Sick of Starmer relentlessly using the words"difficult " & "painful"

This is interesting, if a bit out of date.
www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/personalandhouseholdfinances/incomeandwealth/bulletins/totalwealthingreatbritain/april2018tomarch2020

Am I right in thinking that the Pension Credit tops you up to a figure below which you would officially be considered to be living in poverty?

If that is correct then those pensioners who are maybe £1 or £2 above it are most certainly going to struggle when the energy price cap increases next month - they are living just above the 'poverty line'. Especially those on the old State Pension who will not get the £900 increase, but considerably less. They are quite likely to be more frail and therefore less physically able to adapt to cold temperatures.

If that is one of the first painful decisions taken - which it appears was made without a proper impact assessment (though the DWP did issue one - of sorts), then it does not bode well for anyone, old or young, on a low wage / income. Because it is they who will feel the pain.

However, we cannot expect the very wealthy to bear the burden - as has been pointed out on here, they are small in number so their contribution would be minimal. And anyway, if they have to pay more taxes, they will do a Charlie Mullins and scarper to more tax-friendly countries - and jolly well make sure we know about it!

I can't help but question why there is such a huge wealth-gap anyway? Why is so much wealth concentrated in the hands of so few? Why is an executive paid 400 times more than one of his employees - without employees, there would be nothing for an executive to 'execute' anyway? Why are massive profits untouchable? Why have we allowed wages to stagnate over the last 15 years or so?

If people have no disposable income to spend - will that grow our economy? Surely we will eat less, buy less, do less? I don't think businesses will invest and expand if there are relatively few people buying. I don't believe austerity works very well in that respect.

The state pension will go up next April due to the triple lock, not because the Labour Party have any concept of social conscience.

I too am only just over the threshold to qualify for Pension Credit. Aren’t I lucky to be old enough for a bus pass, and lucky to live alone so my council tax is only 75% of that paid by a couple (and it’s still a quarter of my income each month).

Genuinely lucky, though, in innumerable ways that no government can influence, and I never forget that.

It’s the people who deny that this country is in a terrible state, with diminished public services, increased poverty, a reduced role in Europe and on the world stage as a result of years of misrule who are in denial eazybee. At least people who voted Labour did so with the hope of a better future for the population as a whole.

If Starmer fails to stop the benefits being paid to those that don’t need (them) he will fail to revive the economy. The Tory newspapers have had a assassination campaign against his new policies, gullible voters are influenced, it doesn’t have to be accurate, if you say it often enough it will be believed.

It is the Labour voters who are the gullible ones.
No evidence has been produced to show this black hole Labour claim to have discovered; (I believe the Treasury refused a request for actual figures). Reeves, Rayner and others are claiming energy allowances on top of their large salaries, and Starmer needs donations to afford new suits, reading glasses and apparently new dresses to clothe his wife, who as far as I am aware took very little part in his campaign, simply appearing as arm-candy.
Not surprising his approval ratings have plummeted. But be careful what you wish for; he is trying to show how tough he is because he knows his successors will be far worse.

Only people with very little money get a state pension here. It is means tested. The problem is for those, like us, who just miss out and therefore have to pay full rates on everything. Puts us in a similar position,I suppose ,as those who actually get it all paid for. The rich don’t care anyway.

I don't actually know the figures for MPs' expenses - the sum may well be comparatively small for items like subsidised food and alcohol, and energy costs.

Because we are self-employed and work in our own homes, my childminder colleagues and I can offset a certain percentage of our household expenses against tax.

This year I'm pondering whether my restorative evening glass of wine could also be included? 🍷🤞

Our usual, tongue in cheek, way of deciding an expenses question is to ask ourselves, "What would an MP do...?" 🤔

Somehow I don't think HMRC would accept it in our case 🤨

Lovetopaint037

David49

It is “difficult” making voters understand benefit have to be paid for, it is going to be “painful” for us to loose the payouts we have become used to.

If Starmer fails to stop the benefits being paid to those that don’t need he will fail to revive the economy. The Tory newspapers have had a assasination campaign against his new policies, gullible voters are influenced, it doesn’t have to be accurate, if you say it often enough it will be believed.

Spot on David49.

As the State Pension is called a benefit would you include that in the benefits which could be removed at any time to those, for example, who paid into works pension schemes? ie means tested?

Should those receive benefits because they work part-time have the benefit removed to encourage them to work full-time?

BigBopper

Has anyone seen this video on You Tube. It is great. The Anti Starmer comedy song. It has gone viral and says it all.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANM_l-xJCr8

They didn’t get the tune right, and the singers sound American!

This one made me laugh too.

BigBopper

Has anyone seen this video on You Tube. It is great. The Anti Starmer comedy song. It has gone viral and says it all.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANM_l-xJCr8

Very, very clever and funny video BigBopper cheers.

David49

Oreo

Tho they have to be allowed time to change things I agree that they haven’t covered themselves with glory so far.
I disagree that taking away benefits will revive the economy!
Politicians always blame the other lot for everything of course but there’s only so many times they can go on saying it and I’d say that time is here already, so no more mention of black holes if you please Sir Keir.

WFA is a small first step and it was announced early to give warning I don’t think they could have done much else.

You loose £ 200 but pension is increasing by £900, if you really are in difficulties claim pension credit. Others, look out for your relatives and neighbours.

Oh David49, you need to get your facts right. I am on the old state pension plus I have a small private pension and am another one just over the threshold. I have not worked out my potential increase but it might be £300 for the year

Any serps add-ons etc attached to the old pension are not changed via triple lock, they are just inflation based

The gap is widening with each year so please don`t place all pensioners into the £900 increase category

Casdon

Dickens

Casdon

I’m sick and tired of the whinging rather than of Starmer, because he is right. It is going to be difficult and painful.

Casdon

I’m sick and tired of the whinging rather than of Starmer, because he is right. It is going to be difficult and painful.

I think the difficulty and the 'pain' would be better tolerated if (a) the warnings were not coming from a leader and his chancellor who, themselves, will be well insulated from both, and (b) if we knew that those who wasted £billions on useless PPE equipment (for example) would also be sharing the consequences of those 'difficult decisions'.

As it is, those with the least will suffer most - as they usually do, when there are black holes to be filled and cuts to be made.

And whingeing is what spoiled brats do when they can't get their own way. Rather an uncharitable comment.

I used the word advisedly Dickens. It fitted the current repetitive comments being made perfectly. It is not related specifically to spoilt children. Dictionary definition:
verb
complain persistently and in a peevish or irritating way.
"stop whingeing and get on with it!"

I don’t think the ‘difficult’ and ‘painful’ would be more accepted however it was said, even if the politician saying it was in penury themselves. When something affects people, if they don’t agree with the underlying political belief behind it and the direction of travel, they will complain. What becomes tedious is the same old tropes of criticism rather than considered opinions on specific issues.

I understand the dictionary definition of "whingeing" - however, I was making a point, so chose to ignore the precise nature of it.

Do you mean that you are irritated by the same people repetitively complaining, or the fact that different posters are making the same complaint?

And, in fact, I would find it more acceptable if those making these decisions had decided to also make cuts to their own perks and benefits, though of course the decisions are not made by them, but they could take a stand and refuse them.

I don't actually know the figures for MPs' expenses - the sum may well be comparatively small for items like subsidised food and alcohol, and energy costs. But if the economy is in such a dire state that the relatively small £1.5 billion WFA cut intended to help fill the alleged £22 billion black-hole is enough to prevent the market from going into tail-spin - then we are certainly talking small sums.

I like Starmer and I voted for his party - I think he is about as straight as any politician can be. But I think it was ill-judged to make the WFA cut this year - just a couple of months in fact before it was due to be paid, giving those affected absolutely no time to reserve anything from their pensions to make up for the amount that many might well have budgeted for.

The black hole is based on a forecast - which could have been adjusted, as all these black holes are anyway, according to which criteria and accountancy principles are used, because he's in it for the long term.

He should not have taken the allowance this year.

That's my final whinge .

He's moving too fast, too slow...

mae13

If only Starmer's crew would move as fast getting all those millions refunded for the supply of useless PPE from the likes of Michelle Mone and her shady husband.

Goodness knows Starmer and Reeves were off the starting blocks like lightening when they decided to hang pensioners out to dry.

So all the blame lies with Labour and not the government that put her in the HOL’s and gave her the contract ?

David49

It is “difficult” making voters understand benefit have to be paid for, it is going to be “painful” for us to loose the payouts we have become used to.

If Starmer fails to stop the benefits being paid to those that don’t need he will fail to revive the economy. The Tory newspapers have had a assasination campaign against his new policies, gullible voters are influenced, it doesn’t have to be accurate, if you say it often enough it will be believed.

Spot on David49.

If only Starmer's crew would move as fast getting all those millions refunded for the supply of useless PPE from the likes of Michelle Mone and her shady husband.

Goodness knows Starmer and Reeves were off the starting blocks like lightening when they decided to hang pensioners out to dry.

I’m not surprised at Labour, as I didn’t think this lot would be much different to the previous lot. All equally useless, blaming each other. 🤷‍♀️

Dickens

Casdon

I’m sick and tired of the whinging rather than of Starmer, because he is right. It is going to be difficult and painful.

Casdon

I’m sick and tired of the whinging rather than of Starmer, because he is right. It is going to be difficult and painful.

I think the difficulty and the 'pain' would be better tolerated if (a) the warnings were not coming from a leader and his chancellor who, themselves, will be well insulated from both, and (b) if we knew that those who wasted £billions on useless PPE equipment (for example) would also be sharing the consequences of those 'difficult decisions'.

As it is, those with the least will suffer most - as they usually do, when there are black holes to be filled and cuts to be made.

And whingeing is what spoiled brats do when they can't get their own way. Rather an uncharitable comment.

I used the word advisedly Dickens. It fitted the current repetitive comments being made perfectly. It is not related specifically to spoilt children. Dictionary definition:
verb
complain persistently and in a peevish or irritating way.
"stop whingeing and get on with it!"

I don’t think the ‘difficult’ and ‘painful’ would be more accepted however it was said, even if the politician saying it was in penury themselves. When something affects people, if they don’t agree with the underlying political belief behind it and the direction of travel, they will complain. What becomes tedious is the same old tropes of criticism rather than considered opinions on specific issues.

The messenger is certainly not helping delivery of the message. I think all politicians repeat the same mantras but KS sounds too smug and pleased with himself. He's like Liz Truss in trying to do too much too fast.
And he gives the impression of thinking that the elderly were born as benefit scroungers.

karmalady

They sat there while in opposition, they could have prepared but did not appear to do much, except disagree. A lazy shower with no character

Keir in opposition made a point of supporting the government on important issues, especially during the pandemic. And I think there is a lot of cross party work going on in government currently. He has never been someone to oppose just for the sake of opposing.

Casdon

I’m sick and tired of the whinging rather than of Starmer, because he is right. It is going to be difficult and painful.

Casdon

I’m sick and tired of the whinging rather than of Starmer, because he is right. It is going to be difficult and painful.

I think the difficulty and the 'pain' would be better tolerated if (a) the warnings were not coming from a leader and his chancellor who, themselves, will be well insulated from both, and (b) if we knew that those who wasted £billions on useless PPE equipment (for example) would also be sharing the consequences of those 'difficult decisions'.

As it is, those with the least will suffer most - as they usually do, when there are black holes to be filled and cuts to be made.

And whingeing is what spoiled brats do when they can't get their own way. Rather an uncharitable comment.

just watched the video...brilliant and so true, ..£4.3 Billion was spent on refugees and assylum seekers last year, but this government would rather stop WFP to pensioners who have worked all their lives in this country, this is only a once a year payment, not as if their handing out £8 billion a day for hotels...

If things weren't difficult, wouldn't Rishi have already sorted it all by now?

No need to apologise Allira the Conservatives were awful and the others, well, a bit unknown!!! It is a bit depressing though knowing that oneself is in the firing line through being socially redundant.