Budget cuts

[Thelittleporcupine]

Apparently there are due to be huge reductions in jobs in the civil service and various other cuts in other areas. With the Ukraine war effort obviously costing billions and having to provide sanctuary to the poor souls arriving here from war torn countries across the channel we will all have to do our bit.

It was on sky news today that living standards are expected to be worse in 2030 than today, but the most important thing is we help those less fortunate. Time for belt tightening I suspect or am I being too pessimistic

I guess people would sooner chat about Michelle keegan

It is a worrry. It’s been a decline since the financial crisis, with little reprieve. The cost of living is horrific. I’m not sure this country can keep supporting the volume of people coming here.

I don't know who that is

is it the actress who was recently in a drama with Joanna Lumley? Just guessing

anyway, I don't speculate about budgets before they actually announce them. Seems like over worry not to wait for the solid info

but in general I have no idea how we're supposed to fund everything that people seem to want funded. Something has to change but everyone would hate my suggestions. Happily, I'm not in charge!

People these days have ridiculous expectations about what the state can and should provide. Just look at the uproar over the winter fuel allowance. There are also lots of people arguing that the NHS should be providing more mental health support. No recognition of just how expensive and time consuming therapy is. The country is broke. Where do they expect the money to come from? The NHS is already trying to offer too many services and is spread too thin.

As a single mum earning a medium salary, I have never received any help except child benefit.

I work hard, full time, I pay all my bills, cook from scratch on a budget, provide for my child, strive to give him a healthy and enjoyable childhood . Do parkrun instead of pay for gym, keep my car for a decade, Watch every penny.

Every time bills go up, I find a way to cut back somewhere else. I grow our salad and fruit, make my own bread. Make my own jams. Bottle and freeze fruit and veg for winter. Waste nothing.

So I'll just keep on doing what I'm doing. Nothing has changed for us. I can only do my best.

It seems nuts to be embarking on austerity 2.0. If Labour want to take difficult decisions’ for the benefit of growth then they need to rejoin the customs union and give us the soft Brexit that we need to be able to have more effective trade with our biggest trading partner.

This country is in serious trouble.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/22/all-uk-families-to-be-worse-off-by-2030-as-poor-bear-the-brunt-new-data-warns

"Main takeaways from today's ONS update on the public finances (In a nutshell it is bad news, reflecting weak growth, meaning that rather than fill a “£22 billion black hole” all Labour has done so far is help create another one, of similar size):

1⃣ Public sector borrowing in the financial year to February 2025 was £132.2 billion, or £20.4 billion more than forecast by the OBR last October.
2⃣ The 'current budget deficit' (the targeted measure) was £70.6 billion in the FY to February, £15.6 billion more than forecast by the OBR.
3⃣ So about 3/4 of the overshoot is on the current budget, mainly driven by lower-than-expected tax receipts and higher debt interest payments (spending on pay and benefits was broadly in line with the higher forecasts made in October)
4⃣ The rest of the overshoot reflected higher public sector net investment, which increased to £61.6 billion (£10 billion more than in the same 11-month period last year)
5⃣ The overall deficit for the full year will probably come in around £145-£150 billion, compared to the OBR's forecast of £127.5 billion. If at the upper end of the range that could be a new 'black hole' of - wait for it - '£22 billion'...
6⃣ Today's figures won't have any impact on next week's Spring Statement / 'emergency Budget', but they do provide even more evidence of the 'doom loop' emerging in the public finances"

Recent governments are addicted to spending and really really bad at cutting expenditure, they lack the necessary commitment. Any cost savings are readily spent on the next emergency. National debt will keep increasing for the next 5 years.

They will have to emulate what's happening in the States, but absolutely 100% will despise themselves so will fudge the whole thing, eventually some Trump like character will be appointed to reset the mess

Buckle up!!

Christ, you posted at quarter to midnight, and bumped 20 mins later.

Did you mean to be so rude?