It's budget day...! (Woop / Ugh) Some headline announcements: - Osborne failing to meet growth targets - Osborne failing to meet debt targets - New minimum wage will not apply to people under 25 - Corporation Tax cut by 17% - Capital Gains Tax cut from 28% to 20% - Insurance Premium Tax up by 0.5% - Tax free allowance rising from £10,600 to £11,500 - The 40p tax threshold up from £42,380 to £45,000 - Fuel duty frozen - Sugar tax coming in on fizzy drinks - All schools must become (or be in the process of becoming) an academy by 2020 - Tobacco duty up 2% - Beer, cider, whisky and spirits duty has been frozen
Corporation Tax cut by 17% How many big businesses will be asking:- "How will this help us, when we don't pay it in the first place?"
Well, as a small business owner, I welcome it. It'll give us an incentive to get even more people working. Doubtless that's a bad thing, given that it's been done by the evil Tories... Vin
That's why I said "big business". I am sure it will benefit smaller companies that do actually pay their way. Or Those that can't afford the top level accountants that will defer/offset/avoid paying it.
I sometimes sense a slight desperation on this thread to point out that nothing the Tories ever do, under any circumstances, can possibly be good. Ever. Well, I quite like them. I voted for them along with millions of others. And I consider that they are doing a decent job. I also think that this is a decent budget. Help for small businesses, increase in the tax-free allowance and a sugar tax. I also approve of the attempt to balance the books. It's the economics of the madhouse to spend more than comes in forever and a day; it doesn't work for individuals, households or companies and it doesn't work for governments either. Just in the interests of balance, you know. I'll leave the thread alone for a while again as I know this isn't something anyone seems to wants to hear. And, by definition, as a Tory, I'm clearly callous and heartless so I'm probably better not heard from. Vin
If Labour,SNP etc etc were doing the same and basically ripping apart the poor, NHS, schools and more, but going easy on the rich. I would feel the same and say the same as I do about the Tories. Yes they aren't 100% bad, but a lot of what Osborne says is lies, he hasn't yet made any of his targets rights? (Unless I am wrong). I think it helps I am not tied down to a party. So I can see the bad in them all, instead of trying to defend them.
If it's any consolation I agree with your post. I'd better keep my head down too. People seem to be outraged about the academy schools when Labour introduced them and the Tories are just carrying on their idea. I think it's considered trendy to bash the Tories although I appreciate some on here are diehard Labour and not in this category. People want jobs so the best way is to attract businesses to the country hence the lowering Tax and they are closing more and more of the tax loopholes which existed long before they came into power. The Government, like all others before it, is not by any means perfect but it could be a whole lot worse.
A lot of the problems concerning the poor and disabled people is in the system itself. The decision makers at grass routes level that cannot recognise real needy as to the pretenders. You shouldn't underestimate the money wasted not only on bad decisions but bad management as well. However it is always easy to blame all this on any government they are always fair game. Some of you would be horrified at the wasted money going on in government offices at local level. Often when it has been pointed out to the managers they just shrug and say what else can I do its government policy? A classical case I witnessed. A social service office getting 3 new sets of office furniture in six years. Reason given........if I don't spend the furniture budget (or what ever it comes under) they will cut my budget next year!!! That one is just the smallest budget...............if every office is doing the same trust me it runs into enough to build a school or 2.
The whole system is a mess. That doesn't stop me having a go at the Tories when they bring out their budget. Just because I am slamming the Tories doesn't mean I think Labour etc are much better. I can also see how the EU is a good thing but is also a bad thing. They help protect our rights and have stopped a lot of stuff passing. But then bring out random rules (like the fruit and veg that is mishaped or not allowing the Government to bail out the steal industry). As I said above I am not tied to one party like a lot of people are. So call each out for things I feel aren't right.
My main gripe with the EU system is that the policy makers them selves are unelected. They make up stupid rules and regulations. Yet there doesn't seem much anyone can do about them. The human rights legislation is a prime example it is meant to protect the innocent and needy. Yet in truth is used more to protect the guilty including the terrorist . Thereby actually harming the innocent and needy. So like all things there is indeed fores and against.
I think it is unhelpful to impugn the motives of politicians , even by implication. I would be very sad if a poster like Vin felt he couldn't express himself without being labelled. Contrary to popular opinion, I suspect that most politicians do wish to do what's best- according to their own view. I have always tended to have my sympathies with the weaker members of society but that doesn't mean I can't recognise there are sometimes perverse incentives. FWIW, I do not understand why anyone would feel that subsidising an already inflated housing market should take precedence at the same time there are significant cuts being made to payments to the disabled. That's just me. Remind me; why did we have a politics thread again?
I would never abuse a person for their beliefs in politics. Apart from if it's a racist party. I can disagree with out going crazy about it.
I don't agree with what the Tories are planning with the schools (the money that is going to be used could be much better spent elsewhere) but from my point of view it's a good budget.
My best friend is disabled and he does just fine. He gets a good grant off the government and by using a government scheme he has been able to get a car so he has been able to start up a tutoring business and is raking it in.
Yup- tell someone they are wrong and explain why, they will probably listen. Tell someone they are wrong because only stupid people share their views, they probably won't. (Copyright Channonfodder 2016)
