Have we experienced a real rise in living standards as Osborne claims?

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Isn't it how the money is spent that's more important?

Indeed.

But all the current round of so-called 'cuts' have done is marginally slow down the rate of total spending growth.

No matter what you pick to 'cut' somebody will be unhappy about it.

Any segment of society that gets a bit less of a handout than the amount they have become used to will think it's not right, and unfair, and come up with all sorts of arguments that the 'cuts' should be targeted at somewhere or someone else.

The current government has managed to shrink the deficit, achieve economic growth, and significantly reduce unemployment.

And they've managed to do it while keeping a health service, welfare state and safety net that is still, even in slightly less generous form, pretty much the envy of most of the worlds population.

I'd say on the whole that's a pretty impressive result.

TickersPlaysPop

There are too many policies and things put in place to benefit the rich by Obourne, he has looked after the rich at the expense of poor. Look at ISA's with the higher limits, that is purely a policy for people at the higher tax rate with loads of cash.

On balance the rich benefit a lot more than the poor in this weeks budget, and Osbournes plans for the future is even more of the same.

gazter

ukcarper wrote: »

My council tax has not been frozen

The offer was made to all local councils, it was up to them to take it. Has it not been frozen in any of the years? What's your district?

Each frozen year cascades through in perpetuity.

Generali

TickersPlaysPop wrote: »

There are too many policies and things put in place to benefit the rich by Obourne, he has looked after the rich at the expense of poor. Look at ISA's with the higher limits, that is purely a policy for people at the higher tax rate with loads of cash.

On balance the rich benefit a lot more than the poor in this weeks budget, and Osbournes plans for the future is even more of the same.

The working moderately poor have probably been the group to benefit most from Coalition budgets.

ukcarper

gazter wrote: »

The offer was made to all local councils, it was up to them to take it. Has it not been frozen in any of the years? What's your district?

Each frozen year cascades through in perpetuity.

It's a Tory run council

michaels

TickersPlaysPop wrote: »

There are too many policies and things put in place to benefit the rich by Obourne, he has looked after the rich at the expense of poor. Look at ISA's with the higher limits, that is purely a policy for people at the higher tax rate with loads of cash.

On balance the rich benefit a lot more than the poor in this weeks budget, and Osbournes plans for the future is even more of the same.

Whilst I don't agree with the main thrust of your argument I agree with you that ISAs are regressive - I think they should be limited to a maximum amount of tax saved per annum - say 200 quid so they encourage saving for a safety net but no more.

ukcarper

gazter wrote: »

The offer was made to all local councils, it was up to them to take it. Has it not been frozen in any of the years? What's your district?

Each frozen year cascades through in perpetuity.

It's not been frozen at all by the county and borough both Tory

CLAPTON

ukcarper wrote: »

It's not been frozen at all by the county and borough both Tory

how much has it been increased by?

ukcarper

CLAPTON wrote: »

how much has it been increased by?

Roughly 2% a year.

gazter

ukcarper wrote: »

Roughly 2% a year.

which district?