Labour isn't working - Thread 10

[TheNuthatch]

A chat thread for those who don't like this Labour government.

The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.

Previous thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5411817-labour-isnt-working-thread-9?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

Just heard that Rach has refused to rule out VAT rise. I am just about to embark on building work (providing work for’ working people’. (Incidentally including a downstairs shower to help me stay independent living for longer in the future)
If the VAT is even more crippling, I will rein in the scope of it and do a smaller job. (Spend the money instead renting a place in the sun through the winter, perhaps, contributing to the Spanish or Greek economy?)
Multiplied by lots of us.
Leaving builders kess work (and even more incentive to do jobs for cash..) And similarly people will cut back on discretionary spending, so shrinking our economy. What a useless bunch they are.

You will be pleased to hear himself doesn't go out. He's a Bengal/Maine Coon cross and would devastate the local wildlife. It's terrible what cats can do.

Oh that’s not good about the birds. Some cats are serial killers (my dad’s view). I think there’s a curfew on cats in Australia? Not sure.
However .. I love cats we’ve got 2 now, but they’re no more likely to kill birds than they are to kill our dogs. Just cute (to me) furry purring lumps who sleep most of the time. It’s our dogs who chase birds.. Always unsuccessfully of course..

Ah @Twimbledonia I can help you there.
If you have an illness (arthritis for example) you can claim back the VAT or maybe it claim relief, on some of your building work. We did it for our bathroom when we got rid of the bath and installed a walk in shower. You simply fill in a form confirmng you have an illness.

Here's the link.

VAT relief on certain building work if you have a disability - GOV.UK

On the subject of birds (my dad is a bird obsessed wildlife person so I get all the info!).. the bird population in Europe has been decimated in the last 40years. Not by cats but by intensive farming practices and fertilisers / pesticides. Approx half a billion birds in 40 years, lost. So so sad 😖

That’s amazing. So many people won’t be aware of that!!

I wasn't until the builder told me. You just need a diagnosis, it doesn't have mean you're immobile. I was simply asked by him if I had any health issues!

Brilliant.

Insects as well.

Remember when we used to have to stop and clean the windscreen every so often? Not these days.

We used to have hedgehogs, i've not seen one for ages. Even the local fox population has declined.

We are building new towns though.

Back in the ‘80s the Tories operated a philosophy of tending to increase VAT and decrease income tax. The thinking being that it’s better to tax expenditure than income because it leaves greater choice in the tax payers’ hands. I always thought that was a reasonable policy objective. But it all turns on tax trade-off and balance. (Bearing in mind that staples are zero-rated.)

What we’ve got now is a government that just wants to put up tax willy-nilly, with no coherent view of the effects and incentives (good and bad) that creates.

If VAT goes up, trade in goods and services goes down, and it’s all passed on. I see no sign of balancing tax measures. No growth, more unemployment, less legitimate tax shelter. Disaster.

This feels like pre-IMF bailout steps.

They're economically illiterate zealots, for sure. Makes me wonder if any of them were taught the basics of budgeting by their parents because they obviously haven't a clue how to make money work.

I heard one proposal, think it was on TRIM, that they should lower VAT but put it on everything - no exemptions and avoid the petty wrangling over whether something is a cake or biscuit, etc.

Another suggestion was that, on a business front, again lower the rate of VAT but also lower the threshold at which businesses have to pay it. The theory being that the current threshold disincentivises business from expanding and thereby increasing productivity/employment etc.

The bottom line is that the hole they have dug themselves requires drastic action, tinkering a bit here and a bit there will do bugger all.

The fact that Reeves can say she is proud of where things are right now is laughable. I’d have a whole lot more respect for her (granted anything is better than my current respect level of 0) if she would simply say, it’s not where I wanted it to be by this stage.

Really interesting!!!!!’
Luckily I don’t have a disability at the moment but am 64 so mindful (from wisdom on another brilliant thread on here) that it is a good idea to plan ahead. But my mother who is 84 would definitely benefit from this for her house. Will look into it /this thread is amazing /thank you PP!!!!!

Thank you. I wish all pet owners took responsibility as you do. It was awful to have to deal with that first thing. Its the fourth time this year.
I couldn't go to work, my dd was too upset to go to college, and my garden is covered in feathers and blood, which I am just about to clean as I can't let my dogs out until I do.
The bird's wing had been almost ripped off. As expected, my vet had to euthanize.

I will clean up, take dd to college and re-start my day with a strong coffee ☕️

Agree about VAT on everything except UK grown fruit and vegetables! 😀
Anything else is discretionary (including Kenyan beans etc)
And a flat tax that doesn’t put people off earning more as they go through the thresholds.
Much better to tax consumption rather than earnings.
And hefty fines for dodging VAT so that honest builders etc are not losing work to the cowboys.

I don't think she ever had any real plan of what she wanted to achieve (other than becoming the darling of the unions by throwing money at their members); it really looks as if she just wanted of the kudos of being the UK's first female Chancellor, with little or no idea of how to perform in the role.

In any other situation, HR would probably be re-visiting her CV and checking it very carefully.

I'm sorry you're having to deal with the fallout of a cat attack.
I find it very hard to reconcile that cats can give so much love and laughs, as himself does. He's just had the zoomies, he crashes about and behaves in a totally inapropriate manner for a 10 year old cat. It's like living with a hyperactive toddler! On the flip side he could cause so much destruction outside. I know if he went out he'd be a bugger, he can jump from siting to paws at 6ft to reach a toy when he's really into it, so you can imagine what he could do to birds.

My pampered cat doesn’t go out, she only hunts her own shadow - that sounds like a horrible morning @TheNuthatch

This. It makes my blood boil when a Labour MP, Reeves today, Reid yesterday, say they are putting more money in the pockets of workers, that pay rises are the highest they've been in years. Maybe so for their union paymasters, but not for those in the private sectors. Or is that their definition of a working person? You have to be a union member.

Sorry to hear that, especially your horse. I hope you manage to keep him. Is there someone who could help with the riding? Or could someone come with you to build your confidence.

This. Parsley, I lost my nerve after I had children but provided I do no more than walk or trot then it’s ok. As Nuthatch says, go with someone who is understanding and just go slowly.
The price of hay is unbelievable - all horse feed, in fact.

We have cats too but they’re far too busy keeping the rat population down due to fly tipping
Amazing how the police here do absolutely nothing about that but are happy to be knocking on our door in their dozens at 2 in the morning looking for someone who started a fight.
If they want more council tax the police are going to have to step up here!

So for now I’m afraid we’ll be very grateful for our cats. They’re far too busy with all the rats to have time for anything else

I read at the conference Angela Raynor was praised for her hard work and
building all those council houses!!

What council houses ? Erm
zero!
What blatant lies.

Her building policies shows she has no understanding of the industry whatsoever. The idea that she will require house builders to state a build timeline and fine them if they overrun. She hasn’t got a clue has she
Her policy is detrimental to the Industry

I haven’t (and won’t) watch it because I value my mental health, but from the feedback on here, the conference sounds like a real-life full size version of the MN Labour acolyte thread in action. 🤢

Yep. Ignoring it all too.

You are absolutely spot on there
Ive never heard such a bunch of blatant lies
Proud of how well the economy has done ???

She must be referring to another country!

Only idiots believe this twaddle

But I’m getting increasingly concerned about the budget given this rhetoric….