Politics Today

[Alistair20000]

Sunak’s effort today being described by Frank Field as the best budget he’s seen in his 42 years in politics.
Glad to see Osborne’s obsession with taking people out of income tax altogether is perhaps being revisited albeit stealthily, it’s an important principle of a fair taxation policy that everyone pays something toward the pot IMO.
I’m surprised that the progressives if not the traditional Tories on here are not acknowledging that over the next couple of years the U.K. will hit 1960’s Labour levels of taxation as a % of GDP. I thought you boys were in favour of higher taxation rather than austerity?
Roy Jenkins will be looking down at Rishi tonight and thinking the boy is doing ok.

Evening Tavy.

You need to look at the 1974/79 Labour government for punitive tax rates not the 1964/70 government. Except of course hardly anybody paid them with clever advisors or the attractions of nicer climes.

I agree with the idea that everyone should pay something as one appreciates something more when one has to pay for it. Hence I thought the passing of the 10% starting rate was to be regretted.

As regards applause for Budgets, the iron law is that a Budget that is praised on Budget day is usually being roundly kicked in the arse by the Autumn while the one that is criticized on the day looks a whole lot better a few months later.

Oh, and if Woyboy is looking down, he will be seeing The Dish as a profligate Socialist.

 

[Alistair20000]

In what ways? I'm eager for enlightenment!

Do some research. I am not going to spoon feed you but for starters: CGT on non residents with UK property, beefed up transfer pricing rules d Gideon's Diverted Profits Tax.

 

[Rosencrantz]

The talent lurking in the cabinet is staggering.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1366861714831081473

 

[Alistair20000]

Apols I haven't seen any real news today, just some snippets on the wireless on the way home. All the sweets dished out like frozen booze duty is pittance compared to the long term tax grab. VAT will be next - Apr 2023 my bet.

Any explanation on why on earth furlough needs to continue to Sept? Better off hiking UB temporarily to soften the blow.

Furlough to September could be a clue that the government wants to keep us locked up for rather longer than it is admitting and support for that is easier when we are being bribed with our own money.

He may need to continue it beyond then as next viral wave rocks up in the autumn.

 

[RedPaul]

Unemployment benefits need an overhaul. Even on the temporarily uplifted UC, the drop from even a furloughed wage is steep and quick. You just cannot get your outgoings down to minimal to match the speed of the drop. If you are mortgaged up, good luck, you have a minimum nine month wait for any kind of assistance and with mortgages as high as they are these days it probably won't be enough. Added debt and/or possibly selling your home to find some kind of subsidised rented accommodation are the options. But if selling your home gives you too much in the bank, there goes your UC. If you can't get back into the workforce quickly, you are really struggling. It's certainly not fun.

Agreed, which is why I'd massively hike it - for say the first 3 months you are out of work, tapering down to UC after 6. Still must be 'cheaper' / 'better value for the tax payer' than paying millions to sit at home. There are people who could work now but are actually better off on 80% doing nothing.

 

[Rosencrantz]

Agreed, which is why I'd massively hike it - for say the first 3 months you are out of work, tapering down to UC after 6. Still must be 'cheaper' / 'better value for the tax payer' than paying millions to sit at home. There are people who could work now but are actually better off on 80% doing nothing.

Wouldn't a lot of those people on furlough be in the hospitality and (non essential) retail sectors? They are generally on NMW or not much more. If they have rent/mortgages to pay I doubt they are having too cushy a time.

 

[RedPaul]

Wouldn't a lot of those people on furlough be in the hospitality and (non essential) retail sectors? They are generally on NMW or not much more. If they have rent/mortgages to pay I doubt they are having too cushy a time.

But why September? Hospitality is supposed to be open indoors by May and fully open in June. I don't get it. And if hospitality is the issue, why not restrict furlough to just that sector? There are nearly 5 million people on furlough, they don't all work in pubs and restaurants.

 

[DB9]

Agreed, which is why I'd massively hike it - for say the first 3 months you are out of work, tapering down to UC after 6. Still must be 'cheaper' / 'better value for the tax payer' than paying millions to sit at home. There are people who could work now but are actually better off on 80% doing nothing.

The ones on furlough are not there by choice, Their bosses have put them on furlough, Perhaps you should be asking the bosses why they still are. Plus they maybe getting 80%, Doesn't mean all their bills have been reduced to 80%.

 

[RedPaul]

The ones on furlough are not there by choice, Their bosses have put them on furlough, Perhaps you should be asking the bosses why they still are. Plus they maybe getting 80%, Doesn't mean all their bills have been reduced to 80%.

I didn't say that, and if that was implied, I didn't mean it. There are companies leaving people on furlough when they don't need to. There are also examples where people are not exactly busting a gut to get back to work. It is perfectly possible for being at work to cost you 20% of your salary, when you count up travel (rail or petrol plus car maintenance), work clothes, work lunches, team nights out, dry cleaning and the rest.

 

[Rosencrantz]

But why September? Hospitality is supposed to be open indoors by May and fully open in June. I don't get it. And if hospitality is the issue, why not restrict furlough to just that sector? There are nearly 5 million people on furlough, they don't all work in pubs and restaurants.

I wasn't really commenting on the length of the extension, just the hint that they are all having an easy time.

As for why September, my uneducated guess would be a bit of can kicking hoping that a few months of freedom and free spending boomtown by the public will get those business sectors (and others) flowing again before they think of laying anyone off and having a mass unemployment problem where the take up of UC or JSA might rocket. I might be wrong though and it is completely arbitrary.