Nervous/anxious/scared about the Autumn budget 2024

[Cartwrightandson]

I know that we don't know any details. We have read or heard bits that might be incorrect or just plain wrong. I also know we won't know anything until Wednesday when Rachel Reeves publishes/announces the contents of the budget...

But what we do know...it's the first labour budget for over 14 years, we've had a conservative government, austerity, brexit, covid and cost of living/interest rate increase meaning our economy is not in a good place.

Our services/infrastructure haven't had much needed investment for a long time.
Councils are practically bankrupt, some already are. Schools, housing, NHS, social care and economy are all struggling..to remedy this requires money and this will need to come from higher taxes.

There's a 19 billion pound black hole and Labour have already removed the winter fuel allowance, showing they are willing do things that are unpopular or possibly controversial..the Labour manifesto said it wouldn't increase taxes, but now they are saying they have to.

They've already allocated money for Ukraine, teachers, train drivers, junior doctors, NHS staff ect

Keir said people who don't 'work' for their income (shares/savings/landlord income) aren't classed as working people and will be taxed..

Basically this budget is going to need to raise taxes to pay for investment in services. That much we do know. But where the cuts and the tax increase will be is unknown. I don't think anyone will be 'better off'...

Possibilities.. (note these are not absolute, I could be very wrong)

Inheritance tax changes
Fuel duty increase
Income tax increase
Social housing rent increase
Benefit cuts
No free universal prescription for over 60s
Change to tax free allowance
Removal of help to buy, right to buy and alterations to stamp duty
Pension age to increase
State pension to decrease?
Tuition fees to increase
Tax free pension allowance to be reduced
Isa/bond/shares/investments taxed

Who really knows...but I think the labour comms are possibly leaking information so that we are being drip fed so when the budget does happen we already know and are braced/prepared for it.

Or what is being leaked about the budget is really bad but when the budget happens we are relieved it wasn't as bad the leaks hinted at. But it is still painful but we are more accepting because it's not as bad as it could have been...if that makes sense.

Currently - I’m a teacher. We are going to feel the low birth rate in the next few years. We need all the pupils we can!

It's the Labour Party!
They are fundamentally opposed to private education and private health care.
Why is that so hard to understand?

It's not about envy, it's about equality.

Both my kids went through the state system in a roughish area and both did really well.

Why wouldn't you want the funding per pupil just to go up instead? It wouldn't cost more but each pupil would have higher funding and classes could be smaller

Because schools like the one I teach in are in danger of folding whole classes, which isn't good for anyone either, and from a personal point of view I'm at risk of redundancy. Schools near me (nice area, Outstanding primary schools that people use before private secondaries) are absolutely clamouring for pupils every year. I know there is an issue in areas like Edinburgh with school places but in most areas primaries at least will very happily absorb any children that come their way.

Because classes/schools fold.

I thought there was a teacher shortage? There have been multiple threads and posts along those lines

I think most private school parents will find a way to pay than put their darlings into state.

Yes in certain places and in certain subjects but not everywhere.
The biggest problem in teaching is retention which I really hope this Government start to address.

It's the Labour Party!
They are fundamentally opposed to private education and private health care.
Why is that so hard to understand?
It's not about envy, it's about equality.
Both my kids went through the state system in a roughish area and both did really well.

• yes I do understand, My kids also go to state school too and I’m sure they will do well, as do many others- but I don’t begrudge others trying to what they think best for their children. It should be their choice. If equality means less free choice then I don’t think it’s a good target to be honest.

That doesn't really help me though - I don't want to be made redundant! As an expensive, experienced teacher it's very hard to move between primaries because you can hire someone with a year's experience for much less. Teacher shortages mainly affect secondaries.

I guess it depends on the area. A lot of private primary parents in mine are making plans to move into the areas of the most sought after state grammars (one parent has bought two houses in two areas lol) by year 3.

Thank you for proving my point about ideology with your use of “little darlings”.

A nothing budget. No one really helped. Just more debt. 🙄

And it is still their choice. They aren't closing private schools.

Colourfulduvets
but they’ve now made it unaffordable for people who once could just about afford it. So in effect it has removed their choice and access. I think it’s a sh**y spiteful thing for the government to do for not a lot of gain.

Exactly. Yes it was a better than expected budget (chickened out of plan A so delivered plan B until spring budget?) but what are the actual plans? NHS/Dentistry/SEN? I want to know when I will be able to get a GP appointment that’s less than 9 days away. I want to know when there’s going to be enough TA’s in my DD’s class to enable proper monitored reading/writing.

Oh the money from private school parents is going to fix all that. Amazing!!

The problem with our system is that unlike many countries we have very expensive private schools or state - that's your choice. Other countries. Australia being one, have a scale of private schools with a range of costs so there is more choice. We could afford private school but this 20% increase would nearly rule it out for us.

What an idiot. If you can buy two houses you can afford the fees.

I disagree
I think it will be of benefit to state schools and suspect it won't make as much difference to people choosing private as people expect.

Again, I repeat this is the Labour Party; a socialist party.

And they have delivered on the whole a great budget that hasn't raised income tax or affected many ordinary families as badly as they could have done.

After 14 dreadful years under the Tories they had to find the money from somewhere.

I think most private school parents will find a way to pay than put their darlings into state.

Oh correct, my DC certainly aren't going to state school under angry Bridget Phillipson. I'd live on beans on toast if I had to.

Nothing will improve for state schools, private school will be more important than ever.

A much better term than some private parents have used to describe state kids.

What an idiot. If you can buy two houses you can afford the fees.

so? Just because they can afford if doesn't mean they can't take up a state place if they want? A second little home is cheaper than 3x school fees, it's a smart move economically, if you have good grammars in your area?

There's very few places with good enough state schools though. That won't change either.

If you can live off beans and toast to pay for private education (and pay for everything else a family needs to live off), you’re comfortable.

It is literally just scattering money around without changing much.