He might have done, but the perception I get looking at the main talking points and media coverage, is it was mainly about reform. Why give them so much attention and spotlight?Starmer spoke more about the Hillsborough law than he did on Reform.
I’m not going back asking them … they were insulted, from what I heard, by his inference that anyone concerned about immigration, free speech and lying is “far right” “racist” and has no right to consider voting for Reform.How did he insult these two guys?
You’re right, it almost seems that Labour just talked about Reform for the full conference. And that’s because who and what is reported on, by our media.He might have done, but the perception I get looking at the main talking points and media coverage, is it was mainly about reform. Why give them so much attention and spotlight?
most cabinet members mentioned them as well. I could be wrong, but I reckon if you as ask most of the general public what labours policies were mentioned most wouldn’t know
He's not inferred that at all. He's attacked Farage and Reform's utterly disgraceful plan to scrap indefinite leave to remain, but he hasn't labelled Reform voters themselves as racists. All he's said to them is not to fall for Farage's bullshit like many did over Brexit, and that many of those who plan to vote Reform will get fucked over by Farage if he gets in. Starmer most certainly isn't saying you can't have genuine concerns about immigration and anyone thinking that he has said that has probably been gaslit by the likes of the Daily Mail, GB News, and Farage himselfI’m not going back asking them … they were insulted, from what I heard, by his inference that anyone concerned about immigration, free speech and lying is “far right” “racist” and has no right to consider voting for Reform.
And that's just what the RW press and media (who dominate the UK market) want you to think. There are few people who are prepared to sit through an hour's speech by any politician, so we are dependant on balanced reporting, but that doesn't exist. It was a 58 minute speech and Farage got mentioned every 8 minutes. I bet that is no different to any other reference to a main political opponent.He might have done, but the perception I get looking at the main talking points and media coverage, is it was mainly about reform. Why give them so much attention and spotlight?
most cabinet members mentioned them as well. I could be wrong, but I reckon if you as ask most of the general public what labours policies were mentioned most wouldn’t know
So they hadn't watched the speech... and it seems more what you inferred than anything Starmer implied.I’m not going back asking them … they were insulted, from what I heard, by his inference that anyone concerned about immigration, free speech and lying is “far right” “racist” and has no right to consider voting for Reform.
Ah..."media coverage" you say.He might have done, but the perception I get looking at the main talking points and media coverage, is it was mainly about reform. Why give them so much attention and spotlight?
most cabinet members mentioned them as well. I could be wrong, but I reckon if you as ask most of the general public what labours policies were mentioned most wouldn’t know
I agree. But to be clear there is no LTA. That was abolished by the Tories in 2023. I have a friend who has a substantial pension pot which, until 2023, would have been re-assessed when he got to 75. At the stroke of Jeremy Hunt's budget, my friend was suddenly £750,000 better off when he gets to 75.The Tories got us into this mess. Yes on the one hand you’d probably be better off if they’d continued in power, but my kids would be paying for it when they’re your age.
The fact of the matter is the country needs to raise taxes (or massively reduce public spending - which seems impossible in my eyes).
Means tested taxes should be encouraged. One of your examples earlier was lowering the LTA…. Anyone with £1m+ in a pension can absolutely afford to pay a little more tax and absolutely shouldn’t be getting winter fuel payments.
Well yea. Most people, including me work or have kids so you’re kind of reliant on media or news outlets to see the main talking points.Ah..."media coverage" you say.
Well done on getting such a good pot. Carefully managed you'll have a comfortable retirement. Yes you have sacrificed your wage but you have also had tax relief on the payments in at your marginal rate, so benefitted from the very system that you now say you don't want to pay any more into.I've been paying into my pension for 37 years now (started at 18, now 55) and still a few years until I retire, hopefully I should have £1 million in my pot, I've sacrificed my wage to do that, my choice I know. Why should I now loose out my paying more tax, from my pension just to help out this abomination of a government, they can F off..
From what you heard, okI’m not going back asking them … they were insulted, from what I heard, by his inference that anyone concerned about immigration, free speech and lying is “far right” “racist” and has no right to consider voting for Reform.
What makes you think these people hadn’t listened to the speech in parts. Most people, unlike some of you on here, don’t sit listening to a Conference speech the whole way through. Get real, they are working and working bloody hard. They pick up points on different mediums. I’m just saying what I randomly heard, in a pub full of people. He has to be careful with who he’s calling what. He’s coming over as out of touch with people.So they hadn't watched the speech... and it seems more what you inferred than anything Starmer implied.
In any case, no one knows what changes the government are going to make regarding pensions. There's been talk for a while of reducing the amount you can take tax free. Currently it's 25% of the pot up to a maximum of £268,275 and it's been mooted that the max figure could be reduced to £100,000. A big drop for sure that affects all those with over £400,000 in their pot but there are still ways of limiting what you pay in tax beyond taking your tax-free lump sum.Well done on getting such a good pot. Carefully managed you'll have a comfortable retirement. Yes you have sacrificed your wage but you have also had tax relief on the payments in at your marginal rate, so benefitted from the very system that you now say you don't want to pay any more into.
You will be able to draw down on that pension at 58. I don't see any major change being made to the 25% Tax Free Cash in that period as many people will have that earmarked for mortgages and other high expenditure.
You are not really "helping out the government", you are helping fund all of the services, that, as you get older, wil use more. Free prescriptions at 60, no NI once you retire and drawdown, free bus pass, and, dare I say it, Winter Fuel Allowance that almost certainly won't need.
No one likes paying tax but it's a necessary evil to make a modern society function and as the age profile of the polpulation changes I don't really see any major falls in the tax burden.
He needs to concentrate more on his image and presentation and less on Farage. People are seeing through him.He's not inferred that at all. He's attacked Farage and Reform's utterly disgraceful plan to scrap indefinite leave to remain, but he hasn't labelled Reform voters themselves as racists. All he's said to them is not to fall for Farage's bullshit like many did over Brexit, and that many of those who plan to vote Reform will get fucked over by Farage if he gets in. Starmer most certainly isn't saying you can't have genuine concerns about immigration and anyone thinking that he has said that has probably been gaslit by the likes of the Daily Mail, GB News, and Farage himself
You're right that it's all conjecture at present and any changes will take some time to implement. It's important that nobody makes any changes in advance of it being formally announced.In any case, no one knows what changes the government are going to make regarding pensions. There's been talk for a while of reducing the amount you can take tax free. Currently it's 25% of the pot up to a maximum of £268,275 and it's been mooted that the max figure could be reduced to £100,000. A big drop for sure that affects all those with over £400,000 in their pot but there are still ways of limiting what you pay in tax beyond taking your tax-free lump sum.
There's also talk of equalising the tax relief between basic rate and higher rate taxpayers. 30% has been mentioned which would make basic rate taxpayers the winners on that one. Higher rate taxpayers would be the losers but there's an argument that they often have more disposable income to put into a pension than a basic rate taxpayer and have therefore had a double whammy of being able to put more of their own cash in and avail of the 40% tax relief which has allowed their pots to grow far more exponentially.
Whatever the government decides to do, our pensions will still have far more flexibility than they did before Osborne introduced pension freedoms in 2015
It’s what they were thinking that counts.From what you heard, ok
If they cannot sort the wheat from the chaff, they may well be cheesed offIt’s what they were thinking that counts.
Oh, so you're not disputing that Farage and certain media outlets are gaslighting the general public then? And given that Reform are leading in the polls, he is absolutely correct to call out Farage's and Reform's bullshit divisive policies. They've been landing free hits all summer and getting no pushback from anywhere. It's about time the spotlight was turned on Farage and Reform and Starmer should've done it a fucking long time ago.He needs to concentrate more on his image and presentation and less on Farage. People are seeing through him.