An election looms, so I think it is time to look at all the success over the 13 years that we have witnessed from the government.

I saw a newspaper report this morning where legitimate lawyers were complaining how dangerous it is for the Government to use such inflammatory language e.g. 'leftie lawyers'. They now fear attacks because of these dog whistle comments.
And now, people are having to vacate the barge. Who will get the blame for this? Who put pressure on the barge managers, to not wait for the lab result?
Never mind what you thinks about these immigration issues, does anyone think this Government is actually competent enough to deal with it?
Which brings us back to the original post.
This incompetence is one of the things still being brought to us, in so many departments. Therese Coffey and the sewage issue? Dominic Raab, and the sea was closed? Matt Hancock and the PPE scandals, Graylings 'ghost ships'.

maremia yes the lawyers were Tory supporters, the government is treading on dangerous territory it would seem.

Wealth is having more than you need for your day to day life, it may be a little or may be a great deal. I would say that if the house is paid for and you have a good pension you are pretty wealthy, your assets are likely to be over half a million.

In my experience empathy is less the wealthier you are, you are isolated from the poor you shop at Waitrose not Lidl, your kids go to a nice school, maybe private. You might help out in a charity shop, most dont get involved beyond that.
When we die most don’t donate to help the poor they donate to an animal charity or medical research.

Although we don’t want to admit it most of us are thinking “No Bread let them eat cake”

My will contains a number of charitable bequests and I make regular donations to the same charities - all for the benefit of animals, who by and large I find infinitely preferable to humans.
However no Waitrose round here and my son went to a state school.
It’s impossible to generalise.

you are isolated from the poor you shop at Waitrose not Lidl

What about people who shop at both?
Lidl first then on to Waitrose to top up as we did yesterday?
Perhaps we and everyone we know who do this are just odd.

It’s impossible to generalise
I'll agree with that.

Forgive me for the following generalisation. It is a commonly held belief that as one grows older and richer one tends to vote Conservative.

I was attacked once on a forum when I wrote that I was an accountant, lived in a nice house and had a fairly comfortable life and that I voted Labour. I was told in no uncertain terms that I should be a Tory in order to protect the assets that I had.

Thankfully, there are many people out there who are comfortably off and possibly retired professionals who do not support the Tories. With a bit of luck their numbers will be diminishing.

Not in this house they won’t.
Actually I have always voted Conservative, other than when I voted for Blair. It isn’t a trait I’ve developed as I’ve got older and better off. Do you deny that Labour would seek to redistribute whatever assets people have acquired?

Germanshepherdsmum

Not in this house they won’t.
Actually I have always voted Conservative, other than when I voted for Blair. It isn’t a trait I’ve developed as I’ve got older and better off. Do you deny that Labour would seek to redistribute whatever assets people have acquired?

Labour would certainly seek to level up so that the most disadvantaged are able to live decent lives, which they can’t at present. The Tories promised to do that too, remember? That is a humanitarian policy which in a developed society we should all support. They want to target the top 1% wealthiest people and companies who don’t pay their due, to make sure tax loopholes are closed.
There’s no evidence that the economy fares worse under Labour Governments than under Tory Governments however, so I wouldn’t worry too much.

Germanshepherdsmum

Not in this house they won’t.
Actually I have always voted Conservative, other than when I voted for Blair. It isn’t a trait I’ve developed as I’ve got older and better off. Do you deny that Labour would seek to redistribute whatever assets people have acquired?

Eg the money from people with nom dom status ?

^ Do you deny that Labour would seek to redistribute whatever assets people have really aboutacquired?^

Not the current Labour lot, GSM. I wouldn't worry about them.

It's not really about redistribution of current assets as far as I am concerned. The government continually puts new money into the economy. I see no reason why it shouldn't try to ensure that those who have least get a better share of it, by e.g progressive taxation and reclaiming more from those who currently are able to pay a smaller percentage of tax on their wealth than those who just pay income tax and VAT. Or by capping excessive profits, executive pay, bankers' bonuses etc.

I know you will disagree with me.

GrannyGravy13

Fleurpepper any examples of me attacking posters ?

I thought we had just been discussing one.

Higher income, capital gains, dividend and inheritance taxes. I see all of that coming with a Labour government.

GrannyGravy13

Fleurpepper any examples of me attacking posters ?

Unfortunately on this site it is not possible to look back - so apologies if I have made a mistake, I will admit that I often mistake you for another poster, who is constantly making personal attacks, on me in particular.

So my sincere apologies if it does not apply to you.

Dinahmo 'Thankfully, there are many people out there who are comfortably off and possibly retired professionals who do not support the Tories. With a bit of luck their numbers will be diminishing'

did you mean 'increasing' - this is what I hope.

Germanshepherdsmum

Higher income, capital gains, dividend and inheritance taxes. I see all of that coming with a Labour government.

I’m sure you’re right, but we don’t vote selfishly because we are in the fortunate position of being affected by those things because we are already relatively wealthy so will be personally impacted, do we?

Don’t we?

Germanshepherdsmum

Don’t we?

Well I can only speak for myself, but no, I don’t because I accept that we’ve got to help those who are less fortunate than we are. I’ll still be lucky in comparison so I count my blessings, and those of my family.

DaisyAnneReturns

GrannyGravy13

Fleurpepper any examples of me attacking posters ?

I thought we had just been discussing one.

Not at all, I disagreed with a post made by a poster and posted as such.

At no time did I attack the poster.

Ideally of course, a government would 'level-up' without stifling entrepreneurs, business and investment.

The first requirement would be a government that actually wanted to do that.

I'm not an economist (patently obvious) and have no idea how any government could balance such an act - but I sure as heck don't believe this current one has the slightest interest nor intent in that direction. They appear for the most part to be a bunch of self-serving, sometimes incompetent, individuals.

How Labour would perform under Starmer is anyone's guess. I don't think he's a 'leftie' in the traditional, working-class, sense, and some people think he's shrewd. But rather him than me - if he forms the next government, he's going to have a heck of a job on his hands - and he's going to have to run with both hares and hounds to a large extent (IMO).

Kate59
I can’t speak for other areas but your assumption couldn’t be more wrong in my area, Southend.
Waitrose is a spit away from the largest social Housing estate in Southend.
You could buy this house and walk to Lidl in 5 minutes.

assets.savills.com/properties/GBLHCHLAC160019/LAC160019_CHS18005922.PDF

GrannyGravy13

DaisyAnneReturns

GrannyGravy13

Fleurpepper any examples of me attacking posters ?

I thought we had just been discussing one.

Not at all, I disagreed with a post made by a poster and posted as such.

At no time did I attack the poster.

Calling someone "rude" is a personal attack, just as any name calling is. Nothing was said that was in any way impolite or discourteous towards you.

Just becase you disagree with a post does not mean someone is being "rude", nor does it mean you - or they - are right. It just means you disagree. Disagreements can be discussed: name calling makes discussion very difficult and is almost certainly outside GN rules.

MerylStreep

Kate59
I can’t speak for other areas but your assumption couldn’t be more wrong in my area, Southend.
Waitrose is a spit away from the largest social Housing estate in Southend.
You could buy this house and walk to Lidl in 5 minutes.

assets.savills.com/properties/GBLHCHLAC160019/LAC160019_CHS18005922.PDF

If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it!

DaisyAnneReturns

GrannyGravy13

DaisyAnneReturns

GrannyGravy13

Fleurpepper any examples of me attacking posters ?

I thought we had just been discussing one.

Not at all, I disagreed with a post made by a poster and posted as such.

At no time did I attack the poster.

Calling someone "rude" is a personal attack, just as any name calling is. Nothing was said that was in any way impolite or discourteous towards you.

Just becase you disagree with a post does not mean someone is being "rude", nor does it mean you - or they - are right. It just means you disagree. Disagreements can be discussed: name calling makes discussion very difficult and is almost certainly outside GN rules.

DaisyAnneReturns

I have NEVER called a poster rude.

But if it makes you feel superior to carry on attacking me for something I haven’t done feel free…

If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it!
Exactly. Who looks at the labels before buying?

Germanshepherdsmum

Higher income, capital gains, dividend and inheritance taxes. I see all of that coming with a Labour government.

I've no problem if income, capital gains, dividend tax rates need to go up a bit. If for example, income tax was 50% over 250k and Capital gains tax was max 35% - apart from people being unhappy, good progress.

I see no reason to 'redistribute assets' upon which tax has already been paid - Inheritance tax is quite unpopular with me.