Tories' tax breaks for married couples - would it make you change your mind?

apt

Would Grayling allow two men in a civil partnership to spend the £150 in a Christian B&B?

carolt

Spartacus_Mills wrote: »

I was going to reply to this but I saw a comment from a poster on another forum which summed up perfectly what I was going to say.

Smbolism is all very well - and I'm in favour of marriage being recognised by the tax system, FWIW.

But this is not enough. It needs more than symbolism to get my vote. I'd like to see some more meaningful action.

Graham_Devon

I think the problem here is that we have become as a nation so used to getting so much for nothing, that the £150 thing then just looks tiny in comparison.

The key here is that the tories are trying to nod towards family values. Something I personally am behind.

I saw someone harping on about this being a class thing, yet again. Since when did marriage turn into a class thing? It's absolutely nothing to do with class, you can be married if you are on the poverty line, or trundling around in a multi million pound mansion.

If it's the very start of the road towards promoting the linking of a couple in a stable relationship, and there is just a slight reward, I'm all for it. There are far too many rewards for living apart, which currently are tearing would be families apart as it's unaffordable to live any other way and far far easier to live apart and reap the benefits. Problem with living apart is that it can't really work for that long, and so what could have been a stable relationship ends, purely because it's easier to have tax credits, housing etc all done for you.

Many many people will only look at the monetry value, which is a shame. But that's what we have become I think.

apt

We know what happened the last time the Tories banged on about family values and 'bonk to basics'. I thought the Conservatives wanted to simplify the tax system. This further complicates it. I thought their first priority is to reduce the massive deficit. That should mean the government doing less, not giving money to people who do not necessarily need it. The scale of the deficit is such that no one should be getting a tax cut or an increased benefit, and those that can afford to pay will have to face an increase.

marklv

carolt wrote: »

See:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8612610.stm

Wouldn't work for me, as we earn too much to benefit.

But even if we did, would a measly £150/year buy my vote?

Looking back to when we did earn little enough to benefit, the answer is still no.

Anyone else? Think this is going to be a big vote-winner?

Personally, I think they've spilt the beans too early. As long as all married couples thought they were going to benefit, and by an unspecified amount, it was a strong point in favour for the Tories. Now we know it's only a few, and only £150, I suspect it will get them few votes.

Just another Tory bribe - and a pathetic one at that. The £150 will be hugely more than outweighed by the mass pay feeezes and cuts the Tories are planning, and it will only benefit lower income couples.

Sapphire

Wouldn't make me change my mind (I'm single and have my own thoughts about marital bliss).

However, I will almost certainly be voting for the Conservatives. My disgust at Brown and his party and how they have ruined this country is profound, and I really do not want them to be in power any longer.

I would possibly vote for the Lib Dems, except that I feel that a vote for them could be a vote for labour.

lvader

Being married in the UK makes very little sense financially, It's a disadvantage in most cases. Other countries have this already, you can transfer all the personal allowance not just a bit. I think it's a step in the right direction, but it's only a small step.

StevieJ

What a joke, full transferrable allowances are the way to go.

marklv

Sapphire wrote: »

Wouldn't make me change my mind (I'm single and have my own thoughts about marital bliss).

However, I will almost certainly be voting for the Conservatives. My disgust at Brown and his party and how they have ruined this country is profound, and I really do not want them to be in power any longer.

I would possibly vote for the Lib Dems, except that I feel that a vote for them could be a vote for labour.

A vote for the Conservatives is a wasted vote. Just wait until they get in power, you'll see. There isn't much difference between the two anyway.

wymondham

This is too small to make any difference isnt it???? Either do it and make it effective, or don't do it..... not looking good for 'dynamic' policies from them running up to the election!!!