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Original poster

To Wonder Why Tory Voters Support a £13bn cut in benefits (inc tax credits) when hardly any tory voters even receive these benefits?

357 replies

Amylovesgalaxyeggs · 08/04/2015 17:33

Tory voters statistically earn more and live in constituencies that have higher property values.

Tory voters statistically would be less likely to rely on tax credits or other benefits that will be cut by the party.

Aibu to wonder why a group of voters would vote for a party that wants to cut something that they don't claim. Sounds like a of reverse Robin Hood to me.

OP posts:
Ponio · 14/04/2015 08:12

No and I'm not suggesting at all there aren't plenty in real nedd - I'm musing.

Ponio · 14/04/2015 08:18

The problem is Dawn that there are 63 million people in thsi country. All of whom are equal to be considered by any Govt.
I understand that disability is a hight issue for you but it is not the main focus for most of us who are looking at a large range of policies to find a best fit.

For me, the economy comes first. I dont trust Labour with it for one second so it's Tories all the way. a weak economy, high unemployment - these hit the poor hardest.

Dawndonnaagain · 14/04/2015 08:39

Ponio. I'm a retired history lecturer and I used to be a local councillor. It's a myth perpetuated by the Tories that they're good at 'housekeeping'. Every financial crash bar the last one happened during a Tory tenure in government. I'm not on a one woman crusade for the rights of the disabled, I did that when I got accessible transport and the DDA written, along with the changes in the EA. However, the Tories are targeting those on benefits, they have spun the electorate a line about the deserving and non deserving poor and the result is that hate crime has significantly increased. My point of view is don't support the Tories because they're crap with money, they're not particularly good with education (I'm looking at you, Gove), they're selling the NHS up the river and they're cruel with regard to welfare.

Kampeki · 14/04/2015 08:48

Ponio, I have volunteered at our local food bank. It is not my impression at all that people are using these services just because they're there. On the contrary, the number of food banks has shot up over the last five years in response to a very real - often desperate - need.

It is very clear that most people don't want to use food banks. Many of them are embarrassed, even ashamed. Frequently apologetic. They have no choice.

You can spout all the theory you like about the poor being better off under the Tories, but the cold, hard reality speaks otherwise. You may choose to ignore it if you wish, but I know what I have seen.

Littlemonstersrule · 14/04/2015 08:53

And if they don't target benefits then we stay in the mess we are in now where we have people choosing a life on them. Welfare is one thing but when you have one of a couple refusing to work, some one just doing sixteen hours etc then surely you can't believe that's a good thing for the welfare to be paying for? Those are lifestyle choices not genuine need.

Throwing more money at them won't motivate them to work if they don't already.

DoraGora · 14/04/2015 09:17

The mess we're in wouldn't have anything to do with dodgy investment banking, the sale of social housing, underinvestment in education and about five decades of ignoring employment opportunities for young people, would it?

Dawndonnaagain · 14/04/2015 10:10

Littlemonsters take a look at the figures, it's not hard. Stop believing what you are fed. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, et al have demonstrated on a number of occasions that there are very few 'professional' benefits claimants. It's actually really hard to choose a life on benefits, due to the sanctions. So, which would you rather have, a very small proportion taking the piss or a person with mental illness or a learning disability dying because they didn't understand how or why they were being sanctioned, because that's what is happening.
There are other places to save money, let's look at the the announcement regarding housing today. Trident. The cost of the civil service. The cost of administering parliament, just a few places other than welfare where savings could be made.

Littlemonstersrule · 14/04/2015 10:30

Whilst there may be sanctions on JSA, there aren't any on tax credits and I suspect the amount being paid out is very high. There's no pressure to work more than 16 hours if single and only 24 hours between a couple. I doubt its just a few that play this system.

Samcro · 14/04/2015 10:42

"I understand that disability is a hight issue for you but it is not the main focus for most of us who are looking at a large range of policies to find a best fit."
it should be high on everyones issues. it can happen to anyone at any time.
none of us chose this life.

Ponio · 14/04/2015 11:41

And it is Samcro - it really is and we shoudl absolutely support disabled and carers, of course.

But most voters will be looking at a range of policies to make a decision.

Sanctions Dawn, that have only been in place for 5 years and so it's no coincidence unemployment has fallen ? Carrot and stick.

Ponio · 14/04/2015 11:46

Stop believing what you are fed.

Very patronising. And yet it's okay for you to beleive what you are fed?

IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou · 14/04/2015 11:47

I'll vote Conservative in this election, I think they're the only ones that'll get us out of the hole.

Labour - pff, never in a million years
Lib Dem - Why bother?
Greens - Hmm, reduce spending on roads and lower public transport costs - no thanks!
UKIP - only as a protest vote, but not if it'd stop Conservatives getting in.

Best of a mediocre lot & the least likely to totally ruin life for me & my family....

Ponio · 14/04/2015 11:56

Very impressed with the manifesto! 30 hours free childcare for working parents and NO income tax for minimum wage earners.

They are the party for the working people. Labour are the party for the non working and the chattering classes! Smile

Samcro · 14/04/2015 12:17

have you a link to it

Samcro · 14/04/2015 12:19

ok found it
no impressed at all
free childcare yay
no mention of what cuts they will be making to carers and disabled peoples money.
oh yep the caring party,

Dawndonnaagain · 14/04/2015 12:27

Labour are the party for the non working
Exactly my point ponio. Thank you.

Samcro · 14/04/2015 12:36

well going by the local candidates they (labour) are the ones who give a shit about people like me and my disabled adult child.
tories.....nah

Ponio · 14/04/2015 12:36

Which is what, Dawn?

Dawndonnaagain · 14/04/2015 12:50

That we're all benefit scroungers if we don't/are unable to work. Everyone just lumped in together. Funny thing is, I'm not a Labour voter, but I was when I was working.

Ponio · 14/04/2015 12:57

Nope.

That those who can should work and that those who cannot should be supported.

Whilst recognising how vital working people in this country are. without them you'd have no benefits so helping as many people to work as possible, benefots everyone.

morethanpotatoprints · 14/04/2015 14:36

God here we go again, its like ground hog day every thread atm.

Tax credits are awarded not just by income but the hours you actually work. so keeping your hours low means you don't get the same of higher than somebody who works longer hours, unless the pay differs dramatically.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with one person from a couple not working and contrary to what you have been fed, they don't get paid to not work.
I haven't worked in nearly 24 years and have personally received no money whatsoever as I haven't been job seeking.
My dh is paid though and due to his income our family receive tax credits.
We would still receive this money whether I worked or not.
Sometimes it is not just financially better for a parent not to work for their own family but for the state too.
But, stupid people who don't understand the system would rather believe the shit they are fed.
They are stupid because they carry on spouting the same rubbish without bothering to find out the facts.

HelenaDove · 14/04/2015 14:37

When people claiming working tax credits are offered extra hours those hours are usually intermittent and inconsistent and the system cant keep up with it.

Littlemonstersrule · 14/04/2015 14:43

Morethan, your DHs (although it has to be a joint claim so wrong to say you don't get it) tax credits wouldn't be the same if you worked. If you did you would have an income and so the amount you get would decrease. If a high enough joint income then they would cease.

The state doesn't benefit from non working parents where the family claim benefits, what a daft comment. If it means they need help with childcare its for a limited period and the person is likely to remain in work once childcare is not needed.

There is something very wrong with one aduly choosing not to work when that choice means they claim benefits. Fine if the household income covers it but a whole different game if it doesn't.

morethanpotatoprints · 14/04/2015 15:51

littlemonster

We would receive far more if I worked and over the past 24 years with 3 dc and a huge gap in ages the childcare would have cost the tax payer thousands. So the state have benefitted a lot from me not working, it is hardly a short amount of time your children need childcare for. It's 10/11 years at least, each, including holidays and after school/breakfast clubs.
Believe me, my family have received far less than their childcare would have cost.

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