Labour and the Tories have disenfranchised me

It means that retired people who just about make ends meet will continue to do so, Maizie. I’m thankful that I am not one of those people, but I know that many on GN are. They are not a priority for Labour. Interestingly, Labour has as a priority the creation of wealth. Not for this demographic though.

Surprisingly, if its such a key Conservative policy, we are currently paying modest tax on SP?
Brought out and dusted down for elections.

Well, people disagree, GSM. On the "would you pay" thread, I'm one of the SP paying "yes's" as I think service provision ie NHS and social care both which we all rely on has to be maintained and it doesn't come free.

I said long before the election was announced that I believed there would be some tinkering with the tax threshold in the next budget. The considerable increase in SP in April as a result of the triple lock brought many pensioners into tax for the first time. Well, under Labour that will continue. Maybe Labour aren’t interested in our demographic because too many of us vote Conservative - albeit you wouldn’t know it from reading GN.

Germanshepherdsmum

It means that retired people who just about make ends meet will continue to do so, Maizie. I’m thankful that I am not one of those people, but I know that many on GN are. They are not a priority for Labour. Interestingly, Labour has as a priority the creation of wealth. Not for this demographic though.

Well, I am one of those people, so I speak with experience. I'm happy to pay a few pounds extra in income tax because my state pension increased more than other benefits. I'd far rather maintain public services.

I know you are not well off growstuff, but you do have a partner who is.

I may be cynical but paying extra taxes doesn't mean that money will go on public services. Once a government has your extra money it can use it as it wishes.

Except the LP has laid out how it will be spent in detail. See Manifesto.

AGAA4

I may be cynical but paying extra taxes doesn't mean that money will go on public services. Once a government has your extra money it can use it as it wishes.

That’s not cynical. That’s the truth. I’ve read many posts about what hasn’t happened to money collected.

Germanshepherdsmum

I know you are not well off growstuff, but you do have a partner who is.

Who doesn't contribute anything to my finances (I wouldn't take it even if he offered).

Wyllow3

Except the LP has laid out how it will be spent in detail. See Manifesto.

Promises can and often are broken once party gains power.

AGAA4

Wyllow3

Except the LP has laid out how it will be spent in detail. See Manifesto.

Promises can and often are broken once party gains power.

Which goes for any party. Why focus just on Labour?

growstuff I didn't focus on Labour. This is true of any party that gains power.

True. Do understand. But I think that the last few years has reduced any trust going - and we have to start afresh at some point and make a jump and vote.

My heart sinks at the ever reducing people coming out to vote and do understand why.

I don't expect any party to carry out exactly whats promised if circumstances change in a way that could not have been predicted - its when they betray it altogether and it turns out to have been an "election special"

I don't know how the Conservatives can justify any "election specials". They've had 14 years to do their "special" stuff, which is partly why the country is in such a mess.

Obviously I don't pay NI any more, but if I'm correct, they were the ones who raised it and now have reduced it. Eh?

To be honest, I don't even know what they're promising apart from Rwanda and some half-baked conscription plan.

It’s about the same length of time since the country got fed up of Labour and voted the Conservatives.
Plus ça change . . .

I'm not sure what Labour stands for and who they represent nowadays. I'm sure it's not the platform for the working classes Keir Hardie envisioned in 1900.

Equally I can say the same for the Conservative Party.

Everything evolves and society has changed exponentially since the early days of both but they both seem very far removed from what I thought they stood for.

Many supporting Labour in whatever capacity send their children to fee paying schools, seek out private medicine and embody champagne socialism.

The Conservative Party seem to only draw on the elite and the financially and socially privileged to lead them. At Least Disraeli did try for some social reform but this current bunch of clowns have blatantly displayed a lack of integrity and are completely out of touch with how the majority of the population live on a day to day basis.

I really do find it to be a personal and moral dilemma to choose who would get my vote.

If anyone believes the labours charges will not mean more taxes don’t be fooled. First thing will be Inheritance Tax, theirs will be sorted by clever accounting. Charges increased by stealth, purchasing property or road tax etc. Be realistic where else can they get it. As for the NHS, doctors still striking.

And of course anyone who only has SP will be paying tax under Labour because they have refused to match the Conservatives’ promise in that regard. It is not lost on me that Labour constantly say they are the party for working people. I hope people on GN who have to live on a SP heed those words, and the refusal to stop them paying tax

Please show your workings out, GSM, because mine show that at 3% state pension increases, this would not happen until the 2028-29 financial year and then only if the personal allowance remained frozen (which both Labour and the Tories have said won’t happen).

At 5% increases, those on just a state pension would be drawn into paying tax in 26-7, paying 77p per week/£40 per year. This assumes no action is taken to ameliorate this, which I think is unlikely (but, of course, possible).

How any government can ever justify pensioners paying tax on the state pension is beyond me. The state pension is less than half what would be earned on the minimum wage on a 35 hour week!

Due to my late husband paying into contracted out contributions, years ago, and what I paid in, I receive an “enhanced” state pension.

I was dragged into paying tax on just my SP last April.

It’s paid via my private pensions.🤷‍♀️

maddyone

How any government can ever justify pensioners paying tax on the state pension is beyond me. The state pension is less than half what would be earned on the minimum wage on a 35 hour week!

Pensioners in receipt of the basic state pension don't (yet) pay income tax. If they pay tax, it's because the pension is enhanced (eg SERPs) or they have other income, including form occupational pensions.

*from (not form)

According to stopthetories.vote I should be voting for the SNP in my constituency. As I could never, ever vote SNP, is spoiling my paper the only option??

Allsorts

If anyone believes the labours charges will not mean more taxes don’t be fooled. First thing will be Inheritance Tax, theirs will be sorted by clever accounting. Charges increased by stealth, purchasing property or road tax etc. Be realistic where else can they get it. As for the NHS, doctors still striking.

Well, that won't affect many people.