Would you pay more tax to boost defence spending

[trainermush]

Obviously we are now in a more precarious position & defence spending has been underfunded for some time. RR had just said we need to spend more money & she will but without breaking her fiscal rules,

"So we will stick to our fiscal rules. But recognising the priority of defence spending in the world that we live in today means that we will have to make difficult choices so that we can spend that money that is needed to keep our country safe."

Mulling it over & even though I think I pay enough tax I would pay more each month towards this (cut back in other areas) as opposed to labour cutting back on something else. I guess thinking about my dc & other loved ones has changed my mind somewhat now things appear more bleak. What do others think?
Conscription of young people terrifies me even though my dc are too young.

No, I don't want any more of my money to go on defence spending

Yes of course - I would hope it was a no brainer to be honest - the world is a dangerous place now … my DC are doing their GCSEs I mentioned at dinner last night it might be an idea to think about conscription proof professions

I would - we need to in order to be able to protect ourselves

IMO I'd rather spend more on defence, less on worldwide climate change problems.

No, can’t afford it.

No. Not at all. I don't want to spend my money on weapons and killings.

Yes I would and I hope we do
All European nations need to

I absolutely would but I want to see us adopting more technology/efficiencies in the MOD etc too

I can't afford it either but it seems more palatable than war.

I don't want to spend my money on weapons and killings.

Unfortunately protection involves the above & Id rather be on the side not getting killed.

@jeaux90 that's a good point & I think people would be more for it if you could see the money was actually doing something.

I heard on the radio today that during ww2 income tax went up to 50%

No, not up for that at all.

What are conscription proof careers, like the key workers for covid?

No, not until we find a way to stop it being wasted on vanity projects for our politicians and admirals.

We have wasted billions on aircraft carriers with no planes and the ships and tanks that don’t work properly.

(During this time our soldiers were maimed and killed due to lack of relatively inexpensive armour).

We also need to work out who we are fighting

No, not up for that at all.

Not up for it at all. Nor am I in favour of our troops being deployed to Ukraine, while we’re here.

I think I remember a teacher saying the equivalent of IHT was 80% or similar

Yes but only after they pull foreign aid from counties who don’t need it and find another way other than cash to subsidise corrupt countries.

i get the argument re foreign aid but it's a form of fostering relations and maybe we need more of that?

Yes I would. A year ago I'd have said no.

I expected everything to go down the toilet from Jan, but I'm shocked at how fast and how far it's gone already 😕

I would have thought so yes … imagine there was a list in WW2

Yes I would - however, I would like Gov to look at foreign aid spending for any savings first as I'm not sure it's reaching those that matter and if it cant be given in secure ways - then it should stop.

Conscription of young people also terrifies me - my DC can fly drones and can code to a high level, along with engineering skills (both under 15) - family in older generations told me their stories in the front line, that was horrific (Army and Navy). It's absolutely ridiculous that we are still dealing with the same shit in 2025.

Yes of course. We have been relying on the US to protect us and pay for it, for far too long.

There wouldn't be a need to tax everyone. Surely the 4m or so "true British patriots" will be volunteering to give up their time, money and indeed lives to defend the country?

I’ve just been googling and all sorts of interesting facts come up - apparently 90% of nuclear weapons are held by the US and Russia