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.

Littlemonster most tax credits are paid to people on low income. You have to have a job to receive tax credits.

oh or the extortionate child care that allows me to work either

I don't care if I'm Tory bashing. If you vote for a party that is so nasty to the vunerable you deserve scrutinising. I'm happy to be scrutinised for choosing to vote labour this time (never voted Blair or brown spoilt my paper but know labour is socialist again I'm happy to vote for them).

So does that mean I can attack labour voters for bringing us a war criminal for a leader and leading our country into massive debt?

Of course Shouldiworry we have free speech except I didn't vote for new labour so I will not take any responsibility. However like I said labour has returned to socialism so I'm going to vote for Ed.

But from my perspective as a higher rate taxpayer, why wouldn't I vote Tory? I don't claim benefits, never have

Because life is about more than just your own self interest? Because you recognise that other people may not be as fortunate as yourself? Because you believe in a society that looks after those who, for whatever reason, are unable to look after themselves? Because you understand that people sometimes fall on bad times through no fault of their own, and that one day, it could happen to you or one of your loved ones? Because you recognise that, in the long run, the widening gap between rich and poor in our society won't be good for any of us?

I too am a higher rate taxpayer, and I've never claimed benefits in my life. I count myself as fortunate in never having needed to rely on the safety net of the state. Personally, I'd probably be better off under the Tories from a financial point of view, but I'd far rather pay a bit more tax to live in a civilised and compassionate society.

Fab post Kampeki

But how can you spend money we haven't got?

I support cuts (not just welfare) and increased taxation because then we can properly support those who are in need and not just those who don't want to work

Shouldiworry we have money in this country it's just in only few pockets.

OP - no, the poor and disabled didn't cause the recession, but neither did the middle classes by the whole - and they are the ones being courted by this - it's their money that's being taken to pay for it. Money they feel the need of for themselves. They are being asked by labour to hand over a lot, and increasingly, they don't feel they should have to.

You see it on the "I think my neighbour/Aunty/friend is cheating benefits" threads - there's a view that a lot of people are "on the take" via tax credits. they are seen as relatively easy to fiddle or "play the system" (such as a DP moving in but living elsewhere 3/4 nights a week so being able to not officially live there). For those who earn enough to not be entitled to claim them, but are far from rich often dislike tax credits a great deal.

in a way, tax credits are also part of the same mentality as the banking crisis, protecting shareholders at all costs - which means taking tax payers money to give to low paid workers so that companies don't have to pay a decent wage to attact/retain good employees. It's taking from the middle classes to give to the working classes to ensure the upper /ruling classes keep as much money as possible. However, given immigration from within the EU, the reality is that cutting tax credits won't lead to companies being forced to pay a "living wage" because what's a living wage for an 18 year old from Europe just here for a year or two for experience and happy to live in a shared house with minimal costs, is a lot less than a living wage for a 30-something with 2 DCs to keep from it.

Sadly, as distasteful as they are, i think keeping tax credits is better than scrapping them.

I'm actually not that fortunate in many ways (aside from my current income) I grew up in fairly poor circumstances, and haven't had many things others take for granted. I'm a lone parent, and have worked hard to get to where I am. When I was earning less my DC never had treats like the cinema or meals out, we made do with an afternoon in the park. I know there are people who couldn't do the job I do, will never earn what I earn, but giving them so much in benefits that it's not worth them working more than a handful of hours per week doesn't seem like any kind of incentive to me. Benefits should not be a permanent solution except for those who are physically unable to work.

Amy, you are wrong. You can claim tax credits and not work. It's only the working tax part you don't get. Child tax credits are very generous.

I think the councils should buy empty properties, do them up and rent them out for less than the market value

That's so simplistic it's laughable. Where is the budget to do this going to come from then? And the funds for ongoing repair, maintenance, and insurance costs also?

Oh yeah. From confiscating Banker bonuses and the mansion tax. Or was that going to be spent on the NHS? [eye roll]

I don't think it's anything to do with not having to claim benefits. I am a Tory voter and no I don't claim any benefits, however I do believe that those who need benefits should be able to get them. The issue with the current system is that it makes people to reliant on them. I have lost count of the number of people posting threads about how they can't/won't work any more hours as there tax credits would be reduced. This is not the way it should be. People should be better off when they work, so that the incentive is there to get off benefits. We once had a guy come into work who was offered full time hours but didn't want more than 16 as he wouldn't get Jobseekers! He was promptly and quite rightly shown the door by the manager and the job centre were informed. Benefits should be there to help those that can't work or have fallen on hard times but should not be a lifestyle choice. I'm not from saying that everyone on benefits sees it as a lifestyle but there are many who do.

Where did all of the money from the council housing stock go? Surely it's more cost effective to buy an empty house and rent it out. The housing benefit for that house would be a fraction of the cost for the same house under a private landlord, so the thousands/tens of thousands saved can be used for new houses and repairs. It's not that simplistic 'it's laughable'. Sometimes the best ideas are the ones right under your nose.

I didn't realise voters were able to decide what rules the party implemented once they were in power.

Labour and lib dems agreed these cuts when they were proposed in parliament and they have also confirmed they won't change any of the planned cuts - surely all the insults which have been aimed at Tory voters would also apply to voters of these other parties?

Smoke and mirrors. If your maintaining a neutral balance you're a high earner. Doesn't take much to tip that over....

No matter how much people earn, we're all one accident or one unexpected major illness from needing benefits. You go through a pregnancy, thinking of baby names etc but people rarely expect to give birth to a disabled child. People get in their car, not expecting to crash or wake one morning with a headache and don't expect it to turn into MS or meningitis, or to be diagnosed with a tumour. You never expect it.

I think you can measure a country by how well they support the vulnerable, and the UK does a piss poor job.

Agree Kampeki never met a nice Tory.

You ask everyone you meet how they vote?

That's the most stupid question I have ever seen on MN....Seriously, did you think it through?

What a strange question. Presumably they feel annoyed that they are paying more and more tax for something they don't benefit from and in many cases see people living a better quality of life whilst working and earning less. Presumably they want to pay lower taxes and the only way that will be done is by cutting something else. I doubt that many people would be in favour of paying more taxes so that other people can get even more benefits.

OP Why do so many Labour voters want higher taxes when hardly any pay them?