Am I the only one that thinks that the budget is good?!

[isitactuallybadthough]

NC’d for obvious reasons.

I mean it seems that they’re trying to help the working class?

I am not on benefits. I’m also not lucky enough to live in a property worth over £2,000,000. But surely the worst off in society will be better off under this? With the energy bill cut and two child benefit scrap? Also books for libraries, national wage increases. I do understand people feeling frustrated at the pension/ISA parts, that will probably affect DH and I but overall I’m pleased as the worst off will be slightly less worse off?

I guess you do not own a business

I don’t understand why people would think living on benefits is a lifestyle choice or a nice way to live. My parents neighbours have a couple of sons who are in their 30’s. Neither work (one has been in trouble with the police), they both smoke weed, neither can drive or afford to run a car, neither look like they have nice clothes and neither do anything. Such a boring existence. In contrast to my kids who both got an apprenticeship after school and are now in full time employment. Both learnt to drive, both have a car and both have a great social life and are able to go out when they want, buy things whenever they want and go on holidays and visit places. I know which lifestyle I would choose.

Why would some people choose to lounge about the house all day, smoking weed? Is this a trick question?

You obviously would not chose that life but, at least from the information provided, it seems that they have chosen it. (Which answers your question - different people have different values and preferences)

Do you believe everything you read?

Only when it’s true.

It’s not true though. It’s a media confection.

https://benefitsinthefuture.com/lies-damned-lies-and-the-telegraph/

laziness, learned helplessness, entitlement... take your pick

Oh God not Gareth Morgan again.

Yup, him again. I think @BIossomtoesforgot she already posted that nonsense.

We really need a sarcasm emoji 😁

I didn’t forget and I will continue to post it until you acknowledge that the Telegraph’s “workings” are bollocks. Every time you repeat it I’ll post it.

It isn’t the Telegraph, it’s the Centre for Justice’s “workings” you are arguing against.

It’s not. I’ve read the CoJ report in its entirety and invited someone who made the same assertion as you to tell me which page the “workings” are on. Tumbleweed. Because they’re not there. Of course if you can find them and post a link …

How are the workings bollocks?

is it not true that someone can be on benefits equating to 70k pre-tax earnings if they meet the right criteria?

Yes. I agree.

it’s sad to have seen such an outpouring of moaning. I wish it felt like people cared about the poorest in society.

lifting children out of poverty has huge cumulative effects over time for society as a whole.

I’m a high earner and proud to pay my taxes.

It’s true, the workings are not bollocks, but it is an extreme example.

It has been like this for years, the benefits system is being used to prop up house prices, and child-care should not be paid for by the government imho.

https://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/newsroom/post-budget-research

I expect you’ll come back with some whataboutery. I would certainly tend to believe anything the CSJ published over the workings of Gareth Morgan, whoever he may be.

Being proud to pay your taxes is admirable. But under this government, the need for more and more tax is inevitable. They do not have an economic strategy that promotes growth.

Imagine a pie, shared among 100 people. If more people need a share of the pie, but the pie doesn't grow, then what? The share gets smaller. Under Labour, that is what will happen. Low growth, wealth redistribution and the pie gets ever smaller.

I hope you continue to feel good about paying more and more tax. You're going to need to.

Workings are on last page. Nothing not to understand.

Yep. I think some will buy I feel good about paying more as the pp but not many.

It's awful - completely disincentivises people to save, particularly to their pensions and invest in business. Nothing to help economic growth. Landlords hammered again which will likely be passed on to tenants. I'd have much preferred a 1/2% rise in tax so everyone pays based on their salaries. I'm also against removal of the 2 child benefit cap. Ridiculous encouraging people to buy electric cars for environmental reasons then eliminating the tax breaks.

That reinforces that their “workings” - which don’t appear in the report - are comparing apples and oranges. I think you’re quite intelligent enough to understand this but are hoping others aren’t. It’s disingenuous to keep defending this, just as the CfSJ press office is dishonest.

No, they’re all about the dependency class. There is a difference.🙄

Imagine a pie that only grew 0.4% in 2023 (the last full year of the Tories).

Now imagine a pie that was growing at 1.5% in 2025 (Labour's first full year).

Now imagine that welfare spending as a proportion of GDP under the current government (10.3%) is at the low end of where it had been under the Tories over the last decade.

Now image that lifting the child benefit cap is likely to cause only a 0.1% - 0.2% increase over the next 5 years.

Now imagine that maintaining the triple lock for 2026 alone is forecasted to add 0.3% to welfare spending as a proportion of GDP.

Finally, imagine putting down the right wing tabloids, eating a pie instead, and gaining a sense of perspective.