Local lockdowns should be funded locally

[glitter98]

In the early virus stages where everything was unknown we needed a national lockdown, but a lot has now been learned. Only a national measures should be funded centrally.

I'm not sure why we need national vs local politicians arguing about funding. National politicians should set the framework to indicate when areas go into restrictions, and local politicians should implement the framework, take localised measures and fund them.

If people in an area do not take actions together to suppress the virus, then they should pay for the necessary restrictions because of their actions - it doesn't matter if legal or not. People in Cornwall or Norfolk should not be paying for people in Manchester behaving irresponsibly or deciding to live in a way that encourages transmission.

There should be no need to negotiate with Boris, he should just enforce the policy - Manchester should then implement the minimum measures (and go beyond if needed) and pay for any support they decide they should provide between themselves. If council tax and business rates need to rise, then that's the impact of local people's actions.

This would cause communities to self police.

...I really don’t know whether to laugh or cry. OP you clealry have zero idea of taxes or economics or basic government structures.

The only public policy lesson to take from this is the need for way better political education in this country.

@BigChocFrenzy

That's the point - the 80% paid to businesses should come locally and be paid back by the people in the area over the next 20-30 years. Central government just means others paying for it.

Why should others pay for transmission completely caused by people in the area. People cause transmission, not anything else. If people stay indoors or socially distance then there is no transmission.

It's honestly not worth arguing with. It's just drivel.

@JamieLeeCurtains

So why should people in Lincs pay for people in Manchester for a problem caused by their own behaviour, whilst people in Lincs have not enjoyed themselves so much nor the usual benefits of living in a city?

I live in an area that had miniscule numbers when the country went into the national lockdown so we were paying for the mistakes of areas such as London where the figures were much bigger

[quote glitter98]@BigChocFrenzy

I'm suggesting that local tax be changed to implement much higher local taxes if necessary. Might need significant increases in local council taxes, local sales tax and local income tax. Maybe a local corona level per person based on the number of cases per month, so everyone in the area might get a money charge of £5 if low transmission or £5,000 if high transmission.

Loans could could come from central government for cash flow, but the people locally should bear the costs of the measures needed to control in their area caused by them.[/quote]
Sorry? What the shit am I reading?
People who can't work from home (i.e. many in lowpaid manual jobs, plus those who provide essential services) are more exposed to the virus. People who used public transport are more exposed to the virus.
The very people who are likely to be under financial strain, and you want to tax them to the hilt in some sick "punishment," or fine, or incentive or something?

Oh Jacob, what are you doing on Mumsnet?

Oh and I live in the area with the lowest number of cases in the country, but of course it should be funded nationally.

www.sussexlive.co.uk/news/sussex-news/arun-part-sussex-lowest-covid-4602060

I think this takes the prize for the most incoherent and illogical proposal on covid so far. From a long long list of absurd proposals.

Should my disabled and shielding mum pay for the bad behaviour of university students, or whoever, just because she happens to live the same city?

Why should Londoners pay for schools in Lincolnshire when they choose not to work as hard and earn as much money? We shouldn’t have to subsidise them for their poor choices and behaviour. We should be able to save the money and spent it on fabulous schools and healthcare for London only. (Obviously not my opinion).

[quote glitter98]@JamieLeeCurtains

So why should people in Lincs pay for people in Manchester for a problem caused by their own behaviour, whilst people in Lincs have not enjoyed themselves so much nor the usual benefits of living in a city?[/quote]
Why should posters from Planet Earth spend their time on posters from Cuckoo Land?

I know! I know! I've got one!

Why doesn't everyone who caught Covid pay a special tax, for being naughty? And if you don't catch it, people in Manchester have to buy you a lovely pen.

This is crazy.

I doubt very much that lincs generates enough to fund their own costs, Manchester most likely does.

With ever increasing people becoming unemployed, who exactly do you think will be paying this magical additional council tax? Once you are unemployed it isnt payable. You get that right?

So my wealthy area filled with professionals who can work from home can lock down with virtually no consequences and we can leave the people who actually make society function to fend for themselves?

No thanks. I want everyone taken care of. That is why I happily pay my taxes and I vote for tax increases when they are needed.

[quote glitter98]@JamieLeeCurtains

So why should people in Lincs pay for people in Manchester for a problem caused by their own behaviour, whilst people in Lincs have not enjoyed themselves so much nor the usual benefits of living in a city?[/quote]
There are probably many things this country pays for that are for your benefit, that are paid for out of my taxes, but that I don't personally benefit from.

Such is life in the UK.

We don't operate on a pay per use basis in this country. Instead, we pay for things for the collective good and hope that when we need help, we'll also receive it. I mean, there are no guarantees. But funding things like a minimum standard of care on the NHS so people without a penny to their name can afford their insulin or get cancer treatment is just part of British values.

Funding furlough, funding local lockdowns - some of us will never see the benefit either. And yet, if we were in that situation, we would want to be helped, so it makes sense we help those who need it.

I'm clearly going to be paying for Covid for the rest of my lifetime. Maybe it's unfair. But I'm mostly just grateful my close family haven't caught it and died from it so far.

Suck it up.

No as we know there is a lot of inequality across the country, the councils only way of raising Income is via council tax which would result more deprivation.

Anyway this won't resolve the Manchester standoff, will it? They don't want the lockdown in the first place. And Westminster's problem is that in the end there just isn't enough money to keep funding all the costs of locking down.

This is of course the SOLE REASON I did not myself become PM last time round

Lincolnshire has a University - you'll be locked down soon enough

@glitter98 why should taxpayers fund Lincolnshire grammar schools which only benefit the few?

This is the worst idea I have ever heard. Frankly it almost sounds like it has come from Boris or one of his tory friends. Boris is that your real name?

I think OP has spent too much time in Little England, sorry, I meant Lincolnshire.

So we're not all in this together are we? Thought not.
Anyway, probably better you continue to have low numbers where you are because those of us in high risk areas are going to need your ICU beds.

Fast forward a few years under the OP's regime, and city people will be saying "Why should people from Lincolnshire villages be allowed to come and take up an ICU bed in our city? They haven't paid for it! They must go and be treated in their local cottage hospital, and take their chances. Oh, and we've been subsidising their public transport and postal service for generations. It has to stop!"

Why are you engaging with this nasty person? He/ she is obviously batshit?

What a silly idea. The hardest hit areas are the generally the most socially deprived. Its not just about irresponsible people. Its multi generational households, higher susceptibility of certain groups, underlying overall health and access to testing. This is a national responsibility can I ask what region you are in?

Maybe if the Tories hadn't cut local councils to the bone for the last 10 years they might have money. Some.cities are essentially bankrupt already.