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Politics
Original poster

Ed Balls forgets to engage brain

59 replies

Madge5 · 10/04/2010 09:32

Is anyone else as enraged as I with Ed Balls' comments this morning regarding the Tories tax cuts for married couples?
He said it's unfair because the man can beat up his wife then leave taking the tax break with him to his next marriage and start all over again. Eh? Is this what really happens in marriages? Are we women being beaten up by our husbands, are we left destitute, unable to stand up again and remarry?
Or is he implying this is what happens in poorer families, who are the ones to benefit from this proposal.

OP posts:
unfitmother · 10/04/2010 15:12

He did say that, as an example of how poorly thought out this election bribe is. Any person left by a partner, abusive or not, would lose the tax break on divorce (or being widowed). New marrrige by former partner would give them a new tax break.

unfitmother · 10/04/2010 15:09

Good precis DuelingFanjo

I watched the interview Ed Balls was 'fanbloodytastic' and summed up the banality of the poilcy really well, OP is quoting one sentance, out of context.

DuelingFanjo · 10/04/2010 15:08

though maybe there was more to the interview where he did say "it's unfair because the man can beat up his wife then leave taking the tax break with him to his next marriage and start all over again" ?

link OP?

DuelingFanjo · 10/04/2010 15:07

OH - the OP got the quote completely wrong anyway

he said

"I don't think it's right for politicians to come along and say you're bette if you're married, to say to children you're not quite as good if your parents are not married. as specially if you parent is a single parent because an abusive father beat up your mum and then left. The idea that you are then told that you're second class and should be worse of; if you are a widow for whatever reason the idea that you should be getting less support...." and so on

can be heard in full here

DuelingFanjo · 10/04/2010 15:02

Abd I don't know what Ed Balls said fully but the BBC are quoting it as

"It's gesture politics which is deeply, deeply unfair. It's targeted at some lower income families but only a lower income family where you can afford to have one parent who stays at home full-time."

It would not support widows or people whose partners walked out on them", he added.

DuelingFanjo · 10/04/2010 15:01

sorry - George Osborne said it.

DuelingFanjo · 10/04/2010 15:01

I'd love to know what Cameron means when he says

"but I think we know now from years of evidence that a society where more people are married is a stronger society."

StewieGriffinsMom · 10/04/2010 14:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

ronshar · 10/04/2010 09:42

No its just the usual Labour party bollocks.

I would love for my DH to get my tax allowance as I am at home looking after the children and so not using mine!

He doesnt beat me nor is he planning to I hope!

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