Labour and the Tories have disenfranchised me

growstuff where do you get the idea that doctors striking won’t affect many people? Isn’t it partly the reason for huge logjams in the NHS?

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

They’re the sort of figures I read - so minimal amounts really.

I’m a pensioner and already pay tax but I have several friends who are on the SP only, so currently not paying tax. Every one of them says they absolutely don’t mind paying some tax to keep our public services going.

I rarely talk Politics with some friends but had coffee this morning with my friend who spent her whole adult career as a nurse in the Army, then NHS. Her husband has the same background. They are now retired.

She brought it up and I was quite surprised when she said they would both be horrified if Labour got in. She had just spent a lovely long weekend away with a large group of former nurses and none of them want Labour in either.

As I said yesterday I have not met a single person who wants Labour in and there are no Labour posters up anywhere around here.

growstuff

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).

I understand. The point I was making, too hastily as I was about to go out and therefore clumsily, for which I apologise, is that you are not alone in this world. You have someone who wouldn’t let you starve, who will treat you sometimes. We have posters on GN who are widowed and have no income other than their state pension and whatever benefits their low income entitles them to. One who I often think of - I won’t name her but I will I hope not be the only one who remembers her - has a husband in a care home. She has to manage the matrimonial home alone and when it’s cold she goes to bed. Sometimes the care home ask her to visit her husband during the night because he is distressed. She walks two miles there and two miles back in darkness because there is no bus at night and she can’t afford a taxi. Not having to pay tax on her pension would help her - and her plight is by no means unique. Labour could have raised the tax threshold for pensioners, as the Conservatives will - but they refused. Pensioners are not one of their ‘priorities’

Isn’t it partly the reason for huge logjams in the NHS?

NHS waiting lists had doubled before Covid, and long before the strikes.

It’s hard to quantify the cost or effec of the strikes, but this is informative
www.nhsconfed.org/articles/did-covid-19-and-nhs-strikes-cause-elective-care-backlog

I repeat: please show your figures for your claims, GSM. What are you assuming the pension rise to be in the 2025-26 and the two subsequent years?

Also, of course, it’s the Tory fiscal drag policy that has pulled people on just over the basic state pension into paying tax for the first time, and they could have taken action to ameliorate that, but chose not to.

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!

Frightening!

growstuff

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.

Changes to IHT could affect a very great many people. Potentially anyone who owns their own home except in areas where house prices are very low. There are, as Allsorts says, many other taxes - fuel duty, ‘road tax’, duty on alcohol and tobacco, stamp duty. As regards the latter, Starmer said today that building another 1.5m homes would allow more people to buy. What absolute rubbish. At least the Conservatives have said they will abolish stamp duty for first time buyers, up to £450k. From Starmer - we will change the planning system. How many times have we heard that? So easy to say. Anyone believing that what Starmer says will enable them to get on the housing ladder is in for a big disappointment.

At least the Conservatives have said they will abolish stamp duty for first time buyers, up to £450k

Of course, first time buyers already don’t pay stamp duty on property up to £425k so not much change there!

*First Time Buyer Stamp Duty:
First Time Buyers don't pay Stamp Duty on properties worth up to £425,000*

From ‘Complete Guide to Stamp Duty’

Germanshepherdsmum

growstuff

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.

Changes to IHT could affect a very great many people. Potentially anyone who owns their own home except in areas where house prices are very low. There are, as Allsorts says, many other taxes - fuel duty, ‘road tax’, duty on alcohol and tobacco, stamp duty. As regards the latter, Starmer said today that building another 1.5m homes would allow more people to buy. What absolute rubbish. At least the Conservatives have said they will abolish stamp duty for first time buyers, up to £450k. From Starmer - we will change the planning system. How many times have we heard that? So easy to say. Anyone believing that what Starmer says will enable them to get on the housing ladder is in for a big disappointment.

"In the tax year 2020 to 2021, 3.73% of UK deaths resulted in an Inheritance Tax (IHT)"

www.gov.uk/government/statistics/inheritance-tax-statistics-commentary/inheritance-tax-statistics-commentary

As I wrote, not many.

There's one tax which could be reformed and apparently would bring in about £8bn, namely abolishing higher rate tax relief on pension contributions. The highest earners currently receive a higher subsidy on their contributions than basic rate taxpayers.

LizzieDrip

*First Time Buyer Stamp Duty:
First Time Buyers don't pay Stamp Duty on properties worth up to £425,000*

From ‘Complete Guide to Stamp Duty’

Blimey! What kind of first-time buyer buys a property for over £425,000?

I'm absolutely fine about taxes on alcohol and tobacco being increased.

growstuff

I'm absolutely fine about taxes on alcohol and tobacco being increased.

I’m not fine about tax on alcohol and tobacco being increased, if I’m honest.

As for £425,000, you would barely get a starter home around here for that.🤷‍♀️

growstuff

Germanshepherdsmum

growstuff

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.

Changes to IHT could affect a very great many people. Potentially anyone who owns their own home except in areas where house prices are very low. There are, as Allsorts says, many other taxes - fuel duty, ‘road tax’, duty on alcohol and tobacco, stamp duty. As regards the latter, Starmer said today that building another 1.5m homes would allow more people to buy. What absolute rubbish. At least the Conservatives have said they will abolish stamp duty for first time buyers, up to £450k. From Starmer - we will change the planning system. How many times have we heard that? So easy to say. Anyone believing that what Starmer says will enable them to get on the housing ladder is in for a big disappointment.

"In the tax year 2020 to 2021, 3.73% of UK deaths resulted in an Inheritance Tax (IHT)"

www.gov.uk/government/statistics/inheritance-tax-statistics-commentary/inheritance-tax-statistics-commentary

As I wrote, not many.

You are looking at estates subject to IHT under current rules. The point is that Labour could sweep away current reliefs at a stroke. I fully expect that will do so.

growstuff

LizzieDrip

*First Time Buyer Stamp Duty:
First Time Buyers don't pay Stamp Duty on properties worth up to £425,000*

From ‘Complete Guide to Stamp Duty’

Blimey! What kind of first-time buyer buys a property for over £425,000?

Plenty. My son was one of them, and that was a good few years ago. London prices.

First time buyers all buy property at £425,000 and over.

In London, I meant to say.

I have always voted, never missed a single election of any kind - as others have said, women fought so hard for our right to vote.

I haven't decided who to vote for yet, will have a good look at the manifestos but am edging towards the Green Party.

maddyone

First time buyers all buy property at £425,000 and over.

Maybe in London, but there are many millions of people who don't live in London.

Germanshepherdsmum

growstuff

LizzieDrip

*First Time Buyer Stamp Duty:
First Time Buyers don't pay Stamp Duty on properties worth up to £425,000*

From ‘Complete Guide to Stamp Duty’

Blimey! What kind of first-time buyer buys a property for over £425,000?

Plenty. My son was one of them, and that was a good few years ago. London prices.

Well, yipppeee! What about the rest of the population? They don't seem to matter in your little bubble.

DiamondLily

growstuff

I'm absolutely fine about taxes on alcohol and tobacco being increased.

I’m not fine about tax on alcohol and tobacco being increased, if I’m honest.

As for £425,000, you would barely get a starter home around here for that.🤷‍♀️

Well, buy somewhere cheaper!

I’m sorry but I think some of you are missing my point!

My point isn’t about the cost of a house for first time buyers. It’s that Sunak has made a big thing of saying that in his manifesto he’s introduced the policy that first time buyers won’t pay stamp duty up to £450k. But they already don’t pay stamp duty up to £425k!

So, he’s arguably misleading people into thinking this is a new ‘tax cutting’ policy! It’s not!!!

Primrose53

I rarely talk Politics with some friends but had coffee this morning with my friend who spent her whole adult career as a nurse in the Army, then NHS. Her husband has the same background. They are now retired.

She brought it up and I was quite surprised when she said they would both be horrified if Labour got in. She had just spent a lovely long weekend away with a large group of former nurses and none of them want Labour in either.

As I said yesterday I have not met a single person who wants Labour in and there are no Labour posters up anywhere around here.

That struck with me too, an ex Army nurse who worked with me in our local hospital, yes there are many of us despite what an ignorant young man said on Sky last night, he said the only decent payrise he got whilst in the Army, was from a Conservative gov. He's never voted Labour. I never have either, not always Conservative, but never Labour.