Can’t just be me who is sick of the moaning about the private school VAT and winter fuel payments

[TruthorDie]

The moaning about them seems to be never ending. So tone death and indulgent on both counts. Not sure which is worse. A friends mum was ranting on social media earlier about winter fuel payments being stopped and how “worried about being cold” she was. Bad news is Lynn you haven’t needed to work since 1989, married to an oil exec and have had lots of the good life. I’m sure all of your Florida holidays keep you warm enough!

Bright children can get on anywhere, my siblings and l went to a comprehensive. We all have a couple of degrees, one of us has a PhD so it didn’t hold us back too much in life. Before anyone comes at it from the neurodiversity angle then l am and l wouldn’t be surprised if my younger sibling isn’t

Before the GE there were regular threads moaning about greedy pensioners. Now everyone is suddenly concerned about them freezing to death. Funny that.

Some pensioners get a lot of pension credit depending on circumstances. If they get a disability benefit then not only could be getting the disability benefit but the severe disability premium on pension credit too. We have some pensioners on basic state pension, they get awarded Attendance allowance which I personally believe is very easy to get awarded ( and I know others on here will dispute this ). Once they get awarded the AA which can be between £75 and £108 a week, they then become eligible for an extra £85 odd Pension credit too. Honestly most are amazed at being up to £190 a week better off .That is an awful lot extra of money. I help people to claim these benefits every day of my working life. I honestly can't see how it can continue. many of these people are not having to pay for care as such, well some of the more severely disabled are but not many. Some want to pay family members for doing errands for them. I have no doubt that many are spending it on holidays and pub meals but at least it's money going back into the economy ! I know I'll be flamed for writing this but I honestly don't think people realise what amounts some pensioners are getting. You will get a handful who are too proud to claim but most want to claim for every penny they are eligible for. - who would turn down an extra £200 a week ? These figures are before you even grasp that once someone is awarded even £1 of Guaranteed pension credit they also get all rent and council tax paid. I regularly see pensioners with £350- £400 a week to live off with no housing costs to pay or council tax. No wonder they are eating out several times a week, if they let that money build up in their bank account then they'll start losing their pension credit !

Says a man who rode in on a wave of populism.

Don’t worry - gas futures are in contango,
meaning your energy prices will be going up after you come off any fixed rate tariff.

Funny that.

I expect more realism along those lines on the way

Playing the devils advocate here -

looking at this table of debt to GDP, only Belgium, Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal seems worse?

https://tradingeconomics.com/country-list/government-debt-to-gdp?continent=europe

With regards to the 10% of £16m…. Still more in tax than I have paid in my life and will pay and that in one year… Have you paid this much tax?

With regards to the “always trotted out” , do you know any of these people? A few of them went to my DC’s previous schools (Assume none will be in the state school). Many are not British. They are Indian, Russian and assorted Europeans - and some Americans. They like living in the U.K. - but only up to a certain point. They can move very quickly and several of them are moving. I would personally rather have their tax money… but that is me!

The socialists would rather see everyone poorer (but more equal), rather than see a wealthier minority.

Socialists: one day I will have that person out of their nice car/school/house.

Those who aspire to better themselves: one day I will have a house/car like that because I will work/study hard.

That makes absolutely no sense.

Hasn’t taken long has it

His personal approval ratings weren’t particularly high to start with.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/aug/18/public-approves-response-to-riots-but-starmers-appeal-fades-new-poll-shows

Now who is spouting nonsense.

Take a look at his historical ratings.

**
looking at this table of debt to GDP, only Belgium, Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal seems worse?

France too.

Government borrowing is not bad in itself, it's essential, but if it is felt that government spending is out of control then the cost of that borrowing will rise and we will be paying more just in interest rates. Borrowing to raise public sector pay, with no guarantees of productivity or service improvement is the sort of thing that the people at Standard and Poors get very twitchy about

Read the article. His personal approval ratings are at the same level now as they were during the election campaign. Maybe at least attempt a fact check before accusing people who disagree with you of “spouting nonsense”.

Try reading my OP.

I stand by it.

From 65% three years ago to 45% at the last count.
I would call a 30% drop significant. Feel free to spin it.

If you stand by it, please provide a link. Mine clearly shows a post election rise before dropping back to pre election levels, ie the level on which he won the election. Three years ago is ancient history in political terms.

If your aunt is 85, and and her only income is state pension, she will only be in receipt of Basic State Pension of £169.50 (payable to to women over 71.5 & men over 73.5) rather than the New State Pension of £221.20 payable to younger pensioners. So she should be applying for Pension Credit anyway. I realise that your aunt may have an additional small income so this may not apply to her, but for most of the oldest pensioners with only Basic State Pension, if they are a applying for the Pension Credit they are entitled to, they should still get the WFP.

Yougov.

If three years is ancient history, then we won’t need to wait long until we see the fruits of Labours efforts, will we? Shall we say, by year end? Is that short enough for you?

Just saying YouGov isn’t providing a link.

FGS use your initiative.

And heres some more stats for you.

Source ONS.

The treasury borrowed 3bn in July, above the 0.1
forecast by the OBR.

Well done, you’ve let foxy into the henhouse…

Is borrowing always a bad thing?

If your house needs a new roof and you don't have the funds to fix it, better to borrow money to do so than let the rain rot you home.

You left off the rest of the detail from your ONS quote:

So far this financial year the Government has borrowed £51.4bn, which is £4.7bn more than the OBR predicted.

An extra £4.7bn isn't a huge amount in the scheme of things.

I’m not certain if you are being sarcastic - I shall answer as if you are not.

What are you borrowing for?
At what rate?
For what term?
How will you fund the repayments?

You see where I am going - tell me you do, please.

You used your initiative!

Good for you!

Your last point is still wrong however.