Sunak due to announce new financial measures, at 11am today.

LizzieDrip

^A lot of people will blow a cash payment on booze, cigarettes etc^

What an incredibly patronising statement Urmstongran.

Maybe so, but probably true. No-one is saying everyone will do this, but 'a lot of people' is probably accurate. Unless you have proof it is not true you cannot argue with this statement. Some people cannot manage money and spend it as soon as it comes their way. It's no good pretending otherwise.

Rameses

Germanshepherdsmum

Some people are never satisfied. They complain nothing’s being done. They complain when something is done.

No, they complain (because they realise) that there was never any need for us to have been in the situation we are in in the first place, with a competent government and prime minister.

How exactly could any UK government have prevented the current global problems which are affecting us? Food shortages and prices? Fuel prices? Pray tell.

Even criminal barristers would have been called on for advice and opinions when the criminal courts weren't sitting.

* maddyone* yes he’s a criminal barrister so didn’t work during the period when there weren’t any jury trials. Now he’s got work stacking up.

I can't speak for the civil service, but as a retired lawyer I have contacts with those still working. Despite the fact that some admin staff couldn't do their jobs from home, my son's firm for instance decided it would be morally wrong to make any claims. A lot of lawyers actually did remarkably well during the pandemic and had profits aplenty to pay those who couldn't wfh. But nevertheless there were those who took the money as well as the profits.

At the end of the day Sunak did what he had to do, he simply had to give a hand out. £15bn is peanuts compared with that spent on Brexit and Covid, The BoE will just print some more money to cover it.

Windfall tax will maybe contribute some but companies have a habit of getting out of taxation.

vegansrock

I have a barrister friend who received several payments of £7000 from the self employed grant as he couldn’t work during the pandemic. He blew it all on buying antiques.

My son’s a barrister. He worked throughout the pandemic. He worked from home. He did trials from home by video. Not jury trials, but trials where only a judge/judges make a judgment. He didn’t take a penny from the government but worked all through. I suspect any barristers not working would be criminal barristers or barristers who work in courts with a jury, but many barristers simply worked from home. Very successfully.

Germanshepherdsmum

Their employers were getting it.

GSM could you explain please?
My DS worked throughout the pandemic for the civil service. My DD worked as a teacher. Both wfh. Are you saying their employers were getting furlough for them?

Germanshepherdsmum

Some people are never satisfied. They complain nothing’s being done. They complain when something is done.

No, they complain (because they realise) that there was never any need for us to have been in the situation we are in in the first place, with a competent government and prime minister.

Their employers were getting it.

LizzieDrip

^They allow things to get bad for people so they can then make things better. It’s like being in an abusive relationship isn’t it^

Exactly MayBe!!! Johnson is a narcissistic, controlling, gaslighting bully. This government is abusing its people; grinding us down then throwing us a crumb and ‘demanding’ that we’re grateful! Definitely the MO of an abusive relationship

Couldn't have said it better

raking*

The people wfh were being paid their salary they weren't getting furlough. They certainly weren't taking it in.

It was those that couldn't work at all who were getting furlough money.

A lot of law firms received furlough money. Some had the good grace not to claim it as money was being raked in by people wfh.

I also know people vegansrock who received the self employed payments and carried on with paid work. Mostly tradesmen for friends, family or in empty houses.

I have a barrister friend who received several payments of £7000 from the self employed grant as he couldn’t work during the pandemic. He blew it all on buying antiques.

Some people, of all ages, will waste this money, without a doubt.

'Twas ever thus.

But, they will only get it once, and if they waste it, then they will have to live with the consequences of continuing to struggle when the bills come in.

We didn't particularly need this 'windfall', but it will be used wisely.

Some may waste the money but that’s their problem, unless of course they do so to the detriment of their dependants. Maybe giving it in instalments rather than a big dollop would help those who are hopeless at budgeting.

Kate 1949, I couldn't agree more. There is no evidence to support this allegation. I taught in an area of high deprivation, and most parents displayed considerable resourcefulness: not all, of course. Some parents were foolish, as are some pensioners, some wealthy people etc;

I don't think we should assume that because people are on benefits that they will spend it on booze and cigarettes.

They’re doing this to help people fgs. I for one am very pleased though I don’t need the money.

I think that from what I heard, the measures seem sensible and will go in part to alleviate the rising costs for many struggling households. Pensioners who missed out on the recent payments based on council tax bands will now get the extra winter fuel payment and the £400 energy grant, no longer a loan to be repaid. Even though prices are rising in lots of areas, £700 will help a little.

The £650 for low income families is more than I was expecting, add that to the energy grant and they get £1050 in total. I am sure most families will use it wisely to help with some of the cost of living increases. I hope that the ceiling for the lowest income payments covers those in low paid work as well as those on benefits as sometimes such families miss out on financial support.

For me, I’m only going to receive the £400 as I think I will miss out on the winter fuel allowance by a matter of weeks, I will be 66 at the beginning of October but I don’t think I claim my pension until 66 and three months. However, I’m fortunate not to struggle to pay my energy bills as I have a couple of private pensions and investments which I was able to save as a teacher. I know my children are worried about the cost of their bills and mortgages so I might need to help them out as well.

I’m not commenting on the timing of the measures or any other political matters, I’ve just looked at the money to see who will benefit - I hope I’ve understood the announcement correctly.

They're doing this to try and dig themselves out of a big black hole whilst trying to build a smoke screen to hide behind.
What a deceitful, self serving bunch the members of this government are.
Bunch of ignorant idiots, not a brain between them.

A lot of people will blow a cash payment on booze, cigarettes etc

What an incredibly patronising statement Urmstongran.

Germanshepherdsmum

Some people are never satisfied. They complain nothing’s being done. They complain when something is done.

Everyone is happy to have more money I expect. Its just that most of us are aware that its "bribery".