A 1p / 2p raise to income tax should lawfully trigger a general election

[TesChique]

There are vague promises in manifestos, and there are those which are explicit and should be binding except in exceptional circumstances (war etc)

If labour, or any party reneges on a core manifesto promise it should lawfully trigger a general election

They have lied to the public.

AIBU to think we need to see this change in law?

It needs to be on everyone 2% increase on tax, 2% reduction on all benefits.

Child poverty- and welfare structures based around eradicating it- have to be the priority, however you feel about the “worthiness” of parent claimants. We cannot expect a generation of children which were abandoned to rot in intergenerational cycles of deprivation, to then step up and carry us in old age, socially, economically or otherwise.

@LittleBearPad excellent point. It baffles me that so much of the electorate have been happy to take more & more away from the young. They are the future & need the investment. I can't think of any other European country that has done similar.

So you thunk that the party in power should pass a law saying that if they, the party in power, act in a certain way then they, the party in power, should call an election?

You cant cut the welfare bill until you fix the nhs, the housing market, childcare costs and more. These are the things that keep people out of work, and keep people on benefits. A huge number of people claiming universal credit, are ONLY able to claim because private rental costs and childcare costs are so high, or because they’re on long term sick.

The fastest way to cut the welfare bill —and for the long term- would be to increase social housing with capped rents, improve the NHS, and increase access to really excellent early years childcare settings.

You can’t just chuck people off benefits, and leave them to rot. You have to give them a ladder out, that will stay underneath them when you remove benefits. That’s built on housing, health and education. You have to invest to reduce the welfare bill… but guess what? Nobody wants to do step 1 to get to step 2.

But should they be entitled to anything? £25k a year isn’t bad for a minimum wage job.

Markets can impact what happens immediately. Heck even Reeves shedding a tear at HoC makes them jumpy.

We have a huge amount of debt and the cost of that is why an elected Gov can’t just do any mad thing. It would apply to the Greens too. They’re useful for splitting the vote but their policies or indication of them wouldn’t last beyond a day.

On what I’d do, not vote in Labour.

I don't think we can do anything now that isn't how the election system works. But they will be punish for their deception at the next election. A large tax rise now on "ordinary workers" will push even more people to Reform. They may even be one of the few parties to win the popular vote as well as a Landslide.

It certainly looks like the traditional parties are going to be consigned to the history books.

Working in the NHS it does make me cross to see this passed onto the people in the form of tax when so much in our system is wasted. Often wasted because they are afraid of policy changes they can control;

Money is wasted at year end just so it is used, at times to prove it is needed the next year (same for local government) - change the payment window, dictate what it must be spent on, allow carry over without penalty if it achieves the goal set.

The government are still supporting local decision making, and whilst I agree this is good in terms of population health management more needs to be decided and potentially procured nationally and rolled out to save the massive duplication happening at a local level. I’m talking IT systems, if procured nationally you’d get economies of scale, better interoperability and a better opportunity for system wide consistent transformation. It must cost us millions not on the system procurement but the staff costs of deployment.

I would also make NHS England bigger with more regional emphasis and get rid of ICB’s and CSU’s all together as you’d have more consistent messaging and connections across the country then and to local trusts directly therefore better influence, too much is lost and too much duplication exists in these multiple organisations.

This must be the same for each public service. People want to see costs cut before they pay more, especially when they are already paying more through frozen tax bands and good and services.

I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Starmer ends up giving away the Falkland Islands next. The Chagos deal will be so damaging for the UK.

I don't want to see a general election but I do think that Labour, who I voted for, have been appalling in their ''management'' of the country so far.

Reeves especially is a good example of someone who is completely out of her depth but is too arrogant to accept it.

I want to see her resign after the budget and the Labour government start to behave like a real Labour government, not a reboot of the Tories.

The news today that she has failed to get a landlord licence while renting her property should finish it off.

Yes because that’s exactly what I said, wasn’t it.

There is no need for a universal winter fuel benefit for all pensioners. Unless you think Mick Jaggers toes get a bit chilly.

If there’s a non means tested OAP in 20 years time I’ll be amazed.

Why are people saying its only 1p? Its obviously not. For me it's about £3 a month.

That was the very definition of "in response to exceptional circumstances". We had just been through a global pandemic.

The economy needs to be grown aggressively, this Chancellor doesn't seem to understand that.

Anyone with half a brain understands this but saying & doing are two different things. The radical reforms that are needed to grow the economy aren't popular with the electorate though.

You misunderstand the relative power of the government and the bond markets.

It’s not the democratically elected people who really run this country’s economy.

@PopperBo any NHS reform need cross party consensus imo.

And if 1% is nothing why can't we take 1% of the benefit bill too.

needs

If there’s a non means tested OAP in 20 years time I’ll be amazed.

winter fuel won't exist & free prescriptions for over 60s, that will be increased.

Obviously.

But what would you do to change the situation if you know so much about economics?

True. Although I should have mentioned I am a very low earner..but I can absorb 3quid a month

A large tax rise now on "ordinary workers" will push even more people to Reform.

The last I heard from Reform was low taxes, excellent public services & lower immigration. How does one fund that utopia?

But those other developed economies have the same problem as us. An ageing population and knackered infrastructure without enough young people to fund the costs of that.

Saying we aren’t doing too bad versus Germany and France is absurd. They are both buggered too.

Winter fuel shouldn't exist at all. If you can get to your 70s without learning how to budget over the year.......

Why ask now? it’s a bit late. it’s Labour’s shitshow. You wanted them in and each bad decision will compound.

Did you listen to anyone not pro Labour pre GE?