Budget

Maybe some of the richer councils have the money to deal with potholes in a timely and efficient way Nonnie and others simply don’t.

I don't understand how some councils can deal with the potholes in a timely manner and others just allow them to get worse and worse until they become very expensive to repair. I suppose it must be down to different priorities. Where we used to live they repaired them very quickly and also top dressed the roads to prevent them deteriorating.

I'm surprised that not everyone understands that politicians will do what they need to to please as many people as possible, not necessarily helping minorities who need more help. For them it is votes that count and people tend to vote for what helps them personally, if it were otherwise we would all have voted Libdem last time in order to put more money in the NHS. We didn't, many voted for free university places for their children and grandchildren, the thought of free £27k was more popular than more money for the NHS. Shame they didn't win, the budget announcements would have been very different but no more welcome I suspect!

Lib Dems? Who are they? I have a dim and distant memory of a political party, from years and years ago called Lib Dem, but they came to nothing. Wonder where they are now?

Winterwhite there is every reason in throwing stones at the Lib Den proposals, as like Jalima I have no faith in any Lib Dem or their ideas now, and they will never form a government either.
They can promise whatever they like!

The horrendous potholes everywhere are a danger to life and limb.
Accidents occur when bicycles and scooters/ motorbikes don’t see deep potholes, especially in the dark and there have been many bad ( also fatal) accidents that happened this way.
We cannot continue to allow our roads to deteriorate, so glad that more money is being released to councils for this purpose.

nothing for under 25's either Martha beck they can still be paid £3.90 an hour and get no help with housing .Yet the better off will see a big difference in their earnings .One rule for them and a different one for the rest .Its the tory way of course and we dont expect anything else..but people need to look behind the headlines and see the REAL figures not the amalgamated ones ,that mental health money was already counted into the NHS budget its not new money ,the NHS money is still way below whats needed and remember the figues are not a yearly rise but over a number of years

Get the school run cars off the roads

Which would be fair enough if children could actually get into school near home Jalima my grandchildren (8 and10) attend primary school miles away from home ( 2 service buses or my car journey ) . It’s not their fault they can’t get into any of the 3 primaries close to home .

MaizieD please do not make assumptions about what I mean in my posts. I made an observation, I did not make any comment on whether it was a good or bad thing. I do find it hard to understand why people do that, if you don't have a point to make, don't decide that someone else has made one when they haven't. It is rather a silly thing to do.

She said that people really cared about things like potholes.
That is probably because more people have complained to their MPs, councils etc about potholes than they have about education.

I thought the best thing in the budget was no more discredited and expensive PFIs.

I saw Liz Truss on Newsnight last night being asked why there was more money for potholes than for education. She said that people really cared about things like potholes. Is that really what sort of people she thinks we are in this country? That we care more about potholes than education.

The increase in the tax free allowance will give more money to those people who are already comfortable than those with less, and nothing to those who don't earn enough to reach the threshold. Plus, we should all be glad and proud to pay our taxes if we are able, to support our country.

The tiny change in the Universal Credit threshold does nothing to address the five week wait for payment.

No point in throwing stones at the Lib Dem proposals well put forward by Varian.
I would not throw stones, just think it is pointless; as an erstwhile Liberal (well, Lib Dem) voter I have lost faith.

Oh really! Surely it's only in primary schools that so much credit is given for promising rather than delivering. This budget delivers little - and that spread over 5 years. It prioritises mending the roads over schools, that get just a one-off measly £kk per school for 'extras'. And please can somebody tell me what is being done by way of permanently easing the burdens on adult social care? I seem to have missed it.
No point in throwing stones at the Lib Dem proposals well put forward by Varian. Looked at carefully this budget is one vast glass house.

One firm - how many jobs.
I think it depends on where you live - some parts of the country have little in the way of work and three companies in one area, which were looking to employ people, suddenly decided not to. Very varied areas I am talking about and a couple of hundred miles apart.

And yet, Welshwife, there was a family firm featured on the news last night who want to take on more trainees - but cannot find any applicants.

It is easy to see which posts are purely political

You say that as if it's a heinous crime, nonnie.

and which are based upon what people really think of yesterday's budget.

So what is the difference?

____________________

What do people think is the role of government and the purpose of a Budget?

If I understood that I might understand why concern about the circumstances of fellow citizens is somehow to be deemed worthless. Is it, in bad taste to talk politics? Is being 'political' a bit embarrassing for everyone else? Or is it getting above one's station because we should leave running the country to our rulers and offer no opinion ?

Is it our duty as citizens to look after No 1 and sod everyone else?

My conclusion is that most of the government drive on the roads while none sends their children to state schools.
Well, at least many children will not be bumped and jolted over potholes as their kind parents drive them to school.

Put on more school buses
Take off the daft distance restrictions
Get the school run cars off the roads

The budget and comments on these pages rather highlight that some people only read the headlines and not the full story.
No, I admit that somehow I have missed most of it because it is half-term - I did turn the radio on on the way home, but there did not seem to be much discussion afterwards.

Mor for potholes than education. My conclusion is that most of the government drive on the roads while none sends their children to state schools.
Just ignore Brexit, it'll sort itself out.

Many people are forced to have 0 hours contracts as they are the only sort available and not what they choose to have.
Pensioners getting payments below the new tax threshold will gain nothing and neither will people needing benefits of any sort as they are below the level of paying tax.
It was a good budget in some ways for people paying tax but not for many other people.
I also wonder where are all these jobs that people on the new UC going to find? I know a couple of people trying hard to find a job and many are temporary besides being low paid.

Well said Nonnie
No budget will ever please everyone, but as others say, credit where it’s due.

I am not sure it is the Chancellors job to give extra help to people who choose to be in zero hours contracts, and most of them do choose. Also, everyone working full time will benefit from the extra tax allowance, which I mention to just give some perspective.

I think many of those using food banks do so because the benefits system is badly run. We are all reluctant to place the blame on the public servants who administer it and prefer to blame the politicians who brought it in but it seems to me that one benefit system which covers all benefits is better than several which would take a lot more administration. I don't claim to understand UC, but the principle seems good to me.

It is easy to see which posts are purely political and which are based upon what people really think of yesterday's budget. I am not fan of current politicians, whatever their party but I do think credit should be given when due and I think he gave something back this time.

I could complain as I don't drink beer and rarely spirits but I do drink wine, the only one he has increased duty on!

The budget and comments on these pages rather highlight that some people only read the headlines and not the full story.
The tax cuts will not help over a million assisted by Food banks, it amounts to £2=Pw for most tax payers and double figures for high earners, hardly fair, Little for Wales. No help for females losing their pension rights. Nothing to help millions of pensioners living below tax level, many in poverty. Yes, the more well off will be happy but not the disable, the vulnerable and those on zero contracts etc. Please do consider the plight of those far less fortunate than your self. It is good budget but not those not in need. The help promised to those on the edge of needing benefit support yet working on wages below tax threshold is a sham when you you look at the small print. No this budget does nothing to improve in equality in the UK, so don’t just take a selfish view, please look at the implications for those living in fear and depression of where their next meal is coming from.

Decent budget

Me too. Every little helps! ?

There will never be a Lib Dem government.
Especially after they went into coalition and broke their promises.

I really thought he would be putting just 1p or 2p on income tax though.
I don't think an extra £130 a year from raising the level at which we pay tax to £12,500 'loads of money'
Well, I'm pleased