"Levelling up" ? - not yet!

Higher wages = rise in prices = inflation which hits those whose wages haven’t gone up - why doesn’t the government offer higher wages to workers it pays which are in short supply? nurses , teachers , doctors….. Instead it’s cutting UC to the poorest in society - not much sign of levelling up of those people is there?

Biden has just got through a bill for trillions of dollars to do just what he said.

Biden seems to understand that putting money into the economy has good economic returns. The problem with the UK's promised levelling up money is that it won't have much effect if it is cancelled out by Sunak's planned big cuts in less spectacular public spending and by tax increases for the poorest paid. It'll be like icing a dummy cake. All show and no substance.

But while people go on believing that taxation funds spending and that the covid money has to be 'paid back' to an entirely fictitious and unspecified lender I expect the populace will just grin and bear it...

Urmstongran

Biden is doing ‘Build Back Better’ too in the USA. Who was first?

Many societies are unequal. It must feel hard to belong to a group who feel unheard and under represented. I dare say any improvements will be welcomed by those communities. If they feel their lives have been enhanced they will vote accordingly at the next GE. If not, ditto but in the other direction I suppose.

? the difference between Biden and Johnson is that Biden means what he says. Johnson just likes the soundbite, and has made no effort towards it whatsoever, whereas Biden has just got through a bill for trillions of dollars to do just what he said.

I too agree about a proper minimum wage PippaZ requiring no ‘top ups’ such as UC. Why should the taxpayer have to prop up a business that pays substandard wages?

I hate hearing the bleating on tv when a small business owner complains they can’t afford to pay their staff an enhanced rate. I find myself asking ‘ought you to have your own business dear?’.

These awful people wouldn’t like it if their own families had to manage on what they pay their workers.

Morally reprehensible in my opinion.

It’s words. And after hearing what Boris has had to say on various issues in the last few weeks, I wouldn’t trust him or his crew with watering my houseplants, never mind anything else.

PippaZ - sorry, I've only just seen your post and have posted a new thread in a similar vein. I think your solution to the problem of businesses making excessive profits off the back of government-subsidised workers is a very good one.

Biden is doing ‘Build Back Better’ too in the USA. Who was first?

Many societies are unequal. It must feel hard to belong to a group who feel unheard and under represented. I dare say any improvements will be welcomed by those communities. If they feel their lives have been enhanced they will vote accordingly at the next GE. If not, ditto but in the other direction I suppose.

Levelling up is like 'Build Back Better', just words. Wasn't it acknowledged that the bulk of the previous lot of money went to Tory seats? 39 out of the 45 constituencies I believe. Frankly, anyone who believes anything this administration says needs to have a long hard look at themselves, maybe after they have spoken to Father Christmas and the tooth fairy.

Urmstongran

I think firms offering higher wages is a form of levelling up and a step in the right direction.

Not if they go out of business.

However, I have always felt it should be businesses that apply for benefits. We should have a proper minimum wage, not one that requires further benefits. Any company that says it can't afford it should be able to apply for grants/loans. To get money from the government they would have to submit all the business accounts and an account of all salaries and any other costs attached to each person in the company.

midgey

There can be no levelling up as it is totally undefined.

Exactly.

Welcome if it's happening and without compensating redundancies, but this has nothing to do with the £220m for deprived communities, Urmstongran. The OP makes a very valid point.

I think firms offering higher wages is a form of levelling up and a step in the right direction.

If ever allocated the money will have numerous strings attached that weren't mentioned when bids were invited and it will be allocated where thought to be politically advantageous.

There can be no levelling up as it is totally undefined.

There will be no levelling up.