To wonder how the UK will look in 3 years time?

[Labradorlover987]

I was inspired to write this after reading the UC post that was just reported - the govt’s welfare bill has passed but was watered down so unlikely to make any real savings.

I earn 40k, have a school age child and just feel like I am living hand to mouth 😩 I 100% think there should be a welfare systems that supports people on low incomes but I wonder how the current system will be sustained in the long run?

Just wondered what other people thought.

I actually wouldn’t mind paying more in taxes if we could be guaranteed more in services etc - for example my council tax just went up and the services seem even worse this year than usual.

AI will replace huge swathes of the economy but public cuts isn’t the answer. People of all political persuasions never seem to like the idea of a universal basic income but I really can’t see any alternative. Future societies will not need people to work. So we either punish 50% of the country for what is a technological/historical reality by allowing them to starve/form roaming street gangs or we collectively agree that people should be entitled to a basic level of income which is paid for by everyone - predominantly the mega corporations which will have replaced human labour with machines. Unfortunately the future will require visionary politicians. Currently we have a spineless and reactionary political class that is puts kowtowing to mob mentality and corporation profit above realistic and sustainable policy.

Taxes will go up, publics services will be worse for the majority - a two tier system will start to operate, prioritising those who Labour seems worthy.

I do wonder that once people realize that state pension will be means tested they will want to keep more of their own money. You can't tax people without a strong vision of what society/ government offers - we don't currently have that from either party.

Reform will be in.

When I started reading your post I thought you’re a bit rude about the faux middle classes, however what you say is true and by the time I’d read your full post, I thought she’s bludy right though!!

It’s not going to get better. Too many people fighting for not enough housing. God help our younger generation, it’s fucking grim.

The country is on its knees and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know supply and demand of housing affects everyone.

Labour and the Tories have had their chance and nothings changed and it’s the British public who are suffering. Reform will get in at the next election and they can’t make it any worse than the state it’s now!

Illegal immigration isn’t rising as far as I know - although I will concede we have no figures for it as they’re here illegally and as such aren’t being recorded, so it’s hard to prove that either way. But what more would you do to suggest Labour curb illegal immigration? They deport illegal immigrants as soon as they are located (around 24.5k between July 24 & March 25).

Really? Thinking yourself untouchable and just about keeping your head above water don’t sound compatible to me! Surely you’re going to be very bothered about paying more taxes you don’t benefit if decreased spending power means your continued ability to outsource or enjoy other privileges is under threat?

I don’t recognise this 60k demographic at all.

It even happening in Bournemouth!

Oh yes they can!!! Much much worse.

Funnily enough a YouTube video just threw up a politics video showing that since 2021 there’s been an inflationary rise of 20%!!! No wonder we are feeling so fucking poor and negative.

Idk but no to higher taxes. Labour did the ‘one off’ tax, borrow and spend budget last autumn. That’s done the damage to businesses already.

I think the majority of people would have agreed with you a few years back but they’re that fed up that they’ll be willing to give them a chance.

Oh I think you’re right but we haven’t bottomed out yet. Reform have pretty much one policy that they won’t be able to action. It will be carnage.

I agree. Do you think if could just all collapse though? Im not an economist but I don’t know ….can the IMF just refuse to lend us more and therefore the benefits cannot be paid as money isn’t there? I cannot see the actual economic situation improving in this country and it’s seems the governments are reaching the end of the road with being able to tax workers as working no longer pays (unless are a certain age and bought house at right time etc).

As you say no gment does anything about it. I would say this culture started in 1997 and accelerated under Tory gment. There is no meritocracy. Most out for all they can get.

I often think if I was an MP how and why would you put your head above the parapet and try and sort anything? No one in society wants to hear that they may be part of the problem, everyone is very entitled to benefits etc as as an MP with kids why on earth should you become a meme on the internet for trying to reduce or make cuts only for you to get abuse? Nah far easier to lay low and wait for the 3/4 years to pass and then the next set of politicians come into “power” and they also cannot do anything and cycle continues.

difference is now we are poor, with serious debt, no will to tackle it and we have run out of road and therefore I genuinely think it will just collapse. A lot of changes will just be forced I think.

Where I live care home staff and community carers ( I was one) are 99% white. Im so sick of this lazy white British trope! The nature of care work with unsociable hours, zero hour contracts, the need for car ownership in the case of community carers, makes it almost impossible for women with young families. African immigrants who come here on carers visas usually are single or have families back at home. There is nothing about them that makes them more intrinsically suited to the job than anyone eelse. The care sector needs a complete overhaul. I know plenty of women with children who had to give up as there was no work life balance.

Unfortunately, not the way things are going.

Our MPs are low quality individuals, fairly thick and not very capable. Most have never had real jobs and don’t understand anything about how money works.

As for where does this go. Same way as Greece. The country goes bankrupt and IMF comes and tells us that the freebies need to stop. Then those who choose not work will really feel the pain. IMF will also insist in increase of pension age to above 70. The country is broken and the time to repair has passed. Now it’s just fast decline.

Anyone with ambition and talent should get out as quickly as they can. And go to a country which rewards talent and hard work, rather than one that punishes talent and growth and rewards beggar, handout mentality.

I agree and I’m certainly not a fan of their policies in general and for that reason it concerns me. Having said that though, the Tories and Labour just don’t seem interested enough to tackle the ongoing issues, despite the British public making it absolutely clear how they feel! I think people feel reform are the last chance saloon and will be willing to overlook their other policies they may not be as fond of.

Out of interest where is this country where hard work pays off and people can earn decent money alongside a decent lifestyle? I’m hoping to ship my kids off there when they’re older but I’m not convinced it exists.

For goodness’ sake, don’t be so naive.

There never was a ‘multicultural dream’ – that was just a fairytale to make you feel good about bringing in foreigners to do low-value jobs on the cheap (and undercut the British people whose woes you’re so puzzled by). You don’t get to feel bad because we now have something that looks like a caste system, rather a rainbow fairytale. It was what we were building all along.

I just wish I had bought half a dozen bitcoin in 2008 when it first came out. At least I wd be rolling in it by now. A friend has over a million dollars in it. I can only afford £10 pcm in it which I will be starting this month! I could cry!

Oh but they can. It will be very much worse if Reform is elected.

Thinking about what the country will be like in 3 years time is depressing. Thinking about what it might be like in 6 years time is terrifying.

The UK is going to look much much worse. Our benefits Bill is out of control and the government is just going to double down and engage in more policies to tax people but ones that suppress growth. I personally wouldn’t be happy to pay any more tax as a small business owner I’m already disincentivised to hire anyone else. I’m contemplating letting an employee go as the costs of hiring them just feel like they are starting to outstrip their value. There has already been a flight of wealth from the UK. 75% of billionaires have left the country. And I know everyone goes ‘well sod them we’re better off without them’. The problem is we’re not as that top group of people pay a huge amount of tax.

Basically go and look at anything related to the 70s and that’s where we will be

https://wearetheshield.com/ this is terrifying, and sadly appears to be growing.

It’s the potential for lawlessness that frightens me. I can cope with a lower standard of living as I’ve never lived up to our income anyway. But in any void crime flourishes and the thought of more organised crime gangs operating. More drugs, more violence, more weapons, the value of life diminishing, vigilantism etc etc.
It’s that stuff that makes life absolutely miserable. I already avoid London as I’ve been mugged twice, pick pocketed three times - I just can’t be bothered to go unless I absolutely have to. If locally I was hanging onto my bag for dear life I’d just not want to go out.

We seem to be ignoring all this with higher borrowing and taxes. Well Labour are.

Benefits could just crash with this much debt.