I don’t want to pay less National Insurance, I’d like a better funded NHS

[CormorantStrikesBack]

🤷‍♀️

obviously I appreciate I’m in a position to think that, but I’m not on a huge wage. I’m glad if it helps people who are struggling but I’m also worried about the nhs, school funding, etc.

They don’t seem to be managing now, I can only imagine it will get worse. There are councils going bankrupt and cutting services, respite care, libraries, etc.

id rather carry on paying what I’m paying than risk such services been funded even less.

Yes, I’m so fed up with politicians doing something because they think it will be popular with the voters rather than doing the right thing. Time after time after time. They’ve been pulled up on it in the current Covid enquiry but they carry on. sadly many people fall for it.

I hope you’re right about a sooner rather than later election.

I agree with OP, at a very general/high level - pisses me off that as soon as the tories have some extra cash they choose not to fund crumbling public services like social care and the NHS. The increased income for most individuals will not enable them to pay for private health, dental or social care.

I am terrible with this sort of thing but i put our details into the sky news calculator and it says we are £1890 worse off so it doesnt seem like a cut to me?

Really, well hopefully the nhs will get more money then. Why isn’t the media reporting this? It’s all headlines of an early Xmas gift from Jeremy Hunt and we will be £450 a year better off. If this is wrong the media shouldn’t be misleading people. The headlines should be that people will pay more tax.

I would like to see a system where everyone pays a bit more, according to their circumstances.

For instance, wealthy people paying a certain percentage of their income, down to some people paying nothing if their income is low.

It would be hard to implement though, as people can lose their jobs. Everyone would have to be assessed every year or even six months and there isn't enough manpower or political will to do that.

Alternatively, a system like the French, where the government funds 70% and the other 30% is paid for with insurance. (That was the system when I lived there but it might have changed since then).

I agree. We need to be paying more, not less.

My friend got taken to hospital the other night. It was Kubrickian in there. Endless corridors filled with patients on trolleys being ignored. She could have died and no one would have noticed. I was the only one keeping an eye on her, I was the only one making sure she didn't choke, the only one trying to keep her clean and warm.

The only interaction we had with a medical professional was when a nurse offered to call security on me if I kept asking for a blanket for my friend.

That could be any one of us next time.

Do you think in the next Spring Budget (2024) we will see an income tax cut of more than 1 percent? General Elections are near and the Tories could try something to win over voters.

They really need to start charging a small fee to see doctors, maybe £5. This would in turn create a better system by reducing time wasters. In Ireland you have to pay approx €60 to see a gp.

It is not more money the NHS needs but people running it who are able to spend it wisely.

Paying marginals of over 70% tax. I’ll take anything. About time those funding everyone else got something back. Still more tax over all though.

Fair question. I suspect it's because most people don't get the effect of inflation and freezing tax bands and it's a faff to explain in an article.

I can't stand the current government but cutting NI through effective increases in income tax is genuinely a good thing. Good for workers who pay NI and income tax on their salary. Bad for landlords et al. who only pay income tax on their rent and the like.

I’ve just done the Sky calculator and it says I’ll be £50 worse off. Says my NI contributions will be the same which I don’t understand….is their calculations wrong? The being worse off bit seems to come from fuel so I’m guessing there’s been an increase in tax there?

https://news.sky.com/story/budget-2023-calculator-see-if-you-are-better-or-worse-off-after-chancellor-jeremy-hunts-statement-12834667

Well it’s a good job I didn’t set up a direct debit to the Treasury for £20 a month if actually my NI contribution remains the same. Must be to do with freezing of tax bands then.

I hope they spend the extra £50 a year from increased fuel tax well.

For instance, wealthy people paying a certain percentage of their income, down to some people paying nothing if their income is low

i think we have this system already. It’s called income tax. Higher rate taxes are higher that our European equivalents. Basic rate tax at 20% is much lower. How about everyone pay more tax, rather than ‘anyone-not-me’ pays more?

If there are many people worry they can make a difference by paying voluntary contributions. The taxes raise are more than enough but not used properly. However, if you keep with the open doors immigration of people that add very little to the pot. Much more taxes would be needed obviously.

YABVVVVVVVU if you think chucking more money at the NHS is the answer.

Probably, but I’m not sure chucking less at it will help either. I agree it’s inefficient and needs sorting out but sadly that doesn’t seem to be on the cards regardless. Maybe they should give Cummings a job doing that.

I voted YABU because the problem with the NHS is the shocking waste of money that goes on, which needs to be addressed before reviewing funding levels. Starting with a complete audit of frontline/admin staff ratios, supply contracts, lack of ability to pursue payment from those who are ineligible for treatment, what the NHS needs is a deep clean. And yes, as a public sector worker, you can tell me nothing about wasting taxpayers' money that I don't already know. 😡

I would like to see a system where everyone pays a bit more, according to their circumstances. For instance, wealthy people paying a certain percentage of their income, down to some people paying nothing if their income is low

This is the system we have already, I pay a marginal rate of c.60% on part of my income. Do you think I should pay a bit more? Is 60% not enough?

We've had this debate on here so many times? And I always wonder if it's actually underfunded. People look at % of GDP and it's on par with other countries. But then it's lacking with per capita spending.

Also if we look at the last labour government. The NHS was apparently very good, but then it cost too much due to PFI and bankrupted NHS trusts.

YANBU. I could totally pay more tax. I wouldn't be thrilled but I would have no problem clothing, feeding and housing my family while paying more, and I'm not going to vote for anyone just because they cut my tax, as an above average earner. I don't even think about tax, we're not a highly taxed country.

This is the march 2023 budget calculator.

I haven't seen one yet for the autumn statement but I'm sure one will be available soon.

100% agree with this statement. the NHS is an out of date system that limps along precisely because a disproportionate amount of money keeps being pumped into it and wasted. Basically because its become such a holy grail that no politician has had or will have the bottle to completely and totally reform it.

OP, its open to any of us to make a regular donation to a local cause like a food bank etc. in doing this you know that much more of your money will go directly to the people that need it rather than to the administrators. if you feel bad, do that. lots of us do this already and have done for years.

They can afford this cut because so many people have been pulled into the higher rate tax band thanks to the ongoing freezes and high inflation. That measure is taking in the money so they can make it look like they are being generous and many, many people will fall for it.

Oh thanks, got all excited and didn’t clock the month.