And now they're introducing a tax break for married couples!

[LadyBiscuit]

So not only do higher earning lone parents not get CB when the couple next door will still be eligible, they will also get a tax reward for being married.

BBC story

They really don't like single parents do they?

Tories

Well, they did say they'd do it before the elections so Yay! Politicians finally deliver on promise! Boo!! It's a crappy one!

no, they are clearly trying to kick single parents while they are down

utterly ridiculous

it just shows how little of these policies have been influenced by economics and how much by politics

Not just lone parents.

If they stick to the Conservative policy of the tax break for married couples being for basic rate taxpayers only it won't help anyone who is going to lose CB anyway. The income precipice when your earnings go over the HRT threshold just gets even bigger for families with one SAHP or one on a low enough income to not use all the tax allowance.

And don't forget that they've already announced a freeze in the HRT threshold for the next 3 years - so many people are going to get dragged in even if they don't thnk they're affected now.

wankers

I am so angry about this that I can hardly bear to read about it.

I think my favourite element is that they claim it would be too difficult to work out if families have two earners both earning £40k (ie joint income of £80k) so they will still get child benefit but they can easily work out if someone gets married/is married and apply this bloody ridiculous tax break THAT I WILL BE PAYING FOR.

Fucking wanking tossing fucking Tories.

wankers

Really tempted to get divorced from dh just so we don't get the tax break. We could have a special party and everything. 'Claim Love Not Tax Breaks' maybe?

wankers

but it sums it up so well !

Well I think it's great. I want some of my money back.

I think it's bloody brilliant.

Am so pleased that they're quite quickly showing what they're made of.

How long till we can vote them out? Or can we just have a peasant's revolt? I'm in.

I've got a pitchfork, SOH, if you want to borrow it?

Who's going to be Wat Tyler? Hopefully wouldn't come to quite such a sticky end though

Please. I'm wearing a straw hat today. And wellies. The pitchfork will be a good complement.

Jolly good. I'm going to be on the news.

Un fucking believable. In such a dire economic climate we are going to start paying people to do something they would have done anyway.

Genius.

I grew up near Wat Tyler park I can wave a placard as well as the best of 'em.

I think I may have a few flaming torches in the shed SoH

They're making a right pig's ear of this.

It should not be for married couples, but as a way of supporting single income families. E.g. the wife (or husband) stays at home, the couple survive on one wage only so only get one tax allowance.

The way to sort this out is to give everyone a personal allowance (as now) but make it transferable if one partner chooses to stay at home.

"They're making a right pig's ear of this."

well there's a surprise

I'm from Norfolk though. I might have to channel Robert Kett. He fought with pitchforks, sticks and mud. Of course he was tortured for days and hanged at Norwich castle but I don't think they do that anymore. Norwich castle is more school trips and tourists these days.

Sadly, I don't think marching through Norfolk with a pitchfork shouting abuse about Camerham would be seen as anything other than boringly ordinary

I'm not allowed to wield fire. Or knives. DH is adamant.

The said at first it would be for basic rate only but they seem to be backtracking now. I'm surprised they have said 'married' (and I presume Civil Partnershipped*) couples though.

I do hope they soon announce something for lone parents though, even if it is something like stiffer powers against non-paying absent parents.

*is that a real word?

Please everyone if you are angry and fed up please join a group I have set up on Facebook MAKE CHILD BENEFIT FAIR FOR ALL, administrator Josephine Warren). If we can show a large unified force the government may sit up and listen. If enough people show that they are unhappy with the system I have set up a petition. There is also rantypants letter there and a link to easily and quickly send it online. Let us not be fobbed off with the marriage couples allowance, it will not make much difference

wankers

How does this fit in with their "hey, we're all in this together! Let's tighten our belts!" bunch of claptrap?

If there's spare money hanging around I can think of at least a million more worthwhile things to spend it on...