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Briefing emails have been sent. Some were embargoed, so we have yet to be fed that tit-bit of information and then there are the daily announcements.
We know about the increase in National Insurance contributions to provide more money to the NHS and ... to the NHS and ... somewhere down the line, a bone will be thrown to Care. It will no doubt be re-announced.
They have hinted at a public sector pay increase - or will it be another badge? We are told to expect a new pay policy. Well, we need it! The freeze imposed last November, seems to have been one that does not "follow the market". Rishi sobbed said that it was "unfair" for public sector workers to get a pay rise while many of their private sector counterparts were being furloughed or losing their jobs and yet this government tells the business leaders that they must pay the rate needed to employ the Great British Worker. The usual "one rule for them and another for us" government view.
The old fashioned, rather Empire style economics of grind them down and let them starve was in full swing when they took the £20 back from the poorest. No doubt they will shout when, perhaps, they annouce they are giving it back. I do hope they are not so addicted to attacking the poorest that they keep it from them.
The increase to £9.50 for the minimum wage is a step toward the great declaration of £10 they want to make in the run-up to the next election. But you will still not be able to live on it without in-work benefits. So, how is it that this group of serial liars can call it the "living wage".
In the last few days, they have let out of the bag proposed policy on Transport, Families and Early Years and Education and Skills. And then there are briefings on Arts and Sports, Investment and Military Veterans.
Oh, for the return to parliamentary democracy.
I just wait until the media thrash it out then select my points of interest and angst.
Raising the minimum wage just puts more people into paying tax and makes them less eligible for universal credit. The only people to benefit are the government as they gain more tax and pay out less benefits. Prices have to go up to pay more wages, so nobody is any better off.
Why can’t we just have a simple system where anyone earning under 20k a year, just doesn’t pay any tax but neither do they receive benefits?
? all that you have posted ❤️
The £20 uplift in the Universal Credit was always declared as temporary.
By raising the minimum wage the government will actually save money in Universal Credit top up benefits. So it's to their advantage to keep rising it. Just a thought.
Scones
It's an idea Urnmstongran. So then we could have an unequal, unsustainable, emissions producing public sector full of people who are all exactly the same.
Doesn't really sound like a great place to work, a good example to society or a crucible of innovation and effectiveness.
Or we could just treat people fairly, look after the environment and billionaires could pay their tax.
Hmm....in my work experience all title that include: consultant/study/rationalisation/assistant/"under" something or other manager/executive/advisor(y)..... Having swallowed the unswallowable fees of consultants in 90s (at one folding firm) at a rate of £750/day?? when we were all losing our jobs(!) Yet these non-people still manage to screws ridiculous amount of dosh from companies under the lie that they have some secret knowledge that's worth a fortune that will solve all their ills!!! Consultants,my a®$€!!!!!
sazz1
By raising the minimum wage the government will actually save money in Universal Credit top up benefits. So it's to their advantage to keep rising it. Just a thought.
Exactly! Not only that, but the Treasury will receive about a third of it in income tax and NICs. The unemployed receiving UC don't get minimum wage anyway.
Fadingrose
Urmstongran, do you object to equality, sustainability, net zero, diversity and inclusivity?
With regard to paying taxes, there were thirty millionaires who challenged the government to tax them fairly and not to let lower income families bear the brunt
Sadly the government weren't interested in what they had to say
Fadingrose, having worked in the NHS I couldn’t agree with Urmstongran more.
The point being made is not that any of them may insignificant but the amount of resource and wasted time preaching about them, and paying lip service to tick boxes for some ‘senior’ manager to have their overpaid ‘roles’ justified.
That is the point, among with many similar stupidities throughout public and civil services.
Just a passing thought, how has Germany managed to have a high wage economy despite all its refugees? Back to the. Post, I think it’s the government leaking all the info on the budget to give us something else to think about other than Covid and the high number of infections.
lemongrove
Dropped snippets of info and speculation about Budget Day have been happening for a long time, right back to the days of Tony Blair.
Or....( could it possibly be?) just another government bashing exercise.
Snippets!?! Here is The Speaker's thought on this- and he is so right. So good to seem him put his foot down at last.
#ElderlyPerson I watched it too and he was very unimpressed!
Barmeyoldbat
Just a passing thought, how has Germany managed to have a high wage economy despite all its refugees? Back to the. Post, I think it’s the government leaking all the info on the budget to give us something else to think about other than Covid and the high number of infections.
One of the reasons Germany is a high wage economy is because it has had immigrant workers for decades, not in spite of them.
Make no mistake. There is discrimination and racism in Germany. However, from a financial point of view, immigrants have been (and continue to be) an asset to Germany.
When they first arrive, language can be a problem, so some of the immigrants do low skilled work, despite often being qualified to do more. As in the UK, Germans don't want to do the work, but immigrants will work hard to remain in their chosen country.
Once language barriers have been overcome, many immigrants have shown that they bring skills and expertise with them. The inventors of the Pfizer vaccine are a classic example.
Immigrants are generally younger than the average population and, by definition, are people who are prepared to take the initiative. Their taxes support older people and they are often entrepreneurial, open small businesses and contribute to the country's wealth.
Exactly growstuff I agree with every word you said, I just didn’t put it very well.
Barmeyoldbat
Just a passing thought, how has Germany managed to have a high wage economy despite all its refugees? Back to the. Post, I think it’s the government leaking all the info on the budget to give us something else to think about other than Covid and the high number of infections.
I agree with you Barmeyoldbat This is to draw attention away from something....perhaps the fact that the government have just voted to allow raw sewage to be poured into the waterways.
Kim19
I just wait until the media thrash it out then select my points of interest and angst.
Well that certainly won't be tomorrow. The truth is usually sorted from the froth within about a month.
Agreed, P
There is no public sector waste left to cut Urmstongran
I respectfully beg to differ PippaZ. Have you seen some of the job vacancies offered by local councils? And what about Sadiq Khan offering council money of £25k towards the changing of any street names? Profligate behaviour continues, by all councils. I think it might be like hospital Trusts or some charities - if the monies don’t get spent the amounts are culled the following year. Hence they throw money at ‘projects’. Silly too - when you think it’s taxpayer money.
Scones
Barmeyoldbat
Just a passing thought, how has Germany managed to have a high wage economy despite all its refugees? Back to the. Post, I think it’s the government leaking all the info on the budget to give us something else to think about other than Covid and the high number of infections.
I agree with you Barmeyoldbat This is to draw attention away from something....perhaps the fact that the government have just voted to allow raw sewage to be poured into the waterways.
Or Dido Harding’s Track & Trace.
Aided and abetted by Matt Hancock.
Jeez.
All this horror about raw sewage in seas and rivers. Where have you all been? It's been going on for years/ All over Europe.
www.waternewseurope.com/tourists-in-europe-are-swimming-in-raw-sewage-despite-blue-flags/
Urmstongran
^There is no public sector waste left to cut Urmstongran^
I respectfully beg to differ PippaZ. Have you seen some of the job vacancies offered by local councils? And what about Sadiq Khan offering council money of £25k towards the changing of any street names? Profligate behaviour continues, by all councils. I think it might be like hospital Trusts or some charities - if the monies don’t get spent the amounts are culled the following year. Hence they throw money at ‘projects’. Silly too - when you think it’s taxpayer money.
I live under a Labour Council. They are doing great things - for everyone. Four of our local Conservative councillors resigned from the Conservative Party a couple of years ago because they were so disgusted with the party and its shenanigans. The way Tories locally then behaved should have been worthy of a court case. But then the Tories think they can break any democratic rule, don't they. We certainly have enough proof of that.
There are some in our leafy market town who do not think the town gets it's "fair share". I doubt any of them would say the council is "profligate" though. They know how underfunded they have been by this Tory government. I didn't think you could avoid knowing that - obviously some have avoided it.
Do you live under one of the 33 London Councils? If you do, I am sure you know all about what they are responsible for and what the Mayor is. If you want to see what"profligate" actually means, I suggest you read today's report on Test and Trace.
Perhaps you could give a link to a recent job advert that has offended you. Or is it the case that you are simply offended by the man who is Mayor of London being Mayor of London for some reason?
I just can’t believe how much was spent on track and trace, it was billions, it just makes my blood boil.
Sadly, I think many have now factored it in as being part of the cost for having the Government they voted for. Some will never see because they don't want to Barmeyoldbat.
Track and trace will go down as one of the most costliest Government mistakes ever.
People tend to forget that High Wage economies,
also have High Costs for everything!
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