To not give a damn if the Labour Party...

[slatternlymother]

Give away free flat screen TV's and a £500 Next gift card to everyone claiming benefits.

I don't care if they say 'fuck it, free immigration to everyone, we'll let anyone in'

I don't care if they spend 4 jillion pounds on a statue of Ghandi.

Just as long as the Conservatives don't get in again. They are fucking evil, aren't they?

bastards. Fucking bastards

I don't want to live in a country like this anymore

[ShellyBoobs]

I've never voted Conservative and I've always said I never would.

The more I read, though, the more likely I am to vote for them next time around.

They're doing a far better job for the country than Labour would have done. Labour are always fucked when they run out of someone else's money.

We'd be vying with Greece for the honour of 'most fucked economy in Europe' if that bellend Brown had carried on much longer.

As for voting Labour while Ed Miliband is at the helm? No. Fucking. Chance.

[TheOriginalLadyFT]

I'd vote Conservative no matter what, because the alternatives make me sick. I don't agree with all their policies, but the Labour Party (and in particular what Tony Blair did and stood for) are vile

[Iggly]

We'd be vying with Greece for the honour of 'most fucked economy in Europe' if that bellend Brown had carried on much longer

That is bollocks. Go and read reputable sources and you'll learn. You've fallen for it.

[JakeBullet]

skittish...I am another of those pesky benefits claimants. I was employed non stop for 30 years prior to that though....is that okay with you?

I am not disputing the fact that the NMW is SO low that people are obliged to claim benefits on top just in order to live. That is wrong. ....and sadly they are the people these changes will hit hardest. It won't hit the "can't be bothered to work" brigade.... and I am not doubting they exist either.

Jobs though.....people coming in often take on skilled jobs or are migration workers. Perhaps we should be asking why we are not producing enough skilled workers of our own.

[JakeBullet]

...and I think nearly all politicians are self serving bastards who are very economical with the truth when it suits them. Thats EVERY flavour of political persuasion. ....

For evidence jusy look at the closure downgrading of Lewisham Hospital thread. Jeremy Kunt's work and totally oposite to what he "promised". Scumbags all of them and I hate the bastards .

[CloudsAndTrees]

Yes, 50% over £150k, as well as the 40% over £34k, which is a ridiculously low bracket.

If it were just the 50% over £150k, I'd agree that it wasn't so bad, but when people get charged a massive 40% on £34k (or just over - can't remember exactly) then that is a huge amount of tax for people to be paying.

I realise the country needs revenue, but there is only so much you can take from some individuals before you start saying all individuals have to pay something.

I will say that I don't agree with the CT benefit cut coming in at the same time as the 'bedroom tax' is coming in. I just think that council services are just too important to too many people for people to be able to pay nothing towards it.

[CelticPromise]

I don't think £34k is ridiculously low for 40%. It's well above average I believe.

[HeadFairy]

One thing I will say (without really knowing a massive amount about it - I'll admit that much) against Labour is that WTC and CTC seem far too complicated - and therefore expensive. I think the system needs to be simplified massively. I'm sure someone will come up with a clever reason why I'm wrong, but I dont' think anyone earning under £20k should pay income tax (of course they will pay tax via plenty of other schemes) and I don't think the 40% tax band should come in to force until someone earns over £65k. And the upper rate should stay where it is...

[Iggly]

Er no that's not how the tax works.

First £8k is not taxed

Income above £8k is taxed at 20%

Income above £34k is 40%

So it's the amounts above which are taxed at those rates not the whole amount.

But yes the tax thresholds are low. That's because of sneaky fiscal drag where the boundaries haven't been properly increased in line with inflation.

As for people paying nothing towards their services - most people will pay something at some point.

[CloudsAndTrees]

£34k gross doesn't buy a lavish lifestyle though. It doesn't buy complete financial security, or even an average short haul holiday every year if you are paying childcare costs and working/commuting costs for two people. Especially if you have more than one child.

40% is a big chunk of money!

[HeadFairy]

celticPromise that's because the average is so low compared to our cost of living. £26k a year is the average income and it's incredibly hard to have a comfortable lifestyle in this country on that kind of money, what with rising housing and fuel costs.

[CloudsAndTrees]

Er no that's not how the tax works.

I do know how it works, I just haven't expressed that very well. Sorry.

[landofsoapandglory]

I'll tell you who I will vote for, I will vote for whom ever will close the loopholes that allow companies to avoid paying tax on their earnings in this country. A man on the Oneshow tonight said the figure in lost revenue is closer to £25 billion than £5billion! It is an absolute scandal! Why has no Government sorted this out?

I don't believe the mess this country is in is entirely Labour's fault, but it is partly, and if people don't understand that, then IMO they Are the brain washed ones! When we had the good times and the government was raking the money in Gordon Brown was making no provisions to save just in case we hit a recession, he continually overspent and borrowed money. Then low and behold the whole world went into recession, we had no money put by so we were well and truly up shit street!

It wouldn't matter what party were in now, cuts would have to be made. I am under no illusion either, if Labour win the next election they won't reverse the cuts, they shall just blame the state of the economy on the Tories, say they wouldn't have done it like this but now it is done it is too late and carry on!

They are all a bunch of cunts in a different colour suit!

[CelticPromise]

Agreed. But it's easier on £34k or £26k than on NMW. I think that something needs to be done about the cost of childcare and housing and that would make a difference for a lot of people. Not convinced that the current childcare changes will benefit anyone except shareholders in large nurseries.

Only a really small proportion of workers earn over £65k. I expect we couldn't afford to lose that much tax.

[sukysue]

Ed Milliband what a joke he is, did you see the pathetic attempt to big him up on the latest labour party advert . He may be clever etc etc etc but I don't want someone who sounds like him being our pm . I know he can't help it but OMG you have to be realistic not a good helmsman for us really.Not a good image at all.Also I can't quite forgive him for having one over on his brother if he'd do that to him then what lengths would he go to for the further promotion of self.

[chickensarmpit]

Everyone needs to contribute into the system. A few quid a week is hardly a kick in the teeth is it? I have to pay £30ish a week and it pisses me off no end but I'm paying for a service. I want my bins empty, I want my street to be lit up at night etc.. These services cost a lot of money and it's not fair on the workers who have to pay and get no help. Yet I will probably get jumped on here for simply stating that the buck needs to stop somewhere.

[ShellyBoobs]

Go and read reputable sources and you'll learn.

There are reputable sources where I can read about what state the economy would be in of Gordon Brown was still in power?



P.S. Do you know most of your responses in this thread come across as incredibly patronising, Iggly?

[IfNotNowThenWhen]

Starbucks
Vodaphone
Amazon
Microsoft
Google

All the banks we bailed out

etc, etc, etc.

I say the buck stops with them. Not a family having to choose between eating properly and being warm enough.

[HeadFairy]

celtic I'm not privvy to all the details but the cost of administering the WTC and CTC system could be used to pay for it. That would be my first port of call in overhauling the tax system. Not scrapping higher rates for wealthier people and making disabled people prove how disabled they are to justify their payments.

[LittlePicnic]

OP- YANBU-Just the other night I realised our county council might be reducing the financial worth of the nursery education grant. I.e. we will have to pay more to top up the cost of the free 15 hours nursery education, I realised I am so fed up of living in this country. This government are squeezing the middle and the poor at every possible turn. I just wish ordinary people would realise that the Tories are only interested in the Rich people. If only the rich people whose interests the Tories represent voted for them, the average family would be better off now. Labour may have overspent but the Tories are destroying this country. They are privatising the schools (academies) and the NHS. Soon there will be nothing left to sell off.

[HeadFairy]

sukey I've been utterly flamed for being as disparaging about shiny red faced posh twats in the Tory party, told in no uncertain terms that I was being shallow and they should be judged on their performance not their appearance. I quite like Ed I fancy David Miliband more though and to be honest whilst I don't like most politicians, I would rather he than Dave C and his millionaire cabinet.

[PessaryPam]

Oh dear are you going to have to pay for something OP? Welcome to the fucking club.

[Iggly]

Hi a nerve have I Shelly?

The claim about the uk being another Greece simply isn't true.

[sukysue]

I know what you are saying fairy but what he did to his brother was unforgiveable and I would not like to have him as leader of our country. If he could do that to his bother what else is he capable of? I don't trust him , I should add I don't trust any of the wasters.

[Iggly]

Sorry Shelly but if you're going to make claims about the UK being saved from being another Greece then I have a right to call you on that load of dross. If I sound patronising then so be it.