what are the top 3 things that you think the government should be tackling?

[MentholLoad]

after reading various headlines related to the Tory Party Conference and also not related to the conference, I am interested to hear what people think the priorities should be for the government?

because to me they are just mincing around the edges, HS2, smoking bans, so much emphasis on stopping immigrants, post 16 qualifications....huh?

for me, these are the 3 top priorities (subject to change, as I read other people's!)

1. the NHS
2. social housing (need more) and rental properties (the STATE that landlords are providing and controlling the cost
3. poverty....cost of living/wages
4. the environment....water pollution (water companies discharging sewage to rivers etc) and air pollution

Social housing and bringing in some kind
of rent control for private lettings.

Getting more people off benefits and into work.

Knife crime.

oh yes, knife crime 😢

childcare and cost of it
getting people off benefits and in to work
climate change

Knife crime/County lines/gang issues
Childcare and cost
Getting people off benefits and into work.

hmm, benefits one is interesting. I don't see people claiming benefits, who would be working as a big issue at all. I DO see that benefits being too small as a big issue. PIP should be higher for example. housing benefit should be paid to people who have mortgages who have lost jobs/become disabled (why are they happy to pay a landlords mortgage but not a tenants?)

Why don't you see people who could be working but claim benefits instead as an issue? Where do you think the money to increase benefits should come from?

I don't think that fraudulent benefit claims are that prevalent. money for more benefits could come from ensuring that large companies pay taxes in the UK instead of using loopholes, as an example

I agree with your list. But with knife crime what could actually be done? If I go outside with a knife there is nothing to stop me.

The thing is we use knives everyday for cooking.

Unless there is a ban on the length of knife being sold or all household knives having to be stored in a locked box how can it be solved?

Maybe more police patrols, random metal detectors in public places or cctv, but this would curtail peoples freedoms more than needed.

Has there been studies on the type of behaviours that show before someone commits a knife crime act? Or is it random?

If it's the previous then there could be early intervention and referrals made. Maybe for underage perpetrators the parents could also face some kind of punishment if they have been shown to be neglectful or for not seeking early help.

Future proof energy supply
Education
NHS staff

Ive not said fraudulent claims? I mean the 'I'll not work more than 16 hrs and claim' when they could work more.

It has to be education above everything else. Schools are falling apart, teachers are demoralised and the whole system is failing. Good education is the key to absolutely everything else.

The NHS
The benefit system.. whole thing needs overhauling
Immigration

Yes. Or the woman I know with 6 kids (19, 18, 15, 11, 7 and 6 so not all little ones) who didn't work for over a decade then 3 years ago got a part-time job as she wanted extra money but gave it up after 2 months because 'we were only £200 a month better off once my tax credits were adjusted' and hasn't worked a day since.

The amount being paid in benefits to people like the woman in your example @Hellaweirdhuh is a drop in the ocean. I think I'm right in saying that the vast majority of benefits claimants are in work. That may not be full time, but they are contributing.

I think the NHS and social housing are major issues. The problem is that increasing taxation to provide increased funding is not popular.

Appropriate funding of all public services so they're able to run efficiently and effectively

Stop the demonisation of those who claim benefits and of those who come here seeking asylum

Take more services back into public ownership - public transport, gas and electricity, water... it ought to be publicly funded and any profits returned to the public purse

👏👏👏👏
nationalisation

although that is intrinsically off the table, for the Tories

flippin eck, how did schools not make my top 3??!

Well, she isn't contributing and hasn't done much contributing at all throughout her life. Yet had 6 kids because the state houses her and props her up and financially enables her to choose not to work because she'd 'rather be at home'.

I think that's a flaw in the system whether it's a drop in the ocean or not.

1. Education
2. The NHS
3. Knife crime

Are there really loads of able people choosing to not work & live on benefits?

Whether they work or not, people are taxpayers whenever they pay tax. Pay for goods and services? Pay for fuel? Smoke or drink alcohol? Tax it's paid on top of most of these things. Do they pay road tax or some of their council tax? If so, then they are taxpayers. It may not be as much as someone in full time employment but it's better than nothing and as far as I understand it, very few people contribute more to the system than they take out.

massive programme of social housing, it's stupid that taxes for hb go to landlords when it could go to the state

big investment in education so we have skilled future generations.

I would look at tax & bring capital gains more in line with income.

Trouble is we don't have money to do o what we need.

Or the woman I know with 6 kids (19, 18, 15, 11, 7 and 6 so not all little ones) who didn't work for over a decade then 3 years ago got a part-time job as she wanted extra money but gave it up after 2 months because 'we were only £200 a month better off once my tax credits were adjusted' and hasn't worked a day since.

There really isn't loads of people doing this, hardly anyone has 6 dc now for one!