We won’t know too much until we can read tomorrows analysis , but we do know of this government’s intended direction of travel, and whether it meets with our expectations as voters and what we all voted for, which of course changes with each individual.
My vote and expectation was for
First and foremost to save our NHS and crumbling public services.
Second was to address the state of our environment, the polluted seas and rivers, and the lack of diversity.
Next -to address the fact that economic growth has been more or less stagnant since 2010. We need a Keynesian type budget for growth, that is imaginative and forward thinking to produce the revenue to invest in out country.
Personally I have never thought it possible to have this type of successful economy where citizens can be confident of a cradle to grave welfare state, where education is first class, health is free at the point of use and available within a very reasonable time limit, where public services are well run and invested in and care for all in need comes as a right, can be obtained by the tax payer on the cheap. This type of economy must be paid for and we will need to see tax at Scandinavian levels in order to achieve this.
Looking at the state the country is in, we knew in July that this would be a mighty task. Mighty tasks need research/planning and massive effort. They always start painfully slowly but momentum will gather as each year passes and we will gradually see the result of the effort put in to save our country from the ravages of 14 long years of economic blows our public services received.
Of course the right wing media - childlike - is insisting on jam today without spending any of their pocket money, but as wise parents we know that all jam does is rot your teeth. Instant gratification is only for the hard of thinking, the more intelligent know that time is the master.
So now looking back at the few short months Labour has been in government, i am pretty supportive of the direction of travel, and the achievements to date - which probably need listing to remind everyone - but not for this thread.
Some stuff has been announced but I think it best until we begin to see how it fits into the overall picture before we begin to comment.
It looks as if this is going to be a massive budget though - so hold onto your hats!
ronib
Wwm2 let’s be patriotic and hope that this will pan out as planned but making business poorer is not the best way to encourage investment. There will be less jobs because of rises in national insurance contributions for employers.
I shouldn’t worry about business.
Reeves has laid the foundation for growth and investment in the economy, and businesses will grab these opportunities for profit and expansion with both hands.
Long term they will benefit from her plans.
ronib
Wwm2 let’s be patriotic and hope that this will pan out as planned but making business poorer is not the best way to encourage investment. There will be less jobs because of rises in national insurance contributions for employers.
We invested in extra employees, plant and training heavily over the last 12 months.
Will we do it again knowing the budget details, not in the foreseeable future, further plans are now shelved.
Gg13. Ed Milliband wants fewer working farms to cut down on methane emissions. This planet has had cows living on it for many years.
I haven’t seen one comment from any Farmers union/organisation of farmer/farming family which is positive.
Comments like this from Labour do not help
Wwm2 let’s be patriotic and hope that this will pan out as planned but making business poorer is not the best way to encourage investment. There will be less jobs because of rises in national insurance contributions for employers.
David49
Whitewavemark2
Just as an aside, the IMF have endorsed Reeves budget and the “sustainable” tax rises.
Reeves is laying the foundation for the recovery of our public services.The investment market is stable too, regardless of the Tory gloom and doom mongers the budget is seen as progressive and sustainable.
Was waiting to see how these went, I suspected it would fall this way.
ronib
I think the biggest whinge from doom mongers is that nothing has been done to improve productivity.
Then tell them that they are wrong.
Productivity is improved as investment rises into new technology, and other areas in business.
Investment is one of the cornerstones of Reeves budget, which has laid foundation to encourage businesses to invest in every area.
David49
Whitewavemark2
Just as an aside, the IMF have endorsed Reeves budget and the “sustainable” tax rises.
Reeves is laying the foundation for the recovery of our public services.The investment market is stable too, regardless of the Tory gloom and doom mongers the budget is seen as progressive and sustainable.
The point being that Reeves has (contrary to all the doom put out by the Tories) a clear and sustainable plan, which will put the U.K. back to economic stability - something that we haven’t had for a number of years now.
Businesses love stability, because it allows them to plan and invest with much more certainty. Which in turn should boost growth, but it won’t be easy as this ship has been wallowing in the doldrums for a number of years, made much worse by so many Tory economic and political decisions, - remember Brexit, austerity, Truss,? - all hammer blows to our economy and our ability to thrive.
Why we all need to buy anyway I just don't understand. If you have rented a house you are happy in, what you really need is security of tenure, swift repairs and a rent that feels "fair"
I think that older people may feel more secure in a property they own rather than the insecurities of renting. My MIL rented privately all her life but, being widowed at an early age, she spent her life being worried about being 'thrown out' especially when her sons had grown up and left. The rent became another worry after she retired too.
I think the biggest whinge from doom mongers is that nothing has been done to improve productivity.
Whitewavemark2
Just as an aside, the IMF have endorsed Reeves budget and the “sustainable” tax rises.
Reeves is laying the foundation for the recovery of our public services.
The investment market is stable too, regardless of the Tory gloom and doom mongers the budget is seen as progressive and sustainable.
I don’t understand some of the budget, the millions and billions tend to daze me, also the superfast delivery of it.
Reading about it this morning some things seem good for the country and others maybe problematic such as raising NI for employers and such a hike in wages for young people done at the same time, will that mean job losses or reduced staff taken on?
Fuel duty frozen gets a cheer from me, but a penny less for a pint?! Can’t see that will do anything at all.
Massive borrowing so just hope at least big projects will get done.
Oreo surely a better scheme would be to allow council houses to be sold but for every house sold, a new house would be built? Thus facilitating less wealthy people onto the housing market both through ownership and becoming a secure tenant?
I think Mrs Thatcher wanted to stop
‘sink council estates’ back in the day. We need more mixed housing imo.
NotSpaghetti
I agree Doodledog - I think right to buy was a dreadful thing.
Why we all need to buy anyway I just don't understand. If you have rented a house you are happy in, what you really need is security of tenure, swift repairs and a rent that feels "fair".
This is what councils can (and should) offer in my opinion.
Friends living in the "nicest" areas all bought their council homes and have made money out of it- by selling or letting.
Only one is still living in their ex-council house.
I agree, selling off council houses should never have been done and should stop right now, tho apparently it isn’t going to.
Council houses should always be just that.
Just as an aside, the IMF have endorsed Reeves budget and the “sustainable” tax rises.
Reeves is laying the foundation for the recovery of our public services.
Terraces are incorporated into new estates, they are 1&2 bed properties with communal parking in front. Intended for singles or those with one child. My step son has an affordable, 2 bed semi, they have 2 parking spaces, both work, it’s compact with a small garden, everything they need and cheap to heat.
Whether “ councils” should “build” houses is debatable, adding an extra beaurocratic department to a council is not likely to result in cheaper better houses. Currently most are built/managed by housing associations that are not for profit organizations, the council pay the rent of those that cannot manage an “affordable” rent.
The new estates in this area a lot of good affordable dwellings are being incorporated within housing projects. The rate of house building will be regulated by the labour available and finance for mortgages.
“I don’t think not having the in house capability to actually build new homes is an any way a showstopper though J52?”
Casdon
No, but having In House building teams avoids having to go out to tender. They also worked with the maintenance depts. so the original properties were well maintained. Not so now, I believe.
Mollygo
The discussion on the radio earlier talked about building smaller units, preferably terraces because the space in between houses (when they are crammed close together) is wasted. I couldn’t help thinking that the speaker had never lived in a terraced house next to someone who gave piano lessons for a living, or where children learning an instrument lived, or even just noisy neighbours.
Smaller houses with limited or no parking even for EVs will certainly drive people back into public transport despite the increases.
Do you think a government is right to do things that will compel people to make that decision, whilst they themselves are sitting in large houses, plenty of parking and expenses to cover their travel?
Terraces can work very well. 26% of all housing in England and Wales is terraced, over 40% in my area. Plenty of people, including me, live perfectly happily in terraced houses and actually choose to do so. Of course the houses need decent sound proofing and insulation, with that they’re a good option for many families.
The worrying thing on my street now is that when houses do come up for sale, young people wanting to buy are being outbid by buy-to-letters.
J52
I should have made myself clearer, Councils can build new properties in conjunction with Private House buildings companies, but they no longer have the In House building capacity that they once had with more control over the out comes.
I think I’m right in saying that since 2023 they have been allowed to keep revenue from house sales to build more.
*Architects Journal April 3 2023
Councils will be allowed to keep hold of million of pounds to help deliver almost 4,000 new council homes by 2025 under plans announced by Levelling Up and Housing secretary Michael Gove.*
I don’t think not having the in house capability to actually build new homes is an any way a showstopper though J52?
I know growstuff, but it’s definitely possible in England still, it’s happening in Manchester.
www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/news/andy-burnham-pledges-10-000-new-council-homes-by-2028-in-greater-manchester-as-he-unveils-plans-to-tackle-the-housing-crisis/
I don’t know whether it’s only allowed in areas that have devolved responsibilities to mayors though, possibly?
I should have made myself clearer, Councils can build new properties in conjunction with Private House buildings companies, but they no longer have the In House building capacity that they once had with more control over the out comes.
I think I’m right in saying that since 2023 they have been allowed to keep revenue from house sales to build more.
*Architects Journal April 3 2023
Councils will be allowed to keep hold of million of pounds to help deliver almost 4,000 new council homes by 2025 under plans announced by Levelling Up and Housing secretary Michael Gove.*
Incidentally Casdon, housing is a devolved issue in Wales and I think the rules are different from England.
Casdon
I’m not sure you’re right J52, as my local council is building new council properties now. It will depend on the politics in each area, we have a Labour/Lib Dem alliance here.
www.mywelshpool.co.uk/viewernews/ArticleId/23894/Go-ahead-given-for-hundreds-of-new-council-houses
My council set up its own company to build council houses. To be honest, I don't know much about the legalities of it, but I do know that's how they got round the rules about not building.
I’m not sure you’re right J52, as my local council is building new council properties now. It will depend on the politics in each area, we have a Labour/Lib Dem alliance here.
www.mywelshpool.co.uk/viewernews/ArticleId/23894/Go-ahead-given-for-hundreds-of-new-council-houses
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