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Governments First Budget

(565 Posts)
Whitewavemark2 Wed 30-Oct-24 07:55:04

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!

Casdon Wed 30-Oct-24 13:56:33

Hooray on the personal tax thresholds!

growstuff Wed 30-Oct-24 13:56:17

In Essex, the standard charge for post 16 transport is £900 a year.

Some low income families receive a bursary.

www.essex.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools/school-transport/post-16-transport

MayBee70 Wed 30-Oct-24 13:54:21

Whitewavemark2

Blimey!! Now I know why I voted Labour!!

grin!

Freya5 Wed 30-Oct-24 13:52:40

growstuff

Allira

Mollygo

Improving the life of my DGD will not immediately become apparent when her bus fare becomes £30pw. Easier if you live in an IGO area, but she doesn’t.

I was surprised that bus fares have to be paid for to attend FE College here; when I asked if DGD should get a pass, DS said no, they had enquired, even though the local schools have no sixth form.
Another expense for parents.

It's not just wherever you are. 16-18 year olds have to pay for transport everywhere.

Of course they have too. There is help with student bus and rail cards.

Whitewavemark2 Wed 30-Oct-24 13:51:57

Blimey!! Now I know why I voted Labour!!

growstuff Wed 30-Oct-24 13:44:15

paddyann As I'm sure you know, education spending is devolved in Scotland. I'm afraid I only know what the situation is in England. (Sorry!)

winterwhite Wed 30-Oct-24 13:42:35

Re buses for a moment. Mrs Thatcher privatised bus services, let there be no misunderstanding there. Over the years local councils have been able to some extent to subsidise routes which the bus companies found uneconomic. But this has never been a statutory duty and councils are starved of cash so these subsidies are being withdrawn in a piecemeal way

Whitewavemark2 Wed 30-Oct-24 13:42:09

Still, at least the cap hasn’t gone as it was intended to do this autumn.

paddyann54 Wed 30-Oct-24 13:41:37

growstuff bus travel is free for all hildren and young adults up to age 22 here It saves parents money and time and keeps old bangers and boy racers off the roads .We do pay a bit more in tax but isn,t that what a progressive government is? My friend who is a nurse says she pays just £4 a month more tax than her equivalent nurse in England but she gets far more back in free uni free personal care for her mother and free travel for her school age son.
If Scotland is doing this on a FIXED BUDGET why with Englands ability to print money ( used in strange ways and given to friends) aren’t,t they helping the people at the bottom of the tree instead of spending it on stupid stuff

Mollygo Wed 30-Oct-24 13:40:28

escaped

I taught in a London Borough and I'm sure the 16 - 18 year old travelled free on buses. It was Zip Oyster I think?

Some of my sisters grandchildren benefit from an IGO card, which works in a similar way in Manchester.
Our DGC don’t have that benefit.

growstuff Wed 30-Oct-24 13:36:47

escaped and NotSpaghetti That was because your local authorities had decided to use some of their own funds. Provision of school transport for 16-18 year olds isn't statutory, so most local authorities decided not to fund it.

petra Wed 30-Oct-24 13:29:32

fancythat

Lack of diversity?

What’s diversity got to do with the budget 🤷‍♀️

Millie22 Wed 30-Oct-24 13:27:16

She's talking so fast... even Martin Lewis must be finding it hard to keep up!

Babs03 Wed 30-Oct-24 13:22:49

There will be a full analysis given afterwards on the news, think it would be better to follow it that way. She is marching along at a fair clip.
🤔

Whitewavemark2 Wed 30-Oct-24 13:16:33

I can’t keep up with it all😊.

She is zipping along at a breathtaking pace!

NotSpaghetti Wed 30-Oct-24 13:16:24

growstuff Allira and Mollygo
The bus passes to colleges always used to be a "discounted" fare in our area. My daughter says it's the same in hers.

escaped Wed 30-Oct-24 13:14:45

I taught in a London Borough and I'm sure the 16 - 18 year old travelled free on buses. It was Zip Oyster I think?

NotSpaghetti Wed 30-Oct-24 13:14:06

It's quite hard to listen to it and read the comments!

Think I'm going to have to come back later...

growstuff Wed 30-Oct-24 13:07:27

Allira

Mollygo

Improving the life of my DGD will not immediately become apparent when her bus fare becomes £30pw. Easier if you live in an IGO area, but she doesn’t.

I was surprised that bus fares have to be paid for to attend FE College here; when I asked if DGD should get a pass, DS said no, they had enquired, even though the local schools have no sixth form.
Another expense for parents.

It's not just wherever you are. 16-18 year olds have to pay for transport everywhere.

Babs03 Wed 30-Oct-24 13:07:13

Small companies will get assistance though, some may not have to pay employers NI.

Babs03 Wed 30-Oct-24 13:04:58

No increase on fuel duty, prices will remain frozen for another year so no price hikes at the petrol pumps, employers NI going up though.

Mollygo Wed 30-Oct-24 13:00:23

It’s all relative.

Whitewavemark2 Wed 30-Oct-24 12:44:32

Tax is higher throughout Europe than in the U.K. and we are talking % not actual figures.

Mollygo Wed 30-Oct-24 12:43:55

Dickens

Whitewavemark2

This type of economy must be paid for and we will need to see tax at Scandinavian levels in order to achieve this.

The thing to remember about Scandinavian levels of taxation is that - generally, wages and salaries are much higher also. It's relative.

Dickens I learnt a lot about taxation and insurance in Germany. It’s all relative there too.

Dickens Wed 30-Oct-24 12:39:42

Whitewavemark2

This type of economy must be paid for and we will need to see tax at Scandinavian levels in order to achieve this.

The thing to remember about Scandinavian levels of taxation is that - generally, wages and salaries are much higher also. It's relative.