MoneySaving Poll: The MSE Leaders’ Debate - Pick the key subject for PM candidates

Former_MSE_Sam_M

Poll started 31 March 2015

The MSE Leaders’ Debate - Pick the key subject for PM candidates

Seven party leaders have agreed to take written questions on consumer finance issues – Tory, Labour, Lib Dem, UKIP, Green, SNP & Plaid. Here’s our subject shortlist, some from us, some suggested by you – voting isn’t about whether you agree with the issue, but if you want them to answer it.

Choose up to 5 questions you want them to be asked.

Vote in this week's poll

Did you vote? Are you surprised at the results so far? Have your say below. To see the results from last time, click here.

If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply. If you aren’t sure how it all works, read our New to Forum? Intro Guide.

Thanks!


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WelshGandalf

Disappointing lack of an option regarding building houses / fixing the housing market or however you want to describe it.

Ultramum

Would like to see an option about bringing some humanity and compassion into the sanction system as so many people are being unfairly penalised ... I know of someone who was told that if he went to his Father's funeral rather than the interview that had been arranged for the same time he wouldbe sanctioned ... he went and was sanctioned for 13 weeks ... How has this helped his wife and young family?

jamesd

Remarkable set of questions for those who pay attention to the apparent policies of the political parties.

Some really interesting potential answers, though.

Boost savings rates: What will you do to improve returns for savers?

Cut interest rates further. There are plenty of good returns available from investments and one objective of quantitative easing has been to use low rates as a tool to cause people to pay more attention to better rates available elsewhere.

Council tax: 400,000ish homes are in the wrong band in Eng & Scot, will you reband?

Would it be fair to homeowners to arbitrarily increase or decrease the value of their homes by rebanding?

Cut childcare costs: How will you make it more affordable for parents to work?

Children are a choice and we will support that choice by introducing childcare savings accounts that those who plan to be parents can use to plan for their future, along with a system of childcare loans that those who don't plan sufficiently can use instead.

Cut petrol costs: Roughly 60% of petrol is tax, will you cut this amount?

We believe that it is in the interests of the national economy and our objective to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to increase taxes on all forms of fossil fuels to further discourage their use. Bonus points for honesty if a Green Party candidate give this answer.

Financial education: Will you strengthen financial education on the national curriculum?

Will you strengthen financial education for newly elected members of Parliament as well, so they know who pays the most tax and how the tax money is spent, at least?

Give renters rights: How will you protect tenants from unfair fees and charges?

And how will you do this without reducing the rights for the owners of the property,. who choose to help people by making homes available to rent?

Holidays during term time: Should parents be allowed to take their kids out of school for two weeks a year with no fine?

This is a structural problem caused by having schools take holidays at the same times. we do not believe that the solution is to deprive children of education but rather to have schools in different parts of the country have their discretionary holiday times spaced apart to both reduce this pressure and reduce the prices for those buying holidays during the more spread out holiday peak season.

Introduce mansion tax: Do you plan to introduce an extra tax for higher value homes?

And if you do so, how will you ensure that the burden of paying it doesn't fall mostly on the SE of England, as happens now with stamp duty? Is a flat in central London really a mansion, while a twelve bedroom country house in NE England isn't, say?

Mental health & debt: What resources will you invest to help those with mental health problems avoid debt crisis?

And how will you recognise that such problems are often intermittent, so you have to do it without compromising the right to credit of the individuals concerned?

Pensions: How will you support an adequate standard of living in retirement?

What do you believe is an adequate level of income in retirement? Do you believe that it is fair to have the liftetime allowance for pensions set twice as high in income terms for public sector workers and the relatively few in the private sector who also have defined benefit pensions as those using defined contribution schemes? What will you do to rectify this discrepancy that favours those who already have gold-plated pensions?

PPI: Are you happy with the way banks have handled the PPI mis-selling scandal and is it time those responsible are prosecuted for fraud?

We have welcomed the boost to the economy caused by the banks taking potential profits from their shareholders and distributing that money to those who bought PPI. We think that it is better to thank them for their help in the economic recovery than to punish them.

Protect mortgage costs: Standard variable rates are now around 4% above the base rate - if interest rates rise for many it’ll be unaffordable, what would you do to help?

We will introduce an expedited repossession system to reduce the duration of the suffering caused by the uncertainty. To reward lenders who made loans that were unaffordable at normal interest rates we will prohibit chasing consumers for any shortfall if the loan would have been unaffordable at that rate when they took out the loan.

Renationalise energy firms: Is it time to renationalise or dictate prices to energy providers?

The making of money from supplying energy is an abomination and it is our belief that it should be prohibited to profit from it. To this end we will stop charging VAT on energy supplies at all levels and eliminate all duties charged on energy sources for the home, while also setting maximum profit margins for energy providers. Since most of the cost of energy is taxes and duties consumers should see a rapid benefit in lower prices.

Scrap bedroom tax: How would you change the current system and rates?

We would mandate relocation of those who are using subsidised housing beyond their actual needs so that subsidies are more fairly allocated to those in the greatest need. We recognise that there is a shortage of suitable properties for single people in such accommodation so we would recognise the wide acceptability of student accommodation and provide similar subsidised public sector accommodation to single adults currently occupying larger properties. To help with this we will permit pension money to be used to build such properties and will provide rent guarantees to landlords who let to the social sector.

Scrap inheritance tax: How would you change the current system and rates?

It is our view that those in the South East of England are all rich people who we should tax to the hilt with high inheritance taxes on their homes and other property, while carefully setting rates and allowances so that those in the North of England and Scotland who are where our own traditional voters reside will be minimally affected.

Scrap unfair train ticketing system: Will you reform how tickets are sold and truly ensure train operators always sell passengers the cheapest available fare?

We believe that in a private market both airlines and train operators should be permitted to game their customers, allowing those who care to pay less while those who are less price-sensitive pay more.

Scrap zero-hour contracts: Should they be scrapped, if not, how would you control them?

We believe that it is unfair to prohibit people from choosing to have contracts that do not commit them to a minimum number of hours of work each week.

Student living & tuition fees: What will you do to tuition fees & how would you deal with unaffordable living costs while at uni?

We would encourage students to take a pre-uni year in Scotland or to explore the many cheaper options for high quality English language university education elsewhere in Europe and the world. the solution is to encourage international price competition for students, not to help local universities by encouraging a tied student base.

The Green Deal: Will you keep this scheme in its current form and how much will be in it?

We think that the Green Deal is an excellent idea and to ensure that it helps to encourage as much greenness as we would like we will ensure that the funding regularly runs out to create the maximum possible amount of uncertainty for those who may wish to use the scheme.

dastep

I would like to see the Prime Minister do something to protect the Jewish community from the disturbing explosion of anti-semitism in this country and stop Universities from engaging in activity calling for students to boycott Israel which usually turns into a cover for more anti-semitism and Israel bashing.

Israel is a good friend to the United Kingdom and has contributed an enormous amount of intellect, technology and talent that has made Britain a better and safer country to live in and we should do everything to maintain that friendship in the wake of so much terror in our world.

If you doubt why Israel is a blessing to the UK, watch this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OivByuJT-k

Taxes? Mansion tax? Pensions? What difference does it make if our pockets are bulging with money while our streets are full of violence and our Universities are full of hate mongers?

rochja

Hm. There was a thread asking for questions for this debate. It does not seem to have impacted on the final choice of questions one iota. If MSE had already set its own agenda, why bother? On the assumption that voting now will be just as effective an influence I shall abstain thanks. It seems apathy rules when it can be bothered. Actually it gives those who desire power the might to exercise it whilst participation just gives them legitimacy. Maybe it is time we all grabbed our bugout bags and headed for the hills

MSE_Martin

We read the thread carefully but a huge bulk of the questions were outside the areas we are looking at. Also remember we asked for suggestion on twitter and had emails too. It wasn't solely forum suggestions

We have suggestions from all three and a few of our own in this.

MandyQue

I want more attention given to the most vulnerable people in society, those with disabilities, who rely on government assistance because they are unable to work. Those who are able to work should be given all the support they need to find and maintain work, but those who are too disabled to work need security, both financially and in getting the right care they need for their entire lifetimes.

I also want more attention given to carers, who struggle and end up in debt because they are unable to work or can only work part time due to their responsibilities. They need financial security and they need support too. Many carers end up with illnesses themselves because their caring responsibilities are so demanding, it's time they had more consideration.

marleyboy

The day I want to ask politicians questions, I will ask on the relevant political forums, those sites specifically dedicated to political gossip!

marleyboy

:money:

rochja wrote: »

Hm. There was a thread asking for questions for this debate. It does not seem to have impacted on the final choice of questions one iota. If MSE had already set its own agenda, why bother? On the assumption that voting now will be just as effective an influence I shall abstain thanks. It seems apathy rules when it can be bothered. Actually it gives those who desire power the might to exercise it whilst participation just gives them legitimacy. Maybe it is time we all grabbed our bugout bags and headed for the hills

MSE do like to pretend to include us, its a way to justify them turning the site into a Left v Right wing politician website.

Mr Lewis does like to add that "we are including you - and its not a political site - trust me when I say this", before adding, "we thought talking to politicians is in the best interests of consumerism", cue more political claptrap that shows it to be the case.

MothballsWallet

I want to see a job seekers charter that places more requirements on companies because some of them are just so poor at communication it's ridiculous.