If Labour raises taxes what will you think?

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Typing on my phone so not sure I can do a poll? But, if the government raises income tax or NI at the budget, will you think:

A - let’s get real, they had no other choice
B - those duplicitous / inept bastards

Procedurally, the leader takes responsibility for a manifesto.

A. If we want to live in a decent society, we have to pay for it.

A.

But, despite being a central/Labour supporter i said they were stupid including it in their manifesto. Its about the only way to collect big bucks. Most other things dont apply to many people and so dont raise enough. NI is OK but shes hammered business with that already.

A

A.

I want properly funded, well functioning public services. I want the most vulnerable members of society to have what they need. I don’t mind paying more tax to get that.

A.

We need a spending curb too of course. No more money for pointless virtue signalling, cut benefit entitlement (especially for low level anxiety / depression), properly funded job and retraining schemes, properly funded mental health and addiction services, sort out the asylum system once and for all and deport people with no right to be here. Block visas from countries who don't cooperate with returns. Fund mass housebuilding schemes including lots of single occupancy accommodation for young people and older downsizers.

I don't even try to figure out where I am on the political spectrum anymore. I just want truthful adults running the country and telling people 'We are in the shit but we will get through this time. Grit your teeth and let's goooo!'

And this 💯!

A

B unless they also do an equivalent cut on pensions and benefits to share the pain.

A, as long as it’s taxing the mega rich billionaires and corporations. But that won’t happen.

there Is a mechanism by which you can voluntarily pay more

A . They should control spending though . They have to reduce the welfare budget and they need to stop picking off certain groups they don’t like eg pensioners and farmers and increase income tax . Not popular but fair that everyone suffers the misery .

A because all this tinkering around the edges is just pissinf everyone off while not raising enough money, but I’d like to see them go further, scrap NI and do it all through income tax to improve transparency.

C - all of the above. Tax rises are probably inevitable to meet debt obligations but would be more efficient if evenly spread across the population rather than trying to target specific politically convenient targets. That isn’t in lieu of reduction in spending - both are probably required.

What happened to the growth that we were promised? That was going to solve all our problems.

It seems nobody told Reeves the "Economist" that you can't grow the economy and hobble businesses at the same time.

That’s nice. The fact is that everyone needs to pay for it - not only the middle income earners. From the ground up everyone pays more income tax. Anyone over 12.5k.

Benefits should be taxed too.. they should also be stripped down so only those that genuinely need it, get it. Agree with PP - eg. PIP cars do not need to be flash or expensive BMWs etc. Basic and functional works perfectly. How much is the tax payer giving to the car companies? Give up on net zero it’s a con and it’s costing too much. Again - who is making money from it? The student loan scam needs to stop. Who is making money from it?
Stop crippling small businesses and start promoting growth and inspiration. Start bringing people up not dragging everyone down. Provide better schools for different needs. Provide youth clubs sure start. Take tax off education..

Some ideas for you Reeves. Should you still have a job by November.

Immigration is growing (don’t believe the lies about it not doing). Benefit bill is growing. The Labour party’s nose has grown. 🤷‍♀️

Both A and B

It’s probably necessary (though I hope if they do raise taxes it’s in conjunction with spending cuts - I’d personally like to see a 1% reduction in benefits for every 1% increase in tax), but they are also inept.

A but they should have just reversed the unfunded cuts to NIC that Jeremy Hunt introduced just before the Election rather than all that tinkering with stuff they did. We need decent public services & without the increase in productivity raising taxes is the only alternative.

I do agree with this. Unfortunately they were scuppered by their own party but also the huge press coverage and criticism

But taxes have to go up to get the huge debt down so A - I can afford more tax and want better public services

If it comes with the planned reduction in NI I'd be ok with it, it will raise extra as lots don't pay NI but would pay tax, but the drag that's led to so many people on very ordinary salaries paying higher rate tax has gone on for too long to just whack extra tax on top.

Also I work in the public sector and see how much is wasted on corporate services , procurement, estates and facilities charges, it would make your eyes water to know how much it costs just to put up a noticeboard, and god forbid you do it yourself! There are things that aren't front line services that need dealing with

There must be thousands of absent fathers that take no responsibility nor provide adequate financial support for their children resulting in single mums turning to benefit. Govt need to tackle this and get fathers to pay for their kids, not expect the taxpayer to fund them.

Yep and about 80% of them will be promising to vote Reform. Oh irony.