Why won't any political party focus or help the squeezed middle

[Winterday1991]

Off the back of another thread, has got me thinking about the next general election.

Why is there not a party that will focus on the middle earners in the squeezed south east , where both partners work full time, who are struggling juggling mortgages, cost of childcare and self fund everything and are over threshold for any help or subsidies ie child benefit, cost of living payments, free childcare via universal credit?

We are a middle/highish income family and are just so sick of paying into the system and getting nothing back! The amount of tax we pay is insane, certainly not anywhere near value for money. Labour just seem to want to focus on single parent families and those on universal credit.

Any party who focuses on the middle will surely win the election?

Wow you really have no idea about other people's lives OP. I'm sure people look at me, a single parent of 2 primary aged kids in a "nice" 3 bed semi, wearing sweatpants to school drop off, and think the government is funding my lifestyle. The reality is I work nearly full time in a professional job and only get a small UC top up. The only reason I can afford to stay in my house is because I inherited some money after my dad died 2 years ago. I'd take your "squeezed middle" 95k income any day.

There is no easy answer politically.
Not everyone agrees with paying astronomical taxes to subside childcare.
Do you think those who either don’t have children or those who’s children have grown up support it?
I doubt it. These people did not benefit from subsidised childcare in any way.
Many, many people ( read women) had to sacrifice a good career and all the benefits that provides in order to look after their children.
In the not too distant past decent, affordable childcare did not exist. Add to that the reality that children where not given free, full time or flexible places in day care.
There was a time when 4 years olds only received a couple of hours a day free schooling. This was inflexible. Parents could not ‘bank’ up hours and sent a child to a provider for say one full day and get this subsidised.
We have an aging population. All political parties are aware of this. They have to pander to what this demographic wants.

So it's fair one family get free childcare, but the other doesn't?

I was the person on tax credits (which was significantly better than uc) I got around 18k (wage , maintenance, child benefit and uc) which had to provide for myself and 2 dd. I lived in a 2 bed semi had a 15 year old car and we did 3 nights at a caravan in uk for our hols.

Now dh and I earn 85k between us (no uc or maintenance. ) Have 3 kids. We have a 4 bed detached house, two newish cars. Go aboard every year. We probably have a similar amount left at the end of the month as when I was on minimum wage but we have a significantly more expensive lifestyle

In case you missed it you and your partner or husband probably earn at least double what that poster earns. Of course it is fair.

If you want to blame anyone blame the government for rewarding the rich at the cost of everyone else.

@Winterday1991 maybe you could do one of those reality tv style but actually real life swaps with someone who is on UC and earning minimum wage or is even a nurse/teacher/similar salary and see how you get on. Maybe try it as a single parent too. Then come back and tell us again how easy those on UC have it.

Yes, OP, it is. You don't know the reason(s) someone ends up as a single parent. The benefits system is to help with what people need, and a single parent needs help with childcare in order to work. You and your partner on 95k don't need help, you just begrudge those with less getting a helping hand because "it's not fair." Grow up.

So what is the benefit to us earning a high income? Perhaps we should separate and get UC to pay our childcare bill 😡😡

I don't have childcare costs any more, but when I did the father of my child would not have paid it, because he didn't want to and there is nobody forcing him to. That's it really. How can I get money from him if he won't give it to me? Rob him?

Maybe you should move out of the SE? I mean 95k is a friggin fortune up north!

I'm leaving this thread now as it's just so upsetting and disheartening.

Yes, OP, it is. You don't know the reason(s) someone ends up as a single parent. The benefits system is to help with what people need, and a single parent needs help with childcare in order to work. You and your partner on 95k don't need help, you just begrudge those with less getting a helping hand because "it's not fair." Grow up.

@caerdydd12 couldn't have said it better myself. OP you're starting to sound like my pouting toddler.

I can't imagine being in your situation and wanting help from the government.

The benefits you get from your taxes is that you live in a society with one of thieves highest living standards worldwide. Your society has a safety net for those that need it. If the government start handing out money to everyone that feels hard done by the whole lot will collapse and then you might actually experience some hardships.

Yes, do that. Sounds a really good idea.

Supporting two homes on half the money will definitely be better

Honestly, you're being so silly and you know it.

But I genuinely think you should give up your higher household income. I think you'd be a mug carrying on struggling on your 95k when you could live the dream on 35k instead.

And then come back to this thread and let us know how good you have it 👍

Over time your childcare bill will only decrease and your income and pensions will increase. Then you will see the benefit. A single parent working NMW will probably never have a decent pension, for one thing.

Your anger is directed at the wrong people.

You didn't get your own way so you're stropping off, in other words.

It really is baffling, absolutely baffling. And to think, these entitled twats walk among us...

What have labour said they will do for single parent families? Also why don’t you consider some of us are the squeezed middle too?

is that two incomes like the OP is talking about?

Why? Because you've been faced with a bit of truth that earning £95k is not bloody squeezed and if you are you need to address your spending habits or get better jobs - just like people earning £25k are told?
You really need to grow up.

We just do not get any help from the government but pay a fortune into the system. Why do people on UC get 85% of childcare paid for but we can't? Why can we not claim child benefit or get cost of living payments?

it is just so unfair and causes a lot of resentment. The economically inactive seem to have a lot less stressful lives than we do.

The economically inactive don't get their childcare paid for....

How much is your childcare bill OP? You do realise there is a limit to the amount of childcare that can be claimed back? If you live in London for example and have 2 kids in full time nursery then UC wouldn't cover 85% of that.

Ok. Or you could learn from it.

We are in the same position as you. Decent incomes, three very small children, absolutely fucked on cost of living.

We don't begrudge a penny paid on tax. 40 or so years ago we had a terrible sad family death. Within six months we went from pretty prosperous to a single parent family with nothing. We were lucky that those were different times and the state looked after us, but we pretty much went overnight from a family you would have approved of to one you would have dismissed. Plenty of people in our village did the same.

We're all now in public service of one kind or another, and my brother and sister at high level. We have done well and we give back.

You're not talking about fairness for your family. You are talking about kids with less than you going to bed with empty tummies at night. It's not an argument that is up for grabs, but moral decency. We give first to those that need it.

Goodness OP your perspective is making you miserable. We bring in the same as you and I genuinely thank my lucky stars every day for being so fortunate after my start in life being nowhere near this level.

You are comparing yourselves to others without your comparisons having any grounding in reality! Surely if this tax bracket is so unfair you could give it all up and claim UC? Go for it! You’ll have to give up the nice house and cars on finance of course, and no more tutors or after school sports. But you’d finally be paying less tax.

It must be so upsetting and disheartening to have your arse handed to you when you're complaining about earning nearly 100k! All you've done is make yourself look like the entitled, judgemental unempathetic ... that you are.