UK officially in recession...

[Startingagainandagain]

Latest stats released show the UK is now officially in recession (Office for national statistic data).

Gaslighting has started in the media by ministers to try to minimise that fact.

Isn't it time to face the facts instead and call a general election?

I know the picture is bleak and any new party in power will need years to try to sort out this mess but something needs to be done...

The UK's decline in the past few decade or so has really been dramatic.

Do you know why the winter fuel allowance is not means tested? Because it would cost more to assess everyone's eligibility than it costs to just give it to everyone. Making disabled people attend assessment has also cost more than it saved AND resulted in thousands of disabled people being left destitute or even dead.

Means testing and health assessments make benefits LESS sustainable, not more.

And for PIP, the fraud rate is tiny:

Overpayments due to Fraud were 0.2% (£40m) in FYE 2023, compared with 0.3% (£30m) in FYE 2020.

So why doesn’t it cost more to assess other people for various benefits? Like the CoL payment? Could it be the tories are simply trying to keep the pensioner vote 😱

So along that vein (and I wouldn’t for a second want to stop all disability benefits the effects of that would be beyond horrific), we shouldn’t bother with ending nondom status (that would only save £2 billion) or private school VAT (1.6 billion) but I take it a lot of these posters do believe we should do those things?

And I don’t know why you’re throwing up Tory wastage figures like I approve of it and am fine with it, I’m not, I despise the tories and have never voted for them. They’re a shower of shit.

How very odd when you’re clearly a fan of their fiscal direction and wish to take it to extremes they can only dream of.

I’m not a fan, it’s a regretful necessity if we’re to avoid sliding into second world country status. I don’t understand what people don’t understand about that.

Regretful necessity? You seem to relish the prospect of withdrawing benefits from disabled people.

The amount of unclaimed benefits dwarfs that of any fraud.

Yes, there are issues elsewhere, including Germany and other parts of Europe. The same factors are affecting the UK, but none of those other countries have to deal with the massive negative effects of Brexit, on TOP of the rest. The UK is currently in a uniquely disastrous position.

https://ifs.org.uk/news/number-new-disability-benefit-claimants-has-doubled-year

is this sustainable, yes or no?

Because it’s not a necessity. What we need to do is grow the economy and raise productivity, make the UK attractive to investors, not make cheeseparing reductions in benefits which are already too low. The amount of unclaimed benefits already exceeds those fraudulently claimed so you’re proposing a solution to a non existent problem. If we need to save money we should stop pissing it up against the wall on things like HS2 - just think what that money could have achieved.

The issue for me is a change of gov doesn’t actually change that status

The proposed policies won’t do much (they’re u turning anyway as not feasible) with the opportunity they have it could be actual impact. I’d be interested in that but it’s too late for this GE

If it’s as detrimental as some say five years is a long time for decline

Loads of benefit posts. State dependency is high so it really shouldn’t get higher, and we need to keep tax payers

Even with the unclaimed benefits it’s still unsustainable.

How would you propose to attract investors? The main method is something called tax breaks which is highly unpopular on here as well. Also better infrastructure which again isn’t wanted - like you said ‘pissing money away on HS2’.

People want all these things but don’t want to implement what is needed to do it.

naptrappedmummy why are you so intent on attacking the most vulnerable people? Would you like to see sick and disabled people warehoused instead?

You have no idea how hard (and humiliating )it is to get disability benefits.

I don't think you are posting in good faith, so will give up now.

Agree with every word. Anyway I’m out, I’ve tried, all we can do now is wait 🤷🏼‍♀️

Here we go, the inevitable hyperbolic workhouse post. Kind of the mumsnet Godwin’s law!

HS2 might have been a great idea in theory but the bastardised version we now have hasn’t improved our infrastructure one iota. And it’s going cost approaching £100 billion. How can that possibly be considered a good use of money?

You're a very angry person aren't you.

Should she list her house for below market value? Would you?

@Naptrappedmummy you have been very active on this thread. Can I ask if you are economically active?

I am indeed. About to return from maternity.

Except it isn't hyperbole. I refer you to this short thread and your response.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4993108-aibu-to-be-concerned-about-the-disabled-being-institutionalised-in-bristol

No but equally the estate agents are driving up prices for their own profits. Everyone goes to the EA that will get them the most money, in desirable areas people will pay that money so it drives prices up.

@IClaudine omg!!