Who do you believe: Sunak or the IMF?

Wyllow3

I believe this to be true, tho I have only knowing people evidence: and I'm talking people at the bottom of the "heap" not actual figures.

I don't condemn those people as a whole group, some individuals are acting in what is a criminal and damaging way (especially where illegal drugs are involved: others, just trying somehow or other to get by.

Question is, how to approach this? what are the causes? How to reach the desperate "trying to get by's" and lift them out?

But it's not true! People might survive from dealing on the black market, but they still pay tax, whether they like it or not.

Oh, yes, that's true, you can't be totally out of it just chunks. Relative to lifestyle.

I'm thinking *growstuff" of the "swap" economy, also ease of purchase of some illegal goods. But lots of dangers for the vulnerable, ie if you "owe".

Of course it's possible to escape some forms of tax. People in babysitting circles do it all the time. However, it really is impossible in the UK to escape paying some form of tax, which is why we are all taxpayers, even pensioners surviving on the basic state pension.

Growstuff I can’t understand where your argument is going. Pensioners surviving on the basic state pension are entitled to a number of benefits as you must know. Have you costed this in ?

Also there are a number of ways not to pay vat legally. Use a home hairdresser and there’s no vat because business receipts below £85k are vat exempt for example. Same applies to cleaners.

Use a library and save on the cost of books and newspapers. Use your oap bus pass and in London a freedom pass for free travel so no vat on fuel, cars, car maintenance and no road tax. Walk if still possible.

Given the growing ageing population, the exodus of young talent and having lived through a two year pandemic plus now a war with Russia on the horizon, it’s going to be interesting.