The Labour Government

[Mr Kobayashi]

Yep all pensioners should just sell their home and downsize, not that easy when you have a strong emotional attachment to it and the state may require the money for your care at a later date. Many things in life are not straightforward Kobay. I guess you weren't aware of those things ?

We don't apply the same logic to working age population though do we?

 

[metalblue]

Haha. Brilliant. All I can think of is that dog from the 80s? Who used to say sausages.

 

[metalblue]

If only there were ways of converting assets in to cash.

A number of them go for them equity release thing. Scandal waiting to happen that.

 

[Churchlawtonblue]

We don't apply the same logic to working age population though do we?

You suggested it?

 

[Chippy_boy]

There are a reasonable number of salaried people who fall into the +125k bracket. What they maybe should do is limit the amount you can bung into pensions for people earning above that amount. E.g. for every £2 you earn above 125k, your allowance for your pension contributions reduces by £1 until it reaches the old threshold of £40k.

To be honest what they should do is just charge the income tax regardless based upon salary/earnings and then tell people they need to claim it back. Its a bit underhanded but there would be a lot of people who wouldn't have the inclination to claim every bit back (hassle vs effort).

They reduce maximum pension contributions eligible for tax relief already. The limit is £60k now but if you earn too much it reduces down to £10k (2022/23 tax year minimum was £4k, effectively making it pointless for anyone earning a high amount to bother with a pension. Why on earth put money into a pension and get (almost) no tax relief, for the privilege of having your money taxed again (i.e. twice) when taking it out.

If hell bent on tax increases, I think the best bet would have been to up the basic rate to 22p or 23p something like that. It would raise a shed load of money and if you combined it with an increase in the personal allowance, you would ensure that anyone at the bottom end was better off, middle earners were neutral and only the better off were net losers, but they can afford it.

It's unrealistic I think for people to expect to pay only 20% tax on earnings up to £50k per year and expect that is enough to pay for all the public services people aspire to us having. We have got used to a basic rate of tax that is IMO too low.

 

[Mr Kobayashi]

Comon mate, if the cancelling of the WFA was a Tory idea you would be all over this forum like a dog with two dicks slagging it off wouldn't you. Be honest now.

No I wouldn't. Because I actually approve of it. I don't suffer from the same gerontophilia that many do.

You suggested it?

I meant that if a working age person (capable of working) was sitting with 100% equity in a house worth over half a million pounds, would people think it fair that they kept taking handouts and didn't downsize?

 

[Mr Kobayashi]

A number of them go for them equity release thing. Scandal waiting to happen that.

Better than freezing to death though isn't it?

 

[Vic]

The Chuch of England is rich when it comes to estate and land but they don't have a pot to piss in when it comes to cash in the bank. Big difference.

Most of the income from assets is going on pensions.

 

[Don Karleone]

Haha. Brilliant. All I can think of is that dog from the 80s? Who used to say sausages.

 

[Ifwecouldjust.......]

Or checking their passports for foreign holidays.

Tories got to hate....