Anyone else irritated by the media coverage of budget?

[flymetothemoo]

Clearly, if it was at all possible then Labour would want to spend billions / on public services, fixing everything. The fact that they are having to be so frugal is NOT what they would choose, politically or materially!

Clearly it's the last government's fault we are in this position. And yet Labour are the bad guys, according to the press, and even the BBC and the Guardian are contributing to this stoking of negativity and fear.

What are they supposed to do in terms of the budget?

They must find the money from somewhere. They've promised to protect working people, employees NI, income tax etc. So they have to find it from somewhere. It might be employers, or inheritance tax loopholes, or benefit loopholes.

They are damned if they do and if they don't aren't they?

They rather made their own bed by promising not to raise PAYE tax. Thus implying that you can have Scandi style public services, paid for without taxing "working people" any more.

There's a case for higher taxes and better services, but you have to actually make it.

@AuntieJoyce Reeves could have just chosen to reverse the latest NIC cut and would’ve plugged a massive chunk of the gap. Instead she’ll have to make smaller cuts in a number of areas and piss a wide range of people off in doing so.

The right wing media would have absolutely crucified Labour if they’d suggested doing this before the election. The fact is the Torys made those cuts knowing the country couldn’t afford them and they did it deliberately to screw the next government.

Another major problem which did not exist years ago is the acceptance that people in full time jobs do not earn enough without also claiming top up benefits (UC, child tax credits) to survive, if an employer feels they need an employee to fulfil a role, they should make sure they pay enough for them to be able to live. Sometimes there are 2 working adults in a family and benefits are still needed . I am not criticising the people claiming at all. When did it become normal practice for an employed person not to be patch enough to live. The blame lies with the employers and previous governments who have allowed this race to the bottom in terms of salaries.

Pretty much this

You're just being random now.

It has been pointed out so many times on MN the expertise different members of the labour cabinet bring, and their depth of experience. But some people will always just go for a quick sound bite in the hope it sticks.

And yet when they decide to means test one benefit the Tory fans are up in arms. Which benefits would you like to cut?

I'd say that's supposition. Unless you have evidence of every single voter and why they voted as they did.

Of course we can point to times when votes went a particular way and declare that was because people believed a load of lies. Who knows for sure? Only each individual voter.

Anyway you've convinced me you're talking hot air without thinking so I'll not be replying to anymore tags.

I think it's car crash when you introduce a policy like means testing winter fuel allowance but not move the threshold whilst claiming expenses on your energy bill for your second home when you earn a 6 figure salary.

Could you as a MP be anymore tone deaf, literally shoving it in people's faces how much you don't give a shit about improving people's lives.

That right there should be enough for every single person to be disgusted with our current government.

I agree, they made too many promises that have made their lives very difficult. People want change but don't want to pay for it. That's not how it works.

I’m not disgusted and I’m one of those affected. I don’t need the money, nor does any other pensioner I know. The threshold is too low but the principle is absolutely right.

If Reeves is compelled to water down any reform
on IHT, in an attempt to keep the non-doms on side, it will be very interesting to see how the Labour apologists on MN attempt to spin that.

I must confess, I’m looking forward to this pre-Halloween budget….

You might be in enviable position of not needing the money but others do.

Praying for a mild winter makes appalling policy. Oh and BTW, the natural gas curve is in a mild contango, meaning the markets are pricing an increase in forward values (logical given seasonality) but also on Chinese demand.

Perhaps you know better than the markets however…

I never said the principle was wrong I said introducing it without moving the threshold is wrong. That's why people should be disgusted esp when she is earning 100k + and has taxpayers footing her heating bills. Do you think you should pay for her heating bills given how much she earns?

Agreed

You’re determined I should be disgusted, aren’t you? Still no. The threshold should be at the same level as the income tax personal allowance.

Yes not every pensioner on these threads is on basic state pension but off mn many are

Which is why Age U.K. released a statement re hardship for 2.5m

Obviously some Labour posters not in the same position will say they don’t care

Yes, it’s an interesting philosophy, coming from socialists.

They're flying kites to see what responses different ideas get.

So your okay to pay Rachel Reeves heating bills even though she earns £100k+

I’m fine with a second home, which is a legitimate work expense, being funded. Why wouldn’t I be?

If you don’t want endless speculation then perhaps don’t set a budget date for months after you come to power (the first time a new govt hasn’t had a budget ready go within weeks) and then hold multiple press conference telling everyone how awful it’s going to be and then leak multiple scenarios to the press to see how they fly. (Most govt do the last one but not over months!)

They’ve utterly screwed themselves with their stupid ideological stunts and no tax rises on ‘working people’ I think a huge amount of people would have gone with a tax rise especially if we’d all had to contribute. That’s what drives most people I know crazy - this broad shoulders nonsense as if that group aren’t already carrying the majority of the burden now. If you want scandi style services then like in those country EVERYONE has to pay. Not the same group over and over again

Excellent post.

Yessss

I hope this post gets a hundred likes.

This exactly!