To think labour are crap

[Reallytired]

The national insurance hike is unfair on low income working families and damages businesses.

I do not want hand outs, I just want to keep what I earn. Child tax credits are a complex system and its terrifying claiming them. If DH gets a job then will they claim them back all at once.

Has it really taken you this long to work this out?

"I just want to keep what I earn"

Exactly, it's not really too much to ask for is it?!

I wanted them out when they took us into Iraq despite all the protests, it's good for a government to listen to the people who elected them, not ignore them.

So why is it that lots of mumsnet are against voting Tory?

Nothing wrong with that OP as far as I can see. In fact, you are entirely reasonable.

I was planning on voting conservatives, someone mentioned today that they were getting rid of the child tax credits though so I'll need to do some research.

I think a lot of people against the Tories are either against them as they believe they will stop their benefits or dont like Camerons upbringing.

Hiking NI will hurt those that work whilst those on benefits will see the usual guaranteed increase with no deductions at all.

"I think a lot of people against the Tories are either against them as they believe they will stop their benefits or dont like Camerons upbringing."

I don't think this is right actually.

The kind of can't be arsed person who is content to spend their life on benefits (stereotype I know) doing nothing is unlikely to be politically motivated.

Also, if people don't like Cameron's upbringing - why would those same people have voted for Tony Blair, whose upbringing is pretty much the same?

Maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing if the was a benefits cut for the non working. If my take home is reducing then why aren't benefits? If the rest of the country are having their pay packets reduced then why not reduce benefits?

I'm with you Reallytired, this Labour government are worse than crap. I don't understand why we have a complex system whereby people pay tax and then get something back in the form of tax credits. People earning a decent salary should not be getting benefits (and that is what tax credits are afterall). Secondly I agree with DC about getting rid of the Child Trust Fund. What an absolute waste of taxpayers money.

The NI hike is ridiculous, it will take money out of people's pockets, money that they would probably be spending. Typical Labour, lets pile more pressure on those people working hard, running businesses, keeping this country going.

As regards those not working and on benefits, I would like to see them having to do community work for their benefits.

I thought the NI increase was for employers to pay rather than employees or am I missing something?

You are indeed missing something. Nastional insurance goes up for everyone - all employees next April by another 0.5%. There is also additional NI on employers.

All parties will have to make extensive cut backs but Conservative governments always manage money better so go forth and vote appropriately for the party which ensures freedom best.

no, jelliebelly, you're correct, but the knock on effect could mean
a) to cover the cost of the extra, one part-timer gets the sack
b) no bonus or pay increase "blame it on NI" for the next couple of years

It may only be 1% change for now but small businesses may be currently seeing limited growth (wasn't it 0.2%) and have had to find up to 30% extra to cover local rates bills, so profits (if any) take a hit, and loans to keep a business in stock are not easy to come by.

Savings in many accounts get less than 1% but if you owe the bank, expect to pay anything from 10% to 20% if you are lucky. So no expansion, hanging on by fingernails, little or no growth in turnover, costs going up each year...

"So why is it that lots of mumsnet are against voting Tory?"

Because being dissatisfied with a Labour government is a separate issue from not wanting to vote Conservative. Sadly with the electoral system as it is, you do only seem to have the two options but it's entirely possible to have misgivings about labour whilst vowing that you would never, ever vote Tory.

yes and most parties are looking at workfare. There is no reason workfarers cannot look after groups of under 5s whilst the workfarers go out litter picking or graffiti removing or even just sitting chatting to old people at home who are lonely. But economics decide everything and this country is almost bankrupt now - we are only just below Greece so the market will triumph and the cuts will be made.

Webdude - the NI increase is paid by both employer AND employee. So less money in your paypacket initially, and then all the knock-on effects you describe.

It is a grim situation.

I can't believe you have written that secondcoming You really should research posters before you write such comments, Riven is caring for a severly disabled child and she also has MS herself! I'd say she's far from workshy, she does enough for 4 people by herself!

"You tried living on £65 a week?"

Riven, my husband has lost his job. I earn little more than the minimum wage and I work part time. I have been slogging my guts out and I feel its wrong the governant has taken a third of my pay packet.

We are struggling to work out what benefits if any we are entitled to. The benefits system should be there to help families like mine who have paid into the tax system for 20 years without claiming.

I expect we will be punished for having savings.

bloody hell, secondcoming, that was out of order! FFS

There all crap! Who ever gets in they are going to rob Peter to pay Paul and they are all a set of liars!