March Budget 2016

N17 · 18 Mar 2016 at 22:53

Parties tomorrow, over the resignation of IDS

robfosters · 18 Mar 2016 at 22:54

darael said:
I agree with IDS here. We see the working generation being hammered left, right and centre - but how many cuts have the pensioners actually had, if any?

I have always said this government is always trying to keep the pensioners sweet and so far I haven't seen evidence that suggests otherwise.

I'd love to know how much we could save by means testing Free TV licences and winter fuel allowance. Does Bruce Forsyth really need £300 to help with his gas bill.

Tummy · 18 Mar 2016 at 22:56

ultralaser said:
Maybe they've worked all their lives. Maybe some of them risked their lives for us. Maybe they deserve some support? Maybe on day you'll want people to treat you with a bit of respect Darael

Nah, ignore everything they have contributed to this country, they deserve as little as possible. Easy way to save money. Could also scrap the winter fuel, support and care for them too, that way they might die quicker.

muon · 18 Mar 2016 at 22:57

ultralaser said:
Maybe they've worked all their lives. Maybe some them risked their lives for us. Maybe they deserve some support?

Whether they actually need that support or not?

Screw over younger people that actually do need help? How many of these people will take a slightly lower pension for some additional help right now? I'd say quite a few.

Besides they haven't all been on high salaries all their lives making NI contributions which match the pensions they are getting. Nor did they necessarily face significant welfare cuts during their lives and a global recession.

muon · 18 Mar 2016 at 22:58

Tummy said:
Nah, ignore everything they have contributed to this country, they deserve as little as possible. Easy way to save money. Could also scrap the winter fuel, support and care for them too, that way they might die quicker.

May as well double all our taxes, half all welfare and use it all to increase pensions further.

How is that even an argument? Pensioners should get what is fair in the context of what is happening to the entire population. Not be driven by some subjective ideas.

Tummy · 18 Mar 2016 at 22:59

Could just you know, close tax loop holes that big conglomerates use?

muon · 18 Mar 2016 at 22:59

Tummy said:
Could just you know, close tax loop holes that big conglomerates use?

And use it to increase pensions further? They deserve it after all. All the sacrifices they've made. Pensioners are saints.

Let's cut education spending 15% in real terms over 5 years to pay for it all.

darael · 18 Mar 2016 at 23:00

ultralaser said:
Maybe they've worked all their lives. Maybe some of them risked their lives for us. Maybe they deserve some support? Maybe on day you'll want people to treat you with a bit of respect Darael

It's about being fair to everybody. Why does a wealthy pensioner need certain benefits that a low income family could benefit from? The fact is that wealthy pensioners don't need their TV license paying for and for low income families this could make all the difference to their budget.

Tummy · 18 Mar 2016 at 23:01

muon said:
And use it to increase pensions further? They deserve it after all. All the sacrifices they've made. Pensioners are saints.

Let's cut education spending 15% in real terms over 5 years to pay for it all.

Nah, could use it to, you know, do some good all that new tax money

.

muon · 18 Mar 2016 at 23:01

Apparently it's only pensioners that deserve respect according to ultralaser.

Tummy said:
Nah, could use it to, you know, do some good all that new tax money .

Why though? They deserve it.

In 2010 the government decided to cut welfare 15%, education 15%, and others, to fund a 15% increase in pensions.

By 2020 those numbers will be even starker with the triple lock.

Tummy · 18 Mar 2016 at 23:04

muon said:
Apparently it's only pensioners that deserve respect according to ultralaser.

Why though? They deserve it.

In 2010 the government decided to cut welfare 15%, education 15%, and others, to fund a 15% increase in pensions.

They could have you know, tax all their friends over at the big conglomerates instead of allowing tax loop holes to exist. Then, there would be more money coming in

.

Neil79 · 18 Mar 2016 at 23:05

John40 said:
IDS has resigned over benefit cuts.

Good!

And you know what, I've never said this before. But I curse him, I hope everything bad in this world will happen to HIM. Evil Evil man that has made many disabled people in this country suffer.

muon · 18 Mar 2016 at 23:05

Tummy said:
They could have you know, tax all their friends over at the big conglomerates instead of allowing tax loop holes to exist. Then, there would be more money coming in .

Pensions will be rising 2.9% in 2016. That has to paid for somehow.

The magical closing of loopholes just doesn't cut it. You need to cut actual government spending elsewhere.

Fubsy · 18 Mar 2016 at 23:06

I wonder which generation of pensioners will be the ones that haven't deserved it?

Got a feeling it will be mine...

ultralaser · 18 Mar 2016 at 23:07

darael said:
It's about being fair to everybody. Why does a wealthy pensioner need certain benefits that a low income family could benefit from? The fact is that wealthy pensioners don't need their TV license paying for and for low income families this could make all the difference to their budget.

They deserve what they worked for, and they deserve what they where told they'd get. I totally accept that some don't need it or maybe don't deserve it. I believe when we make a promise (to any age) we should stick to it. In the UK you have the opportunity to change your fortune, and you really can, but when our a pensioner you can't.

muon · 18 Mar 2016 at 23:07

Besides Corporation Tax has been cut, Capital Gains Tax has been cut. Who needs loopholes.

ultralaser said:
They deserve what they worked for, and they deserve what they where told they'd get. I totally accept that some don't need it or maybe don't deserve it. I believe when we make a promise (to any age) we should stick to it. In the UK you have the opportunity to change your fortune, and you really can, but when our a pensioner you can't.

That promise was only made in 2010. Not when these pensioners were working. They weren't expecting such an amazing policy.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...verage-worker-new-analysis-says-a6701851.html

Average pensioners now earn more than the average worker (taking dependents cost into account, since pensioners don't have to support children).

Tummy · 18 Mar 2016 at 23:08

Moses said:
Something which is being worked on both here and more broadly (eg. the OECD's push to target tax avoidance). That's already happening. This government, and the previous one, have been doing that. You say it as though there's a magic bullet they're just choosing not to use... there isn't.

Ha. Sure the conglomerates are shaking in their boots at the thought of the friends they have in government closing the loop holes that they use.

Moses said:
But why just focus on that? Why not do that AND make reasonable cuts here (like targeting rich pensioners)?

'cause I would wager that closing tax loop holes, creates more money than on saving on pensions.

StriderX · 18 Mar 2016 at 23:12

Dont worry, when the NHS is sold, the pensioners will die enmasse anyway unless they sink all their non-existent money (when nigh everyone takes their money out early) into surgeries and care.

Tummy · 18 Mar 2016 at 23:12

Moses said:
Allowing loopholes to exist? Examples?

Ian Brimicombe.

ultralaser · 18 Mar 2016 at 23:12

muon said:
Besides Corporation Tax has been cut, Capital Gains Tax has been cut. Who needs loopholes.

That promise was only made in 2010. Not when these pensioners were working. They weren't expecting such an amazing policy.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...verage-worker-new-analysis-says-a6701851.html

Average pensioners now earn more than the average worker.

I don't understand your point. That pensioner has most likely worked for 30 years +. Why begrudge their payments?