to think I value my pelvic floor more than a tax break?!

[Trussterfuck]

twitter.com/kateferguson4/status/1578830757480759296?s=20&t=yCqMitrIZZCdg6WFP6pvaA

Apparently the batshit people in charge of the country think we should get a tax break for having more children. This isn’t at all creepy or like something out of The Handmaid’s Tale. Instead it’s taken from (checks notes) those bastions of women’s rights, freedom and democracy: Russia and Hungary.

AIBU to think that the costs to my pelvic floor, sleep and sanity (never mind buying a bigger house, car, childcare, career pause etc) are worth more than a tax cut?

That would be a real kick in the teeth for people suffering infertility/secondary infertility.

don’t do it then, no one’s forcing you

It’s horrible. Reducing women’s value in society to their fertility. The misogyny is glaring.

For fucks sake, the population needs to fall, not rise - the age of automation is right here and now, not something that 's going to happen in fifty years time.

Decouple the generational pension obligation and have done. Nobody under 45 will be getting a state pension anyway, we can't afford it. Put a similar system to 401k, get rid of most benefits and increase wages.

Or they could just ditch the third child rule with benefits.

Funny how there was a MN thread a couple of months ago asking how many of us would have more kids if we had a tax cut and we categorically said this was ridiculous and access to childcare was a much bigger factor. And whoever it was apparently ignored all the people telling them this was stupid and what we actually needed. Sigh.

Agree with all of this. And from the party who are constantly saying we shouldn’t have immigration because “we’re full, we don’t have enough jobs, housing etc.”. I’m biting my tongue for fear of being accused of Godwin’s Law.

*telling them what we actually needed instead. Didn’t get a chance to proofread as screaming toddler is screaming.

I'd have multiple more kids if I could afford to put them in childcare.. I don't need a tax brake, I need childcare which isn't 3 times my mortgage per child.

Froth all you want but this happens where I live in Spain, there are tax breaks for having more children. There is the status of "Familia Numerosa" (3 or more children) and "Familia Numerosa categoria Especial" (5 or more children).

Still the average age for mothers having their first child is 34 and one of the lowest birthrates in Europe. People don't have kids for the tax breaks.

Also state nursery (9-5 Monday to Friday) is free from the year your child turns 2 and prior to that is a maximum of 380 euros a month (I paid 50 with my second son as was on a low income). School starts at preschool aged 3.

The issues in the UK run way deeper than a tax break.

I doubt the tax break would even touch the sides of the childcare costs, so no it would not incentivise me.

I wouldn't have another child if I was offered a million pounds

They can fuck right off trying to rent a womb. The population of Africa is hugely young with

Why don't they just reinstate child benefit for all parents instead of this means tested, petty system they currently have.

lots of people looking for work. Just open up the borders to young families.

I'd have more children if we won the lottery (talking millions) but a simple tax break wouldn't be enough for me to think it'd make enough of a difference to the quality of our life to even consider it.

I'm not keen on the messaging behind this, and especially the "breed our own to keep out the immigrants" stance.

However the UK tax system is almost unique in the developed world in not making allowances for the number of dependents you're supporting with your wage.

It's not just Hungary and Russia: France, Spain, Germany, all have generous tax allowances to recognise the additional cost of raising children.

Just to say children don't always ruin your pelvic floor. I have had two and mine is fine

You aren't being forced to have a child you know? In Spain you get more rewards if you have three.

A lot of countries give you a tax cut if you have kids. I think in France you get an additional half a tax allowance per child or you used to when I did tax law. I think it’s actually a fairer system for families.

No one is going to have kids for a tax break but it’d help go to pay for childcare etc for families who don’t really get help otherwise.

^^ This.

Tax benefits for having more kids is better than tax penalties if you don't have any, I suppose.

I've got seven, how much do I get? ;-)

AHH but the under deserving poor would have more children.

May be also change it back to a universal benefit as well and increase it.

No amount of money would have induced me to have had a third child.

It's not that unusual in countries with falling birth rates is it?

We learned about it in French lessons at school, apparently it's why a lot of families had two children then one a bit younger.

Denmark had a "do it for Denmark" campaign with a travel agency, where if you could prove you conceived a baby on one of their holidays you could win baby supplies and a holiday.

Reducing childcare costs would be a better incentive though I think.