts would have raised 11bn.

So the only other way is income tax, we would need a 5% increase to raise 20bn.
That would have destroyed consumer confidence, wrecked the high street and hospitality, pushing youth unemployment even higher.

Or we have more Austerity.

Show quote history

or fundamentally review welfare. And not to remove child benefit cap

1apenny2apenny · 03/03/2026 16:07

The problem is the money she has raised is not being spent on defence, roads etc but on the ever increasing benefits bill.

Sesma · 03/03/2026 15:56

There was talk of a watering down, U turn of the young persons minimum wage because no one wants to employ them because you may as well employ an older experienced person, I wonder when that will be

Original poster
Dragonflytamer · 03/03/2026 15:51

Reeves has taken steps to reduce the u-turns. Not announcing any policies means there is nothing for her to flip flop on. Odd through that Starmer said last week that there would be news on Student loans but nothing. This is not a government for the young.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dragonflytamer · 03/03/2026 15:37

TopPocketFind · 03/03/2026 15:21

You all have a hotline to the IMF.......

Er no The OBR issues a report - anyone can read it. Reeves cherry picked the bits she like and ignored the caveats? What's the IMF got to do with it?

Even some of the OBR stuff is a bit manipulated. They say unemployment will stay steady but the hours worked per person will reduce.

OP posts:
jasflowers · 03/03/2026 15:34

Dragonflytamer · 03/03/2026 15:18

No she can't effect AI and if anything should be encouraging. What she could have not was not increase the NI on employers and achieved the same by reserving the silly sunak giveaway. She didn't have to remove the financial incentive for employing youger people It is her choices that have driven youth unemployment.

Show quote history

She raised 30bn, i don't like it anymore than you but the reality is we need the money.
We need more defence, better roads, NHS/GPs/Dental.

Reversing Hunts NI cuts would have raised 11bn.

So the only other way is income tax, we would need a 5% increase to raise 20bn.
That would have destroyed consumer confidence, wrecked the high street and hospitality, pushing youth unemployment even higher.

Or we have more Austerity.

TopPocketFind · 03/03/2026 15:21

You all have a hotline to the IMF.......

Original poster
Dragonflytamer · 03/03/2026 15:18

itsthetea · 03/03/2026 14:58

theres very little she can do about AI and how it’s shaking the job market -

but i sense this is a matter of heels in , determination to know it all so il leave you to it

No she can't effect AI and if anything should be encouraging. What she could have not was not increase the NI on employers and achieved the same by reserving the silly sunak giveaway. She didn't have to remove the financial incentive for employing youger people It is her choices that have driven youth unemployment.

OP posts:
jasflowers · 03/03/2026 15:18

First part of 2024 was decent growth but the last half of 2023, UK was in recession.
Overal growth in UK is higher under Labour than it was under Sunak.

But both are poor, the idea it was all Sunny Uplands under the Tories is somewhat "mis remembering" on a grand scale.

There is a reason they suffered their worst ever electoral performance and are behind Labour in the polls.

EasternStandard · 03/03/2026 15:00

itsthetea · 03/03/2026 14:58

theres very little she can do about AI and how it’s shaking the job market -

but i sense this is a matter of heels in , determination to know it all so il leave you to it

I think she can do more about NI policy and policy generally and hitting construction and hospitality (not particularly AI led) but yes if you’re as Reeves is not wanting to know probably best to ignore all.

itsthetea · 03/03/2026 14:58

theres very little she can do about AI and how it’s shaking the job market -

but i sense this is a matter of heels in , determination to know it all so il leave you to it

EasternStandard · 03/03/2026 14:47

itsthetea · 03/03/2026 14:42

No I don’t believe thing would have bounced back after Covid with a right ( more right) wing government in place
and if everything was inevitable then we don’t need any one governing ?

Unemployment is going up and growth revised down, it’s not bouncing.

First half of 2024 it was improving, and then the GE.

itsthetea · 03/03/2026 14:42

No I don’t believe thing would have bounced back after Covid with a right ( more right) wing government in place
and if everything was inevitable then we don’t need any one governing ?

Sidebeforeself · 03/03/2026 14:40

BurntBroccoli · 03/03/2026 13:04

It was actually improving (until Trump decided to attack Iran to distract from the Epstein files…

However:
• Inflation down
• Interest rates down
• Waiting lists down dramatically
• Net migration halved
• Economy grown
• Energy price cap coming down by 7%
• Strikes ended
• Breakfast clubs and free school meals
• Rail fares frozen

Is that you Alistair Campbell?!