Do you think the overall benefits cap of £26,000 will be reduced further?

[Orwellian]

What do you reckon? Is it likely to stay at £26k (the equivalent of a £35k salary before tax and NI has been removed) or do you think it is likely to fall further?

I think the rubber faced moron that is Gideon would love to reduce benefits to almost nothing but IBS (cheap, I know) will resist it, despite his inherent evil tendencies.

No I don't think it will. The cap was a quick political crowd pleaser to appease many voters (not just the Tory faithful), the vast majority of whom did think it's unfair that a certain minority get so much in benefits.

The reality is that it only affects a small number of families so in terms of real money saving it's not great. So there's little incentive for the coalition to go after this group again.

In short, the publicity has been milked and there's little money to be saved.

No. It was a vote winner that has done its job.

If the Tories remain in power it will fall further. Tory ideology is every man for himself, no state assistance hence dismantling of NHs, education etc.

is the full text of what he said.

If Margaret Thatcher is re-elected as prime minister on Thursday, I warn you.
I warn you that you will have pain?when healing and relief depend upon payment.
I warn you that you will have ignorance?when talents are untended and wits are wasted, when learning is a privilege and not a right.
I warn you that you will have poverty?when pensions slip and benefits are whittled away by a government that won?t pay in an economy that can?t pay.
I warn you that you will be cold?when fuel charges are used as a tax system that the rich don?t notice and the poor can?t afford.
I warn you that you must not expect work?when many cannot spend, more will not be able to earn. When they don?t earn, they don?t spend. When they don?t spend, work dies.
I warn you not to go into the streets alone after dark or into the streets in large crowds of protest in the light.
I warn you that you will be quiet?when the curfew of fear and the gibbet of unemployment make you obedient.
I warn you that you will have defence of a sort?with a risk and at a price that passes all understanding.
I warn you that you will be home-bound?when fares and transport bills kill leisure and lock you up.
I warn you that you will borrow less?when credit, loans, mortgages and easy payments are refused to people on your melting income.
If Margaret Thatcher wins on Thursday?

• I warn you not to be ordinary
• I warn you not to be young
• I warn you not to fall ill
• I warn you not to get old.

Erm, I don't think there's much chance of Maggie being re elected

No, but the policies and intent remain exactly the same.

I disagree. I think the gap between the right and the left has narrowed drastically in the years since MT left parliament.

I agree with the second half of you statement. Toris are still right, labour moved right too, lib dems now far more centre than left.

No one left (in both meanings of the word) to fight for more left leaning principles.

I don't think it will drop but I'm not sure it will rise either which will effectively be a drop. Does anyone know off hand if there is any 'rise with inflation' arrangement agreed for it?

I think it's unlikely. I think they will be too busy dealing with the disaster that is universal, direct payment, to think about more changes!

As it's roughly £35k gross (plus other bits like FSM and free prescriptions, dentistry etc) which is ahead of average earnings, then I predict it will be held at the same level, gradually being eroded in relative terms by wage inflation until it is just less than the average wage.