Question time man top 5 percent.

[refraction]

Did anyone see the man on QT asking about tax?

Apparently he doesn't even think he is in the top 50 percent of earners.

All doctors earn more apparently and solicitors.

How out of touch with reality?

He didn't come across well and very out of touch.

Yeah, that Clement Atlee was a right dickhead wasn't he? What a bastard.

Just a little note regarding the debate. It wasn’t set in Bolton. It was from a studio in Sheffield. More North Mids/North East than North West. It’s the place that was formerly the seat of Nick Clegg, ex leader of the Lib Dem’s. The one who traitorously stitched up students and climbed into bed with the Tories, for a little taste of power. Affluent, and breadline, City although nothing like as affluent as South East. Huge student population.

The £80k guy was from the Bury though, regardless of where QT was held. He's an IT consultant and motorbike racer.

Just a little note regarding the debate. It wasn’t set in Bolton. It was from a studio in Sheffield

The Thursday night one was in Bolton. The Friday night one was in Sheffield

www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/18046745.new-venue-bbc-question-time/

Although Sheffield is definitely not North East! NE typically refers to the counties north of Yorkshire (and therefore a long way north of Sheffield). Sheffield is in the Yorks & Humber region for regional stats purposes. Most Sheffield people would be quote offended to be described as north Midlands.

Privately educated, Oxbridge, barrister, upper middle class Clement Atlee was terrific but would be hated just for all that on here by the looks of it. And he is no longer around, unfortunately. I don't trust any of the current crop on any side not to spaff billions of all our money up the wall. But yeah the answer is just pay more tax and trust them.

But all thanks to you @ReceptacleForTheRespectable for having a better grasp of my politics than I do myself.

You're just making things up - no-one is going on about hating higher earners. As I said further up the thread, this isn't about picking on people, this is about a fair system of taxation.

My household would be affected too, but I'm not such a twat as to moan about it, because I acknowledge that (a) we are relatively privileged, and (b) a more equal society benefits everyone, including us.

*QT idiot is Rob Barber, 36, from Bury. He's an outsource IT consultant and co owner of a Motorcycle Racing Team.

We works as a contractor to the NHS, so we're all paying this numbskull.

He's one of those twits who gets £80K a year to say "have you tried turning it off and back on again".*

I knew I recognised him! He’s exactly like Simon the IT nerd from The Office. Even with the same motocross stories!

Except that what Labour plan is not really about equality. It is about the politics of envy and is a means to ensure there is less money made in teh UK, fewer rich people, few incentives to work hard but everyone is happy as everyone is less well off than now but at least all in the same boat. The policies will not raise the extra tax Labour hopes and will just destroy the economy.

If one more person dares to talk about the politics of envy!!!

We have people who can’t afford to feed themselves, despite being in work; we have schools that can’t afford teachers and basic resources; we have homeless people on the streets; we have an NHS that can’t afford basic equipment and treatment; we have roads falling apart; we have public services that can’t ensure the safety of vulnerable adults and children.
All through lack of funding!

You dare to talk about the politics of envy!
Yours is the politics of greed!

^ well said

My apologies, it was the Thursday QT. Sheffield definitely Yorkshire! About as SY as you can get though

I don't think it's fair to say it's the politics of greed. I have never voted for the Tories & think they have done a lot of damage however I'm nervous about voting for labour. Of course I don't begrudge £20 out of my pocket each month going to those in need however I'm worried about other tax hikes.

If you get paid £80k why the fuck shouldn't you be able to keep it? He earns it. I HATE this constant attack on top earners it's ridiculous - if you work hard and up the pay scale you get absolutely hammered for tax - where's the incentive to WORK HARD?

I agree with QT man.

The incentive is the fact that earning more always means you have higher take home pay. The UK has a progressive taxation system. A pay rise isn't going to mean taking home less money.

Are you arguing for no tax at all? How do you think public services should be funded?

And if you agree that earnings of £80k isn't even in the top 50%, you are downright ignorant. That's not something you should want to shout from the rooftops.

If you get paid £80k why the fuck shouldn't you be able to keep it?

I know, right? Who needs roads, police, the NHS, the army, social care, the fire brigade, flood defences, train lines, all that nonsense. Taxes are just an excuse for the government to be mean to us.

I agree with QT man.

Welcome, QT man’s mum.

If you want to see what an 'attack' looks like, open your eyes and look at what austerity has done to the poorest and most vulnerable. Higher earners are not under 'constant attack'. Far from it.

Oh well, come the armageddon, I don’t suppose salary will matter. The billionaires will be safe though.

Will it be climate change? Famine? Disease or war?

I wonder if MN will still exist in the post Apocalyptic wasteland. “Well before the apocalypse I earned six figures, AIBU.”

"We live in a walled compound in what used to be Milton Keynes. DH earns in the low six figures driving giant mutant rats away from the food supplies. We have a small BTL portfolio through which we provide housing for several impoverished Morlock tribes in the north-west. DC school fees are high but not excessive, 3.75 badger-pelts per term for primary. AIBU to think we are certainly not 'rich'?"

Lmao.

Honestly though, his performance was completely ridiculous. Even if you agree with him about Labour tax policy, his 50% comment was totally ridiculous and he has an extremely odd view of the society around him given that he lives in the north west. People are trying to interpret his words to mean it would be better to tax wealth rather than income, that tax increases should be directed at the 1% not the 5%, and those would be points worth discussing. But they don't bear any resemblance to what he said.

If he chooses to come out and clarify, ok. Until then, we have to assume that someone living in Bury has somehow acquired the genuinely held belief that 80k is the median salary.

I just saw this video, really pissed me off and it's a shame no-one could give him a few more hard stats because the twat needed a reality check.

I think the confusion was that he's not in the top 5% wealthiest people in the country, but that's not what he said.

Starting to feel sorry for him now. He made some very stupid comments on tv. He is clearly not especially bright, and made an absolute fool of himself.

BUT not sure that deserves the social media shaming. Things have a habit of getting blown out of all proportion. His will haunt him for years.

I find it strange to think that sharing a video of someone's own words counts as 'shaming'. He wanted his views to be heard, he was quite overbearing in his delivery. He's got what he wants, the whole country have heard him now.

As it happens I don't really have any strong views one way or the other on raising income tax for earners at this level. It seems a bit like tinkering around the edges of the problem. I'm more concerned about closing loopholes for the massively wealthy, which leaves them paying far less tax than people with a fraction of their money.

But regardless, this man was clearly just incorrect in his beliefs about other people's earnings.