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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think more outrage is needed over Tory threat to child benefit?

537 replies

flower68 · 08/04/2015 19:49

According to papers today Tory planned welfare cuts can't be achieved without further cuts to child benefit. George Osborne has refused to rule it out apparently. Such a cut would be massively controversial, hurt lower income families and is potentially politically toxic for the Tories. So why is no-one pushing them for a straight answer?

OP posts:
Emmaswan · 09/04/2015 19:20

I would think that one reason many men don't pay is that they know the State will.

Viscious circle.

BaronessEllaSaturday · 09/04/2015 19:26

I would think that one reason many men don't pay is that they know the State will

That excuse doesn't work for my child's father as the state doesn't pay I do.

meglet · 09/04/2015 19:31

maintenance is the only way we have a bearable life. If we then lost tax credits because of it we'd be in the shit. god forbid those single parent whose kids do have winter coats, swimming lessons and the odd day out Hmm . best take a bit more off them then.

rollonthesummer · 09/04/2015 19:44

I don't think the Tories should be allowed to say, 'we're going to raise £12 million' and then not say how just before an election :(

Hannahouse · 09/04/2015 20:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ihategeorgeosborne · 09/04/2015 20:10

I agree that political parties should spell out exactly what cuts they will make and exactly what taxes they will raise. However, Labour haven't exactly said what they will do either. All I've heard is a mansion tax and taxing banker's bonuses (neither of which I am against btw), which will apparently pay for everything. What else do they plan to do. I really need to know so that I can make an informed decision when I vote.

mariamin · 09/04/2015 20:14

There are always men who avoid paying maintenance whether the state are involved or not. Not all fathers are good fathers, some don't ace at all about their kids.

rollonthesummer · 09/04/2015 20:25

I really need to know so that I can make an informed decision when I vote.

Exactly!

Hannahouse · 09/04/2015 20:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ihategeorgeosborne · 09/04/2015 20:53

The problem is, that I don't have any faith in Labour either. They had 13 years to change so many things, but failed on so many levels. I just quickly browsed that link you posted Hannah, but their record on housing alone has really annoyed me. Why didn't they build more houses? Why did they allow house prices to rise exponentially for years and years. Why didn't they stop it? Houses are homes, not commodities. Don't get me wrong, the Conservatives have allowed it to continue and have even exascerbated it with HTB1 and 2 and other props, but Labour should never have let it get out of control on their watch. There are so many things that they should have done. I don't like either of them tbh and I'm really stuck for who to vote for now. I really just don't trust them. They'll all say one thing and do the opposite when in power.

Hannahouse · 09/04/2015 21:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SuggestmeaUsername · 09/04/2015 21:35

I would think that one reason many men don't pay is that they know the State will

There are always men who avoid paying maintenance whether the state are involved or not. Not all fathers are good fathers, some don't ace at all about their kids.

there should not be any choice in the matter. you have a kid, you pay maintenance for it. you will be tracked down and made to pay

happybubblebrain · 09/04/2015 22:57

I earn a low income.

I worked hard at school, I was always at the top. I completed a degree which turned out to be the wrong degree, I had poor advice and didn't know the world of work at 18. So I got lots of vocational qualifications which have meant I've always been employed, but it's low-paid employment.

I've worked for the same employer for 13 years and I haven't had a pay rise for 11 years so my income continues to fall. I could find another job but the jobs out there pay less than I currently earn.

I have a high IQ and plenty of qualifications but I still earn less than £16,000 per year. My situation isn't rare, lots of people with good intellect and qualifications are in my situation.

Realistically I don't know how I can earn more money if employers aren't willing to pay more and I don't think I should be blamed for that.

rollonthesummer · 09/04/2015 23:07

Happy bubble brain, I completely agree. Some of the opinions on this thread are bizarre; some suggestions seem to imply that only higher rate tax payers should be allowed to have children as they're the only ones who can afford to. Clearly nobody in London or the South East should unless they are millionaires.

Who do they think will work in retail, cleaning, refuse collection, beauty parlours etc in this country if those jobs don't pay enough to live and raise a family and the state won't help? Those jobs still need to be done.

Hillingdon · 09/04/2015 23:10

What do you do Happy that gives you such a low wage? You have a degree and I am wondering whether it's part time or in a quiet part of the country for jobs.

TheWindowDonkey · 09/04/2015 23:20

'50k earners were annoyed by the change. It is disgraceful that a couple earning £49999 each still get it, yet a single parent on 60k doesn't.'
This still hugely annoys me, dh earns 60k, i earn about 2k. Actually i dont think we as a coule need/deserve child benefit at all, we can survive without it and there are plenty for whom it is a neccesity...i'd much rather they had it and us lose a yearly holiday (which is what we did when it was removed) BUT it psses me off royaly that a family where the dual income is 99.99k a year (split 50/50) still gets it. Its insanity.

Mrsfrumble · 09/04/2015 23:20

Hillingdon, I worked for a company that paid similar wages to long term, full time employees with degrees. In London! It was in an arts / media industry that people were so desperate to work in that we had loads of interns - often with postgraduate degrees - who were working 2 or 3 days a week for travel expenses only.

happybubblebrain · 09/04/2015 23:54

Hillingdon - most of the country is a quiet part of the country for jobs. My job is legal secretarial in a government department. If I lived in the South East my income would probably double, but my childcare and housing costs would more than quadruple.

Smooshface · 10/04/2015 00:10

Clearly, a fair few people on this board think only the rich get to have kids. Why not just sterilise all the poor people at birth and be done with it? And put them in work camps?

Oh wait, sorry, don't mean to Godwin's...

RedCheckedTablecloth · 10/04/2015 00:11

Maybe scrap all child benefit for any child born after the 1st Jan 2016 and put the money into midwifery, ante natal care and education.

It is for the children after all.

My mum used to give it to my brother and I as pocket money in the 1970's and 80's. She didn't need it. I remember being astounded that the government gave away money!

happybubblebrain · 10/04/2015 00:20

Redcheckedtablecloth - just because your family didn't need it doesn't mean most other families don't.

JohnCusacksWife · 10/04/2015 00:22

I'm not sure i see the problem in limiting CB to 2 children (or 2 births, whichever is the greater) from a point >9 months in the future. No-one could complain they were disadvantaged or unfairly treated by that policy, could they?

Smooshface · 10/04/2015 00:31

I agree with limiting to 2 children from now btw, as long as it doesn't affect current claims, can't put the cork back in!

rollonthesummer · 10/04/2015 00:34

That won't help the Tories raise the 12 squillion pounds they want ASAP though!

RedCheckedTablecloth · 10/04/2015 00:38

Scrap it. Use the money to pay for midwives, pre/ante natal care and education.

Means testing is just complicated and expensive.