The UK Politics & Brexit Thread

[DSM10000]

A lot can change in 7 years.

But.

I bet she’ll blame Covid, the world wide recession, Brexit and the war in the Ukraine.

Of course, easy targets even if incorrect and a lot of people will take it as gospel!

 

[Swotty]

Funny, that.

Apparently, Angela Rayner said the following in 2017:

'Labour will protect the triple lock on state pensions, maintain the winter fuel allowance and free bus passes for pensioners'.

Not sure we should be laughing or crying

But nothing about stopping the profiting from the RTB scheme?

 

[Darrell]

Of course, easy targets even if incorrect and a lot of people will take it as gospel!

I posted it because if a Tory MP used those examples as an excuse the Labour MP’s would laugh, jeer and have plenty to say.

 

[DSM10000]

I posted it because if a Tory MP used those examples as an excuse the Labour MP’s would laugh, jeer and have plenty to say.

Of course .

She made those statements without caveat so if nothing else it shows her lack of political intellect.
.

 

[markjay]

But nothing about stopping the profiteering from the RTB scheme?

FTFY

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Apparently, Angela Rayner said the following in 2017:
'Labour will protect the triple lock on state pensions, maintain the winter fuel allowance and free bus passes for pensioners'.
Not sure we should be laughing or crying

One down, two to go.

Bus passes gone by Christmas, triple lock by next Summer?

 

[markjay]

The "£22bn black hole" is relevant.





What matters is that they urgently need more money (all Labour governments do - 'austerity' has always been a Tory thing). But they said that they "won't raise taxes".





So they're in a bit of a pickle.

 

[DSM10000]

I hope in many ways that I am wrong but I can foresee many people in the country will very quickly lose patience with this regime and there will be large scale public unrest.

 

[Darrell]

The "£22bn black hole" is relevant.





What matters is that they urgently need more money (all Labour governments do - 'austerity' has always been a Tory thing). But they said that they "won't raise taxes".





So they're in a bit of a pickle.

And they will continue to placate the roles by simply blaming the previous govt.

 

[DSM10000]

And they will continue to placate the roles by simply blaming the previous govt.

Plus ça change.

 

[Swotty]

One down, two to go.

Bus passes gone by Christmas, triple lock by next Summer?

I hear from family still in politics that means testing is the ultimate aim. That will save them several £billions initially and possibly several tens of billions as the screw turns each year.

The state pension budget for 2023/24, without checking, is around £125 billion and 80% of pensioners have other income.

Who would object to robbing the rich pensioners to help the poorer ones? As well as send more weapons to Ukraine and provide new Mercs for dictators under the Foreign Aid budget?

Socialism means we're not meant to be equal, we're meant to be equally poor. And someone has got to pay for Miliband's Nut Zero madness.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

The "£22bn black hole" is relevant.
What matters is that they urgently need more money (all Labour governments do - 'austerity' has always been a Tory thing). But they said that they "won't raise taxes".
So they're in a bit of a pickle.

Not quite. Labour said "No Income tax, no National insurance, no VAT...." because Labour will NOT tax working people.

Labour will not raise taxes on working people – The Labour Party

Working people are facing the highest tax burden in 70 years. That’s why Labour will not raise income tax, national insurance or VAT.

labour.org.uk

 

[Darrell]

I hear from family still in politics that means testing is the ultimate aim. That will save them several £billions initially and possibly several tens of billions as the screw turns each year.

The state pension budget for 2023/24, without checking, is around £125 billion and 80% of pensioners have other income.

Who would object to robbing the rich pensioners to help the poorer ones?

Define a ‘rich pensioner’

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Define a ‘rich pensioner’

Retired teacher, nurse, doctor, lawyer, civil servant, railwayman, MP,

and those who've worked for large benevolent corporations, often foreign, all their working lives.
Oh, and IT specialists who were in the right place at the right time.

(OK add those generally who knew that "Jesus saves, but Moses invests")

The self-employed, those whose initial careers slow down after 40, and those with medical issues: not so much.

 

[Swotty]

Define a ‘rich pensioner’

That's the problem Starmer faces. I believe the UK state pension is in the bottom half of European pensions.

For example, here in France the pension is over €1500 per month, so €18000 p.a. or £15,400 ... aprox. 50% higher than the UK.

 

[Swotty]

Not too far from the truth, sadly .........

 

[Darrell]

That's the problem Starmer faces. I believe the UK state pension is in the bottom half of European pensions.

For example, here in France the pension is over €1500 per month, so €18000 p.a. or £15,400 ... aprox. 50% higher than the UK.

So in the U.K. we don’t have rich pensioners?

 

[Darrell]

Retired teacher, nurse, doctor, lawyer, civil servant, railwayman, MP,

and those who've worked for large benevolent corporations, often foreign, all their working lives.
Oh, and IT specialists who were in the right place at the right time.

(OK add those generally who knew that "Jesus saves, but Moses invests")

The self-employed, those whose initial careers slow down after 40, and those with medical issues: not so much.

They’re rich are they or do they just have decent pensions?

 

[Swotty]

It's taxpayers' money being spent - why cannot the little people be told how much of their hard-earned is being spent on people who have not proved their identity and never contributed a penny to the UK?

Cost of furnishing asylum seeker flats too ‘sensitive’ to be released, says watchdog

Information Commissioner rules in favour of Home Office, which refused to reveal cost of furnishing Hampshire accommodation

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[Swotty]

So in the U.K. we don’t have rich pensioners?

That's a political decision and for Starmer to decide. Some interesting stats below on average or mean incomes in the UK this year. Perhaps he will be guided by them ... or just by sheer dogma?

Average UK Salary By Age In 2024

Ever wondered what the average salary is for workers of your age? We’ve used government research from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which uses

www.forbes.com

And perhaps it's worth repeating that Starmer, when DPP, demanded and received his Civil Service pension to be paid tax-free. He is over 60 now, so perhaps already in receipt of it.

What's your idea of a rich pensioner?