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.

Sorry but £80k isn’t that much.

What do you even mean, it isn't that much? You might not think it's much compared to what you earn, or it might not provide the kind of lifestyle that you think a top earner should be able to expect, but it isn't a matter of opinion. It's simply a fact that an £80k salary puts you in (or very near) the top 5% of earners.

I'm a high earner. I certainly don't lead a lavish or luxurious lifestyle. However, just stop and think for a moment. If you don't feel that a top 5% salary is "that much", how do you think life is for the 95% of people who earn less than that?

Maybe he misheard and thought they said £18,000? Seriously though, he comes across as a bit dim.

I’m a solicitor who earns less than half this, and I earn more than most solicitors I know

And I think I’m very lucky and consider it a very good salary!

Anyone on a salary of £75300 and over is in the top 5% of earners. Not the top 5% of wealth, because, inheritance, but of earners.

Poor sad/angry guy who 'knows' he isn't in the top 5%; 'knows' how much doctors, lawyers and accountants earn (more than he does!) and will clearly never feel rich whatever he earns if there is someone getting more than he does.

He also clearly doesn't get doing his research before asking a question on national TV.

I do also wonder whether an employer somewhere is saying, “We pay that guy how much?! Why?"

Problem is, 'rich' incorporates a huge range of affluence. Salary alone doesn't give a fair picture as you don't know where that money goes so whilst a salary pushes you into the 'rich' bracket it doesn't necessarily mean you are able to live a 'rich' lifestyle.

It's the same as people calling their child 'bright'. What does that even mean? It's such a broad term that will have different interpretations to people.

Neither of them mean very much without context.

My DH and I feel very comfortable (house in a nice area, car, foreign holiday once a year) and we don't earn near £80k between us. But, unlike the poster above we don't send our kids to private school or use private hospitals. People cut their cloth, we bought our car second hand and my accountant DH keeps a close eye on our spending. I imagine, someone who has grown up wealthy and has wealthy friends and works in an industry where high salaries and flashy cars are normal probably does feel £80k isn't much compared to what they'd like to have to spend.
But that doesn't change the fact (a real one, not a "fact") that if you earn £80k you are in the top 5% of earners.

I'd love to know what he does. He's a bellend. Maybe he meant he earned 8k...

81k puts you in the top 5%: www.bbc.co.uk/news/50517136

And I HATE the way he points when he's ranting. So rude and aggressive.

It seems there is such a wide range of salaries across many professions. A newly qualified Dr. friend of DS was earning a fortune on whatever is the Doctor equivalent to being 'on the bank'. Well in excess of £80,000, but now on GP training, is earning a lot less.

The truth is that whatever we earn, we get used to it, and can always use more.

Later on he said 'I'm not even top 50%!'

What I really want to know, is what organisation pays this complete tool £80K+ a year.

^That is what I was thinking.

I think I’m getting confused with earnings and wealth too tbh.
Trying to work out how many people I know on 80k. A few I think I had no idea they were in top 5%.
Maybe he thought that too?

"It wasn't even just that bloke either! There were a few people in the audience agreeing with him and the woman sat next to him huffing and saying "Rubbish!" at the idea that any solicitors earned under £80k"

That was his mum.

I saw a tweet from someone who was sat near them in the QT audience.

£80,000 is clearly the top 5%.

His MUM?

Statistics about salaries are easily available if anyone is interested - published by the Office for National Statistics, various online 'where do I fit in' type calculators, it's no big secret.

It really doesn't take much thinking to work out that £80k is a high salary, far more than most people earn.

Look at all the millions on NMW. All the teachers, nurses, emergency service workers, office staff, retail staff, cleaners, care workers, most tradespeople, restaurant workers, anyone who works at a cinema or other leisure facility, civil servants and many many more, all or the vast majority of which earn probably less than half £80k.

In fact, it's quite hard to think of people who do all earn above £80k. MPs and some bankers and solicitors maybe. Much shorter list.

the twitter feed on this is comedy gold.

I don't see the point in increasing taxes for the top 5%. Not really going to make enough for the country to get us out of the hole, especially since many of the really high earners will just find a way to get out of paying.

If £25k is average, why not increase tax to 40% on everything over that? You're better off than at least half the population at that level, why shouldn't those earners pay more? It might make enough money to actually make a difference to schools, NHS, etc then.

He was an idiot. What's the national average - 27/28K?

80K in Bolton would be a huge amount.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/bbc-question-time-man-who-20935155?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar

Apparently he works in IT and is a TT motocross driver as well.

I think a lot of people get confused between the top PAYE earners and top earners.

The people that people really consider are really rich are not PAYE people. They are tax loophole rich.

Rich is a continuum after all. I would consider a house in London with two holidays a year, eating out weekly etc rich (and a humble brag tbh). We have two decent incomes and don't make £80k between us. We defo couldn't afford those things. We are happy with what we have so yay I guess?

He knows fuck all, obv. Why you wouldn't at least Google before going on the telly is beyond me.

Although a surprising number of people assume all solicitors are that well paid. He's got plenty of company there.

Hes not on 80k in London though. Hes on 80k in BOLTON

80k household income is quite high, but not I imagine top 5%.
80k for a single income is easily top 5%
People always confuse and conflate the two.

I know (off topic, but I see you got your name back Helena )

On £80k in Bolton, he's probably in the top 0.5% never mind the top 5%.