What do you hope for in the budget?

Not could

BevSec

Doodledog, in my view mother’s of young children should be able to stay at home with their children without penalty.

So do I. I never said anything about stopping holidays or nurseries either, although in an ideal world there would be free nursery places for all children of working parents. I said that I don’t see why anyone should be subsidised not to work - not a brave new world, just a fair one. Parents (mothers or fathers) of pre-schoolers, yes, but why should parents of ten year olds be funded to clean their own houses when others have to work? If they can afford to stay at home and fund their own pension I’m not suggesting that they should be penalised, although there is an argument that every able-bodied adult using things like the NHS, roads, police and other public services should contribute to their upkeep. As it stands, for every year a parent stays at home (even when all their children are at school) they get a year’s pension - currently £11.5k - which is funded by those who can’t afford not to work, which I think is wrong.

That’s a small part of what I’d like to see in the budget though. I agree that keeping the £2 bus fares for all age groups is a good idea, but would like to see huge subsidies to ensure that all areas are as well served as London when it comes to public transport, so given the state of the economy that might have to wait. I wouldn’t like to see pensioners’ subsidies withdrawn in the meantime, as the ability to visit friends and family is vital to good mental health and to local economies.

I would like to see student loans scrapped, and a personal fund available to everyone, so they can access free education through their lives on the basis of ability. If you have one set of qualifications you should be able to access courses at the next level without charge. This should include things like trades as well as ‘academic’ subjects on a mix and match basis, so eg an NVQ in bricklaying would count towards access points in the same way as a GCSE or A level in Geography (or whatever). Levels of equivalence would need to be determined, so people accessing courses are doing so at the same level of ability and knowledge, so standards would be maintained. Perhaps entrance exams could be introduced as an alternative to school-based qualifications to encourage mature students. There could be cheap loans to fund accommodation, but long term I would prefer to see more hostel-style student residences and limits on the amount universities can spend on expensive buildings with high rents.

I’m interested in what others would like to see, rather than arguments against what they think might happen though.

Couldn't put my mom in home but could ..

Doddledog I worked until I had my daughter and had intended to go back to work part time after having my son unfortunately my health got worse when he was 6 months old and couldn't work. So I was a stay at home mom . I was born disabled and when my health made it impossible for me to work . I tried for benefits as our GP advised us to do . Luckily my husband earned a good salary but had to be careful with money .

Unfortunately he died aged 47 and not entitled to any benefits luckily his private pensions paid out lump sums which we lived on . I wasn't brought up with money so have always been careful with money . Once the children left home only thing I could get was 25% off my council tax.

My husband's money was running out and then my mom died so inherited half her estate . Which I knew wouldn't last until I got my state pension this year.

Since my husband died tried for disability benefits but turned down as they said no diagnosis no money. Finally had my diagnosis April 2022 and I was born with a rare hereditary neurological genetic mutant in my brain receptors as I knew from my neurologists letter he had answers for me I asked for my PIP forms . I got given zero on everything. Only with the help of the Brain Charity and they getting me a solicitor pro bono she put in papers to go to tribunal in July 2022 got to tribunal August 2023. And awarded enhanced PIP for living and enhanced PIP for mobility indefinitely and back dated until the date I asked for the forms. While waiting for the tribunal my solicitor told me to claim universal credit which I didn't know I could get and my caseworker sent for the.heath u c forms and had face to face assessment and I didn't trust phone ones after PIP one. And got it.

Because I was so worried about running out of money even with the both UC winter of 2022 only had heating on 3 hours a day . My daughter said to have it on more and they would pay but I wouldn't do that . I couldn't have money off my child.

I couldn't even go out of the house by myself when my health got worse in 1988 and so we could go out as a family because my walking was so bad went in a wheelchair as my husband would never leave me behind. Until the children where older . I have used a stick since I was 29? He said we will altered our life style and be a normal family. The children never suffered or missed out on anything having a disabled mom .

I had saved all my life and we brought our own home by going without things and having no holidays until we had our daughter then it was a week in a caravan. Same holidays when we had our son . As they got older had a holiday cottage holiday in this country or Ireland . Only had one holiday in France in a gite. 2000 went to Switzerland for 10 days.

When you are widowed at 45 in 2004 the government gave me £2,000 to help with funeral costs but we had put that money aside already so I gave it to the children.

Had my first holiday in May for 19 years and went again earlier this month . Just in this country for 5 days each time .

After 20.5 years I don't worry about money but still very careful with it .

So am I classed as a scourger who shouldn't be entitled to my state pension,PIP and luckily a bit of pension credit. Not to forget the 48p a week I get from my husband's state pension. He paid lot of tax and NI for the 30 years he worked .

I am dependent on no one and even though being in constant pain in my legs my whole life and fallen all the time plus all my other problems plus being born witn a hole in the side of my heart which I found out in 2020. I looked after both parents and mother in law until there deaths. My mom lived with me the last 18 months of her life she had cancer and dementia any only allowed 6 months carers allowance because I was told by the benefits system my mom would get better. 🤬. Dementia killed my mom long before her body died . I looked after herself by myself even when she turned violent the last 4 months I could put her in a home . But I am proud of the fact my mom never had a sore on her body when she became bed ridden .

I do not live in the lap of luxury but we always brought our own homes. I live in a bungalow I own outright and paid to have it adapted for my needs at my expense .

I have never nor will I ever be a scourger .

I'm hoping that protection of the environment won't get ignored, and that funds will be allocated for greener projects to benefit everyone. It all seems to have been forgotten recently.

I hope for nothing in this budget, other than survival.

Speaking as someone who will end up using savings to fund nursing home care if that ever becomes necessary, (I hope not), I would like to think that I wouldn’t be paying extra to subsidise those who get the same care for nothing.

Why should self funders pay more?

Maybee, you asked who i would replace K and A with. Some people with integrity and common decency, who listens to peoples concerns doesn't just sweep them away. People concerned about unrestrained immigration, just told they are racist, thus ending any discussion.
Jesse Philips has honesty and is someone I respect. Whether shes p/m material I don't know, I think Sunak was a decent man and honest, but he has gone. I would have to really put my thinking cap on to find decent people that would be prepared to take the job on.
Too many people support a party regardless of the leader. I don't. Politicians make promises to get the top job, no one leaves less than millionaire and a book in them.. i don't think KS is a man of honestly and principle. He spent all lockdown, head below the parapet. Tough decisions had to be made. The people of this country had the vaccine rolled out quickly and were paid to be at home. All that had to be paid for but could we have done less? Yes mistakes were made but it had not happened before and it is not a precise science. Imagine KS in charge of that.
The people I admire and a country needs are people with integrity and honesty regardless of party.

I hope that on the day of the budget, Dr Who would gather up all the Labour party in the Tardis and dump them all on the moon.

Doodledog, in my view mother’s of young children should be able to stay at home with their children without penalty.

That m.s Reeves does not add to the depression that has overwhelmed the majority in this country since labour came into power.

Doodledog so you propose to ban stay at home mothers? You are planning for State nurseries? No school holidays? What brave new world is on the horizon in your mind?

I hope Rachel Reeves can present the budget, regardless of content, in a neutral way. She has a habit of raising the national blood pressure by at least 20 points.
Please don’t fall for the gdp debt ratio argument - Japan has a staggering ratio of over 220 percent of debt to GDP. Are they freezing the elderly? In fact, from memory isn’t it a country that reveres the aged? That could be a good starting point for Reeves.

Kate1949

I hope they don't take our bus passes.

I do too but I would approve of them being taken away if the maximum fare of £2 could be retained, that would mean everybody could have subsidised travel not just pensioners.

Smileless2012

Most of all, I would like to see a detailed breakdown of the 22 billion black hole the LP claim to have inherited.

... yes, I'd like to see that, too.

All it means is there’s a gap between projected government income and the entirely artificial target for government borrowing over a set period. No gravitational doom is involved

An interesting opinion from Dominic Alexander, member of 'Counterfire'; historian and activist)

biglouis

In a time when there is plenty of full time work available in retail, hospitality and other areas I would like to see a stop to people being allowed to work part time and getting propped up by the tax payer via universal credit. If you can afford to work part time, fine but, not on my taxes.

As someone who had depression/anxiety attacks intermittently all my life but still managed to have 2 successful careers, run a business and breeze through the academic system I am extremely dubious about all these young people with "mental health issues" who cannot work. Another group who need to be encouraged to get up off their asses and work.

Students leaving Uni are the highest driver behind long term sickness and disability figures rising. (A few days ago in the Times, if anyone wishes to check figures more accurately, else where on the internet also).

With all the attention there is on mental health, I don't see a young person finding much incentive to come off benefits once they have been granted.

Too many EDI Quangos soaking up tax pounds.

But as the gov. have their own agenda it sticks in the craw to be discussing pipe dreams, so I'm off to get some sweet dreams Zzzzz

I don't think we'll get "the answer" as such to the huge Social Care, in a budget. It needs major policy decisions as part of an NHS/Care plan. It's definitely a policy priority however.

I'd like clarity on stamp duty and pensions because my partner is due to retire at the end of the year and we're hoping to move next year.

I'd like to see all pension contributions only receiving basic rate tax exemption rather than higher rates for higher earners. I see no justification whatsoever for higher earners to receive higher subsidies from the Treasury.

I'd like to see some commitment to funding the NHS and dentists and, finally, some solution to social care.

biglouis

In a time when there is plenty of full time work available in retail, hospitality and other areas I would like to see a stop to people being allowed to work part time and getting propped up by the tax payer via universal credit. If you can afford to work part time, fine but, not on my taxes.

As someone who had depression/anxiety attacks intermittently all my life but still managed to have 2 successful careers, run a business and breeze through the academic system I am extremely dubious about all these young people with "mental health issues" who cannot work. Another group who need to be encouraged to get up off their asses and work.

I think you should look at how Universal Credit works these days. It's no longer the case that people with part-time jobs automatically receive top ups.

Just to thank you for opening this thread. Particularly because of the rumours of this that and the other we've discussed/speculated on endlessly this summer.

I agree and disagree with different bits of what you've said, but totally agree that we need clarity about what is and what isn't going to happen.

Agreed, biglouis

In a time when there is plenty of full time work available in retail, hospitality and other areas I would like to see a stop to people being allowed to work part time and getting propped up by the tax payer via universal credit. If you can afford to work part time, fine but, not on my taxes.

As someone who had depression/anxiety attacks intermittently all my life but still managed to have 2 successful careers, run a business and breeze through the academic system I am extremely dubious about all these young people with "mental health issues" who cannot work. Another group who need to be encouraged to get up off their asses and work.

Kate1949

I hope they don't take our bus passes.

I would like to see a universal bus pass for everyone who has contributed to a pension. Not just people over pensionable age in some areas. Similarly I would scrap free ‘stamps’ for those who just look after their own children and homes. Why should those who do all of that and also work and pay tax subsidise those who can afford not to bother to make a financial contribution to society? There should be perks for those who have eared them but not for freeloaders who expect others to pay for them.

Smileless2012

I'd like to know if the one in five not working is due to sickness and what the Government proposes to do about those who can work but don't.

I'd like the withdrawal of the WFA delayed for one year to give those who will be just above the threshold time to prepare for its loss, and the threshold for those who will be eligible raised.

I want to know if it's intended to stop people from taking a one off 25% of their private pension tax free and if so, when this is going to be implemented.

I want to know if there are any plans to withdraw free bus passes and the 25% reduction in council tax for single occupancy.

Most of all, I would like to see a detailed breakdown of the 22 billion black hole the LP claim to have inherited.

Me too

I hope they don't take our bus passes.