The Labour Government

[Kompany Car]

Yeah and taxing small businesses and sole traders to the hilt.
I can't think of a worse idea to get the economy moving. But Labour always taxes employment, always has.
A party that claims to want job creation and a growing economy ALWAYS does the worse thing it can to prevent small business growth and additional tax revenue from small business growth.
It really is mental when you think about it.

We can go down the route of where to cut spending, but the first step is to make sure everyone is paying the tax they are supposed to pay that includes VAT, cooperation tax, excise tax, NICs and CGT.

The tax gap isnt about applying new taxes, its ensuring business owners pay what is correct and that includes everyone from your cash in hand window cleaners to SMEs and large businesses.

Bottom line is that nobody should be complaining about the state of public services, whilst simultaneously not paying their dues.

I say this as someone who is a PAYE employee but who's wife has her own business, so can see both sides.

 

[BlueAnorak]

We can go down the route of where to cut spending, but the first step is to make sure everyone is paying the tax they are supposed to pay that includes VAT, cooperation tax, excise tax, NICs and CGT.

The tax gap isnt about applying new taxes, its ensuring business owners pay what is correct and that includes everyone from your cash in hand window cleaners to SMEs and large businesses.

Bottom line is that nobody should be complaining about the state of public services, whilst simultaneously not paying their dues.

I say this as someone who is a PAYE employee but who's wife has her own business, so can see both sides.

Agree with that but small businesses and new wealth creators ALWAYS get hit by Labour - yet the folks you'd think they would go after nowt happens.

 

[BlueAnorak]

6 months now since the date when defence funding plan was to be announced and silence...
Lord Robertson is spot on - Starmer is not taking defence seriously.
His reply to the Tory leader in Parliament was a blocking manoeuvre. No date for funding what needs to be done.

If you can't defend the country, then spending on the good things in society is a waste of time.

 

[blueinsa]

Is it time we have a defence force instead or an armed services designed to project power?

Do we need to project or have that ability when our enemies know we are a nuclear threat?

With that in force, surely it’s sensible to just concentrate our budgets on what is needed to defend the UK.

We don’t need to put 150,000 boots on the ground in the Middle East for anybody!

 

[BobKowalski]

6 months now since the date when defence funding plan was to be announced and silence...
Lord Robertson is spot on - Starmer is not taking defence seriously.
His reply to the Tory leader in Parliament was a blocking manoeuvre. No date for funding what needs to be done.

If you can't defend the country, then spending on the good things in society is a waste of time.

Defence funding for what though? What is our defence strategy going forward? How much impact is the war in Ukraine having on defence strategies and our thinking? Are we moving to a European based alliance with shared responsibilities and a division of specific skills and capabilities?

Currently, we may be unprepared for an all out war, but it’s not as if we are defenceless so, firstly, we need to decide in which direction we are going, who our (reliable) allies are, what we can do together as well as by ourselves. Personally, I have long favoured a European defensive capability separate from the US and with European based defence procurement. This will cost money along with a recognition that reliance on the US is dead and I’m not sure as a country we are ready to accept that.

 

[BobKowalski]

Is it time we have a defence force instead or an armed services designed to project power?

Do we need to project or have that ability when our enemies know we are a nuclear threat?

With that in force, surely it’s sensible to just concentrate our budgets on what is needed to defend the UK.

We don’t need to put 150,000 boots on the ground in the Middle East for anybody!

Good point. Before we decide what to spend money, we have to outline what our objectives and strategy is going forward. A defence force for an island nation requires more emphasis on navel and aerial power than troops and ground forces. To project power you also need troops. Also there is an argument to defend the nation you need to project power to forestall threats before they can fully arise. This argument led to Vietnam and Iraq so its bona fides are questionable- and that’s putting it politely.

 

[The Future’s Blue!]

6 months now since the date when defence funding plan was to be announced and silence...
Lord Robertson is spot on - Starmer is not taking defence seriously.
His reply to the Tory leader in Parliament was a blocking manoeuvre. No date for funding what needs to be done.

If you can't defend the country, then spending on the good things in society is a waste of time.

He’s not spot-on at all. You’ve got to love the way people become experts in any given subject once they are told of how it works by influential bad-actors.

Starmer is absolutely right to hold off on certain spending until a proper plan is in place. Lord Robertson overseen SDR 25 but then it’s got to go to the Chiefs to understand and overlay it onto ground effect. Huge sums have already been given for projects that have been identified as will be required in the future, others are still going through the R&D/capability phase due to the change in Defensive posture and new 20-40-40 Defence Stategy.

You only need to hear Badenoch today, inadvertently stating that the weapons makers are pushing for their cut of the pie, and that doesn’t necessarily mean UK procurement. Whether it’s the Thiel companies or through the APPGs, they all have one thing in common, they pay big money to the Tories, and expect a huge return on their investment.

 

[mosssideblue]

He’s not spot-on at all. You’ve got to love the way people become experts in any given subject once they are told of how it works by influential bad-actors.

Starmer is absolutely right to hold off on certain spending until a proper plan is in place. Lord Robertson overseen SDR 25 but then it’s got to go to the Chiefs to understand and overlay it onto ground effect. Huge sums have already been given for projects that have been identified as will be required in the future, others are still going through the R&D/capability phase due to the change in Defensive posture and new 20-40-40 Defence Stategy.

You only need to hear Badenoch today, inadvertently stating that the weapons makers are pushing for their cut of the pie, and that doesn’t necessarily mean UK procurement. Whether it’s the Thiel companies or through the APPGs, they all have one thing in common, they pay big money to the Tories, and expect a huge return on their investment.

Agree with all of this. Tories desperate to be hanging off Trump’s cock. I would also question Robertsons motives for his report.

 

[hcblue95]

6 months now since the date when defence funding plan was to be announced and silence...
Lord Robertson is spot on - Starmer is not taking defence seriously.
His reply to the Tory leader in Parliament was a blocking manoeuvre. No date for funding what needs to be done.

If you can't defend the country, then spending on the good things in society is a waste of time.

But your hero Boris got us here?

And most of his defence spending was on photoshoots for him in Ukraine.

 

[The Future’s Blue!]

Agree with all of this. Tories desperate to be hanging off Trump’s cock. I would also question Robertsons motives for his report.

Robertson’s motives were very clear during his little speech. He thought he had the ear of government and was on a winner with his American backers. Things have changed so much, even since the SDR was published, and we are now moving away from American sales and actively pursing a military pact with the EU.

The UK has already committed spend to our own military plans and we are now seeing delivery of many new platforms and phasing out old, expensive and defunct models.

What we are hearing is not in the UKs interest, only in the interest of those who believe they can take us for a ride. Hence Trump’s jibes at Euro-NATO members, and their Defence lobbyists trying to get us playing their game.

Things have changed.

 

[We've got Guardiola]

Far to many milking the system and playing the "mental health" card.
I'll open up I have had my own MH problems which at times has out me on the brink. I do understand the issues, especially with single men.
But I find work helps, being around people. But far too many are not prepared to face the world, adapt and put some effort in and go to work.
They stay at home and claim they are unfit to work. This is one of the fundamental problems that need sorting out. It's far too easy for them to be wrote off and thus become a burden to the tax payer.
And sadly thousands of young adults are signed off this way, many citing the pandemic which ended 5 years ago as messing them up.

I'm sorry don't agree.

I have noticed over the years that the energy has just been drained from the country, probably since COVID. It's because of the cost of living and that kind of thing. It's hard to consider working harder when you're not paid enough for a comfortable standard of living let alone luxuries such as buying a house.

Our little one has just started nursery and there is basically no point in my partner working 5 days a week because due to childcare costs she would only gain £50pm more. We're lucky that we have my salary but then if I work overtime on my salary then I would be taxed 40% on every £1 extra I earn so I don't bother. Work and effort just doesn't really pay and where it does it's quickly taken away from you.

If people aren't comfortable then they lose faith in the system and many even lash out at the system. The government doesn't act upon this because unfortunately it is cheaper to have a significant number of people claiming peanuts on benefits than it is to invest at great cost in infastructure, the economy etc to help them get them off benefits.

What's really happening is there is an underclass of people who are happy to accept living on peanuts handed to them by the state because the alternative is well living on peanuts earnt by themselves instead. Peanuts are still peanuts.

 

[mosssideblue]

Robertson’s motives were very clear during his little speech. He thought he had the ear of government and was on a winner with his American backers. Things have changed so much, even since the SDR was published, and we are now moving away from American sales and actively pursing a military pact with the EU.

The UK has already committed spend to our own military plans and we are now seeing delivery of many new platforms and phasing out old, expensive and defunct models.

What we are hearing is not in the UKs interest, only in the interest of those who believe they can take us for a ride. Hence Trump’s jibes at Euro-NATO members, and their Defence lobbyists trying to get us playing their game.

Things have changed.

Again, spot on

 

[Uncle Wally One Ball]

I have noticed over the years that the energy has just been drained from the country, probably since COVID. It's because of the cost of living and that kind of thing. It's hard to consider working harder when you're not paid enough for a comfortable standard of living let alone luxuries such as buying a house.

Our little one has just started nursery and there is basically no point in my partner working 5 days a week because due to childcare costs she would only gain £50pm more. We're lucky that we have my salary but then if I work overtime on my salary then I would be taxed 40% on every £1 extra I earn so I don't bother. Work and effort just doesn't really pay and where it does it's quickly taken away from you.

If people aren't comfortable then they lose faith in the system and many even lash out at the system. The government doesn't act upon this because unfortunately it is cheaper to have a significant number of people claiming peanuts on benefits than it is to invest at great cost in infastructure, the economy etc to help them get them off benefits.

What's really happening is there is an underclass of people who are happy to accept living on peanuts handed to them by the state because the alternative is well living on peanuts earnt by themselves instead. Peanuts are still peanuts.

Im having the same issue with the tax. The amount I have paid on an emergency code since January is eye watering. This is essential overtime as well, coming from demand as a public sector worker. It is pissing me off no end.

 

[BlueAnorak]

But your hero Boris got us here?

And most of his defence spending was on photoshoots for him in Ukraine.

Not my hero.
No politician is.
They would all sell their grannies for wealth or polirical advancement.

 

[Blue Maverick]

Im having the same issue with the tax. The amount I have paid on an emergency code since January is eye watering. This is essential overtime as well, coming from demand as a public sector worker. It is pissing me off no end.

I was honest with the tax man last year over money received via a pension payout, I’ve all paid up now but it left me short £100 a month for 6/7 months, might not be huge to some but it all counts and they fucked it up no end , calls back and forth bloody nightmare. Then you’ve cunts earning millions dodging paying it fucks me right off. I don’t think I’ve ever worried about money as much as now, I think I’m in with millions of the pissed off who work, earn save for retirement but are constantly rinsed for taxes that are just wasted. In relation to defence have a look at the Ajax project millions wasted in antics that’s not fit for purpose and no one is accountable. Country has been run into the ground by idiots for 20 odd years its a travesty.

 

[We've got Guardiola]

Im having the same issue with the tax. The amount I have paid on an emergency code since January is eye watering. This is essential overtime as well, coming from demand as a public sector worker. It is pissing me off no end.

They definitely need to look at the tax thresholds because £50k isn't a small salary anymore. We're only okay in our house because my partner also earns £28k. We don't live in an expensive place or live a fancy lifestyle so we're comfortable. I have absolutely no idea how people manage it down south or in nicer places.

For us the nursery costs for one child are £600pm and that's with the government paying 30hrs worth. I could do more overtime to put a little more in the bank but when 40% of it is taken away it's just not worth it. It's also not fair that 40% of that pay is taken away but 100% of the time to otherwise spend with the kids is gone. I choose to keep the time but that also means making tighter spending choices so is it any wonder the economy is on its arse?

We have the current fuel crisis and 30% of the price at the pump is tax. The government could remove some of this tomorrow because they're probably getting record amounts today that they didn't expect. And why haven't they? Because somebody in Labour wants to boast that they reduced the deficit by 1.21613%.....

 

[hilts]

Defence funding for what though? What is our defence strategy going forward? How much impact is the war in Ukraine having on defence strategies and our thinking? Are we moving to a European based alliance with shared responsibilities and a division of specific skills and capabilities?

Currently, we may be unprepared for an all out war, but it’s not as if we are defenceless so, firstly, we need to decide in which direction we are going, who our (reliable) allies are, what we can do together as well as by ourselves. Personally, I have long favoured a European defensive capability separate from the US and with European based defence procurement. This will cost money along with a recognition that reliance on the US is dead and I’m not sure as a country we are ready to accept that.

I think we need to accept that whoever are supposedly our allies now might not always be so keen. No new foe gives you time to build up your defence if they know you are weak.
Let's be sensible here countries ultimately do whats best for themselves to survive.

 

[Uncle Wally One Ball]

They definitely need to look at the tax thresholds because £50k isn't a small salary anymore. We're only okay in our house because my partner also earns £28k. We don't live in an expensive place or live a fancy lifestyle so we're comfortable. I have absolutely no idea how people manage it down south or in nicer places.

For us the nursery costs for one child are £600pm and that's with the government paying 30hrs worth. I could do more overtime to put a little more in the bank but when 40% of it is taken away it's just not worth it. It's also not fair that 40% of that pay is taken away but 100% of the time to otherwise spend with the kids is gone. I choose to keep the time but that also means making tighter spending choices so is it any wonder the economy is on its arse?

We have the current fuel crisis and 30% of the price at the pump is tax. The government could remove some of this tomorrow because they're probably getting record amounts today that they didn't expect. And why haven't they? Because somebody in Labour wants to win an argument by boasting that they reduced the deficit by 1.21613%.....

It is wrong. I know for a fact that a 24yr old lad I was dealing with in work last week ( and ironically retained late in work dealing with the demand he had created, thereby incurring more tax for myself umavoidably and by nature of my job) brings home £1500 pcm in PIP and gets both his rent and council tax paid on top of that. He is pissed as fuck all the time, because he can afford to be, and doesnt have to worry about going to work. With the tax I paid, and bills I have that he doesnt, this fucker is on more than me. I volunteer for extra shifts outside of the summer months regularly if they need them filling or demand needs extra staff. This should be rewarded, not taxed at fucking 40%. Its mental. There is no point me doing it anymore. Work should pay, and it doesnt as it presently stands. The tax thresholds need changing and this 5 year freeze fucked off, or the fiscal drag is going to put hard working people in the shit.

Will add that when I got out for a pint on my 2 days off this week, by far the majority in there were people without jobs. Seems they can afford it better than those who are grafting and dealing with bills.

 

[BobKowalski]

I think we need to accept that whoever are supposedly our allies now might not always be so keen. No new foe gives you time to build up your defence if they know you are weak.
Let's be sensible here countries ultimately do whats best for themselves to survive.

It’s a balancing act. A mid-sized power such as the UK should look for allies of comparable stature and (although I hate the term) ‘shared values’ - democracy, rule of law etc., shared heritage - Canada, Australia and geographical location namely Europe. What happens on the continent we live on directly impacts the UK and we need to safeguard our own backyard in conjunction with other European countries.

I agree that nothing is forever, political winds change and allies can become ‘unreliable’ which is why no country will drop its guard entirely. But when it comes to Europe it is obvious that we are stronger and safer as a collective rather than as individual nations, because we are simply not large enough individually. Countries have always sought out alliances and partnerships to protect themselves and magnify influence, as a species it is hardwired into us from groups, tribes, nations to multi-country alliances.

 

[mosssideblue]

It is wrong. I know for a fact that a 24yr old lad I was dealing with in work last week ( and ironically retained late in work dealing with the demand he had created, thereby incurring more tax for myself umavoidably and by nature of my job) brings home £1500 pcm in PIP and gets both his rent and council tax paid on top of that. He is pissed as fuck all the time, because he can afford to be, and doesnt have to worry about going to work. With the tax I paid, and bills I have that he doesnt, this fucker is on more than me. I volunteer for extra shifts outside of the summer months regularly if they need them filling or demand needs extra staff. This should be rewarded, not taxed at fucking 40%. Its mental. There is no point me doing it anymore. Work should pay, and it doesnt as it presently stands. The tax thresholds need changing and this 5 year freeze fucked off, or the fiscal drag is going to put hard working people in the shit.

Will add that when I got out for a pint on my 2 days off this week, by far the majority in there were people without jobs. Seems they can afford it better than those who are grafting and dealing with bills.

£1500/ m in PiP??