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

[Amylovesgalaxyeggs]

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.

I appreciate it isn't easy (although I did have a student loan when I studied and am still paying it back). I appreciate too that I probably had different circumstances from many teenage parents (I had 3 As at A-level under my belt when I found out I was pregnant). I had a supportive mother.

But - the system, IMO, does not work. I don't believe that children have been lifted out of poverty by the introduction of tax credits. I don't believe that there is enough incentive (be it carrot and/or stick) to get people into work.

I very much enjoyed the money I got from the state. I enjoyed only having to work a few days per week and I loved the time I got to spend with DD when she was small. I wish I had that luxury now. But, the bottom line for me is that I believe I have a duty to support myself and provide for my daughter. An attitude, I believe, that is best reflected by the Tories.

Freckled but surely it would be better to change the system positively instead of just cutting everything.

Living wage should be a human right, I'm sorry I don't buy the argument that a living wage would increase costs dramatically, businesses said the same amount the minimum wage.

`Ah the luxury of being physically or mentally disabled. Never having to worry about bills, having your care dependent of the kindness of others due to services being cut. What a lovely life they must lead. I wish it was me.

on the kindness of others

They must be like the Tory party and get off the poor getting poorer.

I can't wait till my son who has autism can just "get a job" and make his way in the world, that is if he ever gets to see a speech therapist (13 months waiting now... the letter will be here any day now I hope)

Freckled, they do seem the only party to want people to aspire to self supporting and showing work pays. I don't want future generations believing their choices are paid for by others or that there is no reason to bother to do well at school as benefits pay far more than some jobs. The very fact we have to cap benefits shows how out of hand they have become.

Millions are wasted through tax credits, the system can't go soon enough. It's a basic part of parenting to support them financially yet so many still see it as not their responsibility.

Bberry It's the same argument yes but actually who can afford cuts or new taxes the rich. Who can't the poor.

Who caused the recession (wealthy bankers) who did not (low earners, the disabled etc)

The rich can still live a nice lifestyle under the 50 p tax rate or Mansion tax. The poor suffer from any cuts made to welfare, Nhs etc.

Tax credits haven't lifted all children out of poverty but they have lifted a lot. When I think of my childhood in the 1980s and ds's childhood now there's a massive difference. He doesn't have to go without shoes or food, we can go to the cinema or out for a meal. I work, often 60 hours a week, I get a little tax credits and this helps. Food is far more expensive now then it was in the 80s, as are my utility bills. If you put more money into people's pockets then there's always someone willing to take it off them. If you increase the minimum wage then manufacturers etc will have to charge more to cover it. This will be passed onto the consumer. What needs to happen is utility bills need to be lower and the big companies need to think about the cost of the millions in profits that they make. The Government need to clamp down on tax evasion and pump the 'newly found' tax back into the economy.

Why are we still paying 20% VAT on things?? This wasn't supposed to be permanent was it?

I'm a Tory voter on a low income who doesn't own a property. So try not to stereotype us too much Eh

Little monster millions are wasted through tax credits because companies are not made to pay enough to their workers so the state has to bump up the low paids wages.

People have no choice but to work for low pay.

Littlemonster are you sure what tax credits are It's a basic part of parenting to support them financially yet so many still see it as not their responsibility. since when does having to work for low pay mean you are not doing a basic part of parenting .

I haven't voted in years. Quite probably won't in this election. But from my perspective as a higher rate taxpayer, why wouldn't I vote Tory? I don't claim benefits, never have, and the current culture of dependence on benefits, encouraging fecklessness because the state always provides, people just working the minimum 16 hours a week to play the system leaves a sour taste.

I remember life before minimum wage, I know people who back then worked 2 or 3 jobs to make ends meet, worked 70 hours a week or more to put food on the table. I fear we have lost that work ethic, and a decrease in benefits paid to the able bodied has to be the way forward.

These thinly veiled insults to Tory voters that are posted in AIBU are getting boring.

Labour support the notion you don't have to provide for your own because the state will pick up for you which goes against my beliefs

I did not stereotyoe shouldiworry its fact.

It's lazy Tory bashing.

I'd hesitate to guess Amy that the bulk of people who claim tax credits don't work, work the minimum sixteen hours or are part of a couple where one adult doesn't work. That's not taking responsibility in any shape or form.

I don't believe for one second that people would rush to work if the NMW was higher. If they had a work ethic they would already be working to full capacity.

Yes some will only ever have basic jobs but then they know the salary and make choices based on that. If they need more to make different choices then they do something about it. What we don't need is a system that allows people to have what they can't afford at the cost to others.

I'm a labour voter, I want corporations and companies to pay a wage that people can live off without the need for tax credits or housing benefit so I want less money spent on welfare.

However I want the poor not to suffer from the cut in welfare, the average Tory voter wants the poor to have less money in their pocket and make the poor suffer.

In fact the average ukip voter earns the least which I found very surprising.

Ps Me and dh pay a higher rate of tax. Just becaus you pay more tax doesn't give you a right to dictate more about how that tax is spent them someone paying a lower amount of tax.

I work 37.5hours a week in a "poor pay" job, I am in receipllt of tax benefit, take it off me I won't be able to afford the weekly shop or my transport to work. which one do you think I'd drop?

so I'd now not work and be in a bit of a muddle.... the mind boggles

From what I see Tories are so far only advocating cutting benefits to the wealthy and bringing in more means testing

Also as a person with disabilities I fully support the drive to enable more people with disabilities back into the workforce. People need to stop hiding behind 'oh I cant do' and do what they can do