What would you like to see in the Budget next month?

Herzlos

And that's a large part of the problem. No politician is willing to do anything which will upset the pensioner votes, which means a huge raft of options are automatically off the table, even if it's the best solution.

antrobus

Herzlos wrote: »

And that's a large part of the problem. No politician is willing to do anything which will upset the pensioner votes, which means a huge raft of options are automatically off the table, even if it's the best solution.

It's a fundamentaly huge problem that is inherent to democracy. It's the voters that ultimately get to decide who gets into government.

Basing your entire fiscal policy on stuffing the over 65s is not going to get you anywhere near government. It's not only the 11.6m people who are over 65, it's also the 7.5m people who are over 55, who might not appreciate having their retirement plans threatened.

That's half the soddin electorate! (*) What is a democratic government for, other than to deliver the will of the people?

* I exaggerate a bit, about 48% of those who voted in 2015 where 55 or over. But you see what I mean. That's one of the other 'downsides' of increased longevity; not only do the aged cost in terms of their state pensions, as well as increasing demands on the NHS and social care, but there are more of the blighters left who have the time and inclination to fill in those ballot papers.

westernpromise

GreatApe wrote: »

His strong belief that there are groups of large contributors and large groups of takers is mostly wrong. Most people can only claim a net zero with maybe a handful of people pushing productivity forward only truly able to claim net contributions.

I suspect this piece of reasoning is a version of the lump-of-labour fallacy.

michaels

I notice no one is live bloggign the budget on here this year - does this reflect how low expectations are for anything of import to happen?

For what it is worth the forecast is for debt/gdp to start falling in 18/19, growth this year of 2% and inflation peaking at 2.4% - I reckon all three of these are hugely optimistic.

chucknorris

michaels wrote: »

I notice no one is live bloggign the budget on here this year - does this reflect how low expectations are for anything of import to happen?

For what it is worth the forecast is for debt/gdp to start falling in 18/19, growth this year of 2% and inflation peaking at 2.4% - I reckon all three of these are hugely optimistic.

Not good news about the reduction of the £5k (to £2k) tax free dividend income allowance.

Thrugelmir

chucknorris wrote: »

Not good news about the reduction of the £5k (to £2k) tax free dividend income allowance.

ISA allowance is being increased. So savings can still be sheltered.

chucknorris

Thrugelmir wrote: »

ISA allowance is being increased. So savings can still be sheltered.

If I had found about about both at the same time that would have been better, but the £20k ISA allowance is very old news.

Conrad

chucknorris wrote: »

Not good news about the reduction of the £5k (to £2k) tax free dividend income allowance.

It's a difficult balancing act Chuck - for every proposed source of revenue rise you get a chorus of voices saying it's a bad idea, whether it be small business rates or NICs for self employed.


Every day politicians and citizens argue for more spending on a dizzying array of services, everything from police funding (lots of 'Tunbridge Wells types' say Police need more resources to investigate burglary) to more on social care, funding of care home stays (rather than selling Mums house) to flood defences, funding to combat violence against women, to more for pothole repair. We all seem to demand spending but don't want to pay


Someone's gotta pay for it all and if you satisfied every socialists spending demand today, by tomorrow lunchtime they'd have a new list.


QT audience applaud calls for more spending - it's the accepted response it seems.


My now retired secretary was a classic - on the one hand she tsk tsk reading the papers and say it was disgusting Nurses weren't getting a payrise, in the next moaning about her tax. I genuinely think people don't seem to join the dots.


Better get used to more tax.

chucknorris

Conrad wrote: »

It's a difficult balancing act Chuck - for every proposed source of revenue rise you get a chorus of voices saying it's a bad idea, whether it be small business rates or NICs for self employed.


Every day politicians and citizens argue for more spending on a dizzying array of services, everything from police funding (lots of 'Tunbridge Wells types' say Police need more resources to investigate burglary) to more on social care.


Someone's gotta pay for it all and if you satisfied every socialists spending demand today, by tomorrow lunchtime they'd have a new list.


QT audience applaud calls for more spending - it's the accepted response it seems.


Better get used to more tax

I know that but I am talking from my own pocket. If you can't have a moan on budget day, when can you moan (it doesn't seriously hurt me us only £1,950 extra tax to pay). In realty it was a surprise when it was announced last year, so I'm sort of thinking positively over both budgets that a £2k tax free allowance has been introduced.

kabayiri

chucknorris wrote: »

I know that but I am talking from my own pocket.

Maybe the self employed have spent too long on the swings and are now being redirected towards the roundabouts...

The self employed around here dont seem to earn more than 16K anyway, regardless of what you pay them :rotfl: