To ask what should have been in the budget?

[dollopofsauce]

All I've seen do far, from reading threads on here and watching CNN, is doom and gloom.

So what should Labour have done to swerve the hate? What would have been an acceptable way of raising money to help fund health, social care and education?

Genuine answers, please.

It will have a significant impact on a few people who were privileged beforehand and will still be very privileged, albeit very slightly less privileged, afterwards.

They knew it was coming and that it had to be done. You say it was 2 days ago but there was no surprises and people have been whinging since they got in in July. The govt needs the money to repair our public services because if the NHS and the education system collapse completely, that will cause significant issues for everyone. The money has to come from somewhere. Posts like, "We're going to have to sell part of our vast country estate now because of inheritance tax," are effectively saying, "We think people already only just affording the basics like food and heating should have to give up more money so we can keep all of ours."

Not sure that's how things work sadly. It will affect all of us by lower wages and lower employment particularly for young people in jobs like hospitality.

Employers say that every single time rights for workers improve. They were saying it in the late 1700s when people starting suggesting that 5 yos shouldn't be working 14 hour days 6 days a week with highly dangerous equipment.

Haven't people been complaining already that they can't get staff in hospitality and other similar jobs because "no-one wants to work" (with shit T & Cs for hardly any money, but they leave that out)?

You can't outsource hospitality to the Far East, so the jobs aren't going anywhere. Hospitality moguls will cope without a third yacht.

-make people work or do community work to get benefits or government should assign them jobs even if it doesn’t fit their qualification to encourage more people to actually try and look for work (maybe this already happens to some extent)

How will this help the billions of deficit?
Community work is a punitive thing for people who have committed crimes. Being on benefits is not a crime. What happens to the people do litter picking etc as a job already?
If someone is out doing a job, then pay them a proper wage.

Some people are simply unemployable.. that is due to disabilities/sickness/having nothing to put on a CV/criminal record.... and don't forget that having a massive gap on your CV will mean employers bin it... be in your 40s+ with a massive gap... good luck finding anything at all.

The finger is pointing at the wrong people. Those people are not getting jobs because employers wont employ them. Force employers to give them a chance... but they wont.

And the Job Centre already force people to apply for jobs for their benefit anyway.. even jobs that are totally unsuitable and the person is not qualified for.

Its not worker's rights that's relevant here. We are talking about the Budget. The hike on Employers NI is going to be significant. Employers will chose to employ fewer people. If they can't afford extra staff they won't take people on.

In 2 days? I very much doubt it. And though it puts the biggest burden on the broadest shoulders it’s still pretty spread out. Not sure anyone would get a much better deal anywhere else.

That is worker's rights, it's worker's rights for there to be enough money to actually pay them a pension in their old age so they don't have to work until they are 85.

Businesses were never employing people that weren't necessary to the running of the business. They will still be necessary, no matter how much NI the business has to pay to keep them.

The top 1% of earners pay 29% of tax. They are hugely valuable to the country. But many have already left and many are intending to. . The best thing about being rich I would assume is that it gives you freedom, choices and options. The Labour Party don't like rich people. They are scornful of things that the rich use. Fair enough you might say. But the rich don't need to stay here and they are welcomed in most other countries who will then get the tax from them rather than the Uk. So it will be people who don't have the option to get out that will start shouldering more of that 29%. Killing the golden goose I think is the phrase. Bad luck for the rest of us.

I'm assuming you don't run a business that employs more than four staff. There will be hard choices to make and it won't benefit people who have jobs that aren't 100% essential. If cuts can be made to pay the NI (reduced employees or hours) those cuts will be made sadly.

What's the point of taxing richer people until they have average wealth.

What's the point of developing skills to attract higher than average pay, starting a business with the hope it becomes successful etc, what about those who are more skilled or intelligent than others, what's the point of working 100 hour weeks in a high pressure job?

This is sadly the attitude that is ruining the once great U.K..

I for one am thrilled that I'll be hopefully leaving by 2026!

Can you see that your statistic shows how unequal society has become? Needs attention. Some may go. Most won’t. They never do.

Edit: saying a political party ‘doesn’t like’ rich people is nonsense. They have no opinion on them other than they should pay their proportional way.

Nobody is taxing them back to the average. Don’t be silly.

Extend the stamp duty exemption for first time buyers.

It's introduced the last lot and it's due to run until March 2025. Labour are not extending it.

1. It's never been harder to get on the property ladder - give people a break!

1. FTBs are incredibly important to the property market. They are not dependent on selling a property in order but so they can unlock a chain and keep the market moving.

Really disappointing.

I think this time it's different looking at the statistics. And connectivity is much better..people can work from anywhere these days. Why would you want to stay here if the government want to level everyone down? I know a lot of aspirational young people too that can't wait to leave and make something of themselves in a country where the government wants people to achieve their dreams rather than enter the race to the bottom. It's really sad.

Looking at your edit, do you not hear how people like Bridget Philipson or Rachel Reeves refer to wealthy people. (Other than other socialists obviously like Keir) They despise them. Well if I were rich I'd just say see ya and my tax take is going with me! You know it's true. Don't pretend otherwise.

They knew it was coming and that it had to be done. You say it was 2 days ago but there was no surprises and people have been whinging since they got in in July

I'm sorry, but last year the then shadow minister told farmers there were no plans to add IHT to farms. That was a bare faced lie, clearly

I would create incentives so that older people are encouraged to downsize (I.e. 50% or 75% stamp duty discount if moving primary residence to a cheaper primary residence and over the age of 70).

Don’t be silly. Nobody despises people who have done well for themselves.

No point now. Unfortunately mortgage and borrowing costs are about to go up so no-one will be able to afford to buy their houses.

Not necessarily a lie. Changed circumstances need changed actions. It’s not ideal, granted. But 85% of farms will be unaffected.

@cardibach the exact suggestion from @Serencwtch "Obviously repeatedly tax the richest.3% (but not their children's education because that's not fair) until they have the same wealth as average then somehow prevent them leaving the country etc. Anything else is 'destroying' hard working people."

Some Labour supporters (and leaders) dream of taxing people until they have the same wealth as average - true socialist dreams!

Only rich fools will stick around for that.

All healthcare systems can absorb infinite resources and the NHS is up there with ineffective use of resources. you have to introduce structural reform to NHS to make the investment have any impact. Same with most of public sector, but heard nothing about that.

Oh come now. Rachel Reeves couldn't be more sneery talking about private jets to California. The Labour Party oozes disdain for those who have done well for themselves and have wealth. It's revolting. And people know it. They can't hide it.

Nobody wants to tax people to the average and this budget is nothing like that.

@cardibach if you think many Labour people don't despise the rich, you clearly don't follow politics very closely!

The sneering on MN from people at the thought of the rich having to abruptly withdraw their kids from private school has DELIGHTED some posters, which had told me everything I need to know about many people