That's assuming the current incumbents are sensible - their policy on Rwanda would suggest otherwise and isn't the only red flag.Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
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That's assuming the current incumbents are sensible - their policy on Rwanda would suggest otherwise and isn't the only red flag.Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
Blimey, one of the few times I agree with WP!Quote:
Originally Posted by Witton Park
Merry Christmas one and all.
Looks like the last topic put a few folk off, so on to the next.
Work and Pensions
Employment Taxes and allowances, minimum wage and welfare support.
The following to be phased in over 3 years.
The Tax Free Allowance on income will be abolished, currently £12,570 and replaced with a 10% Low Tax Allowance on all income up to Minimum Wage x 40 hours + 20% due to be approximately £28,500.
25% Standard Rate £28,500 to £100,000
40% Higher rate over £100,000.
Introduce an option for full or part transfer of the Low Tax Allowance for married couples where dependent children live at home.
National Insurance to be phased out.
Employees over state retirement age will only pay income tax at the lower 10% rate.
The State Pension Triple lock will be scrapped and the increase will be set at 80% of the inflation rate.
A new Personal Social Insurance (PSI) will be paid on all income up to £100k, with 10% paid by employee and 10% paid by employer, including the public sector with the current system for public sector pensions phased out over the 3 year period.
All new public sector staff will be employed on the workplace pension scheme with immediate effect.
PSI will have elements to cover Workplace Pension Fund, Personal Health and Dental Care Cover, Social Care Cover and a contribution to a National Fund to support a National Safety Net.
A further employer PSI surcharge will be paid at £10 per employee flat rate and at 2% on all income over £100k into a National Fund to support a National Safety Net.
The Minimum Wage will be reformed to include minimum rates of pay for unsociable hours, bank holiday working and flexible working.
For example the working week will be defined as Monday - Friday 7:00am to 7:00pm.
7-00pm to 7:00am will be MW + 20%
Weekends will be +20%
Variable shift patterns will be MW +20%
These are cumulative, so could be up to 60%.
Due to these uplifts, increases in MW standard rate will be capped at 80% of the inflation rate.
A Guaranteed Job (GJ). No one should have to rely entirely on benefits except the most severely disabled/incapacitated and the taxpayer shouldn’t be expected to maintain people at a level of income that is higher than they attain themselves.
There will be a guaranteed job of 37.5 hours per week paid at the Minimum Wage rates.
State retirement age will be fixed and reviewed annually two years in advance based on 80% of average life expectancy.
Unemployment Benefit will be phased out.
Disability Related Benefits will be phased out.
All local authorities will have a statutory obligation to operate a Guaranteed Jobs scheme.
The National Safety Net – there will be people who cannot work at all, or for whom the Guaranteed Job system is not suitable. There will also be some who can fit into the Guaranteed Jobs scheme but may still need additional support on a regular or one-off basis. The National Safety Net will provide a tailored package appropriate to each individuals needs.
I may well have my maths wrong here or be misunderstanding but:
The Tax Free Allowance on income will be abolished, currently £12,570 and replaced with a 10% Low Tax Allowance on all income up to Minimum Wage x 40 hours + 20% due to be approximately £28,500.
25% Standard Rate £28,500 to £100,000
40% Higher rate over £100,000.p
If you earn £99,999pa you have a net of £75000, but when you jump over the £100k into the higher tax bracket (40%) you have a lower net income until you reach £125k gross - which brings you back to the £75k net. Possibly self employed could use it against expenses and benefit?
So nobody will want to have a gross income between 100 - 125k pa as it gives them a lower net income. Leading to people either sticking in the lower tax bracket or seeking a wage increase of minimum £25k.
Have I got that right?
If you earn £99,999 you have income tax ofQuote:
Originally Posted by molehill
up to £28500 @ 10%
28501-99999 @ 25%
= 20724.50
so an income of £79274.50 after income tax
If you receive an increase to 105k you then have an additional
£1 @ 25%
£5000 @ 40%
= £1250.25
so an income of £83025.25
That makes more sense - I can accept the pay rise then🙄.
I wouldn't call it a pay rise. Just the State reducing the amount of money they steal from your hard earned ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by molehill
Elsewhere I said I would set out my thoughts on Electoral Reform.
I will keep it to General Election level, but you will see from below my proposals do require some changes at local government level.
Our current system of Government is a mess. It lacks clear structure.
At one level MPs, common to all, but then across the UK we have National Assemblies, Unitary Authorities, Local Authorities, County Councils, Combined Authorities….
A different structure dependent on which area of the UK and NI you live in.
I would have a reset and put things back in order.
Local Authorities which would also double as the Parliamentary Constituency.
County Councils would then be the next tier and finally National Government.
Get rid of all the hybrid systems.
So MPs would be elected based on their local authority to end this system of redrawing constituency borders and putting towns like Rossendale and Darwen artificially together which have no linking road and no connecting public transport.
That would reduce the number of Constituency MPs from around 650 to 400-450.
However then I would introduce a new form of MP, the County MP.
I'd take the total number of MPs back up to 600, overall a slight reduction and allocate the difference of around 150 to the County MP status.
Each county will be allocated a number of County MPs to bring their share of the total MPs up to the level justified by their percentage of the electorate and this then smooths out the anomaly of the constituency size.
A county with a higher average constituency size will have more County MPs.
The County MPs will be allocated using a list system akin to the European Election system and drawn from those contesting at constituency level.
Example. Lancashire has 14 constituencies and is allocated 3 county MPs.
All candidates across the county will also be on a party list from 1 to 14 max if a party is contesting all 14 seats.
Constituency Seats and vote % are Labour 40/9, Conservative 25/4, LibDem 15/1, Reform 12/0, Green 5/0, Others 3/0
So County Seat 1 to LD as they are the first party under-represented based on vote share, the second county seat would go to Reform, the 3rd to Green. If there was a 4th, that would go to Reform as they would be the only one of the 5 still under-represented according to cote share.
This system would still retain most of FPtP but would give smaller parties a chance to get some MPs in to the Commons and show what they can do.
What it would also do at a local level is give you the option to lobby your Constituency MP on a local level, but if their was a political clash there, you would have a County level MP that you could go to as an alternative.
I have quite a few other ideas, but I'll park it there for now.
Energy: Immediate introduction of nuclear SMR. Continue with wind generation policy. Mandatory solar panels on all public buildings and new build housing stock. Continue with UK sourced oil and gas to bridge gap until above provide sufficient power for energy budget. Continue to fund Fusion research.
Economy: Dismantle Welfare State and introduce Universal Living Wage. Join European Single Market (with no political ties). Maintain taxation at current levels.
Health: Reconfigure NHS to provide universal FAPOC for the 5 C's: Cancer, Cardiac, Casualty, Childbirth, Child care. All other care to be subject to means-tested co-payment from 0% to 30% dependent on tax status.
Dismantle General Practice and introduce polyclinics under NHS control. Introduce National Institute of Nutrition to advise Government on strategy to reduce obesity including subsidy on 'essentials' and high taxation on unhealthy and Ultra Processed foods along with doubled taxation on producers. Re-introduce farming subsidies.
Immigration: Aim for maximum net positive immigration of 250,000 per annum. Introduce enforced no-go zone for all unregistered small vessels on English Channel.
Defence: Link military strategists with UK based IT and semiconductor businesses to identify where automation can fill gaps in human-power and ensure digital security of country. Increase co-operation with other NATO states for mutual self-protection against common enemies.
WE aren't that far apart.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheeze
I'd just like to ask about two.
Universal Living Wage.
Let's assume it has to be set at the minimum wage rate, then what would happen to the minimum wage workers? Why work?
Rejoining Single Market.
WE have a Free Trade Agreement, so what advantage do you see?
Lots of people already say why work? They can carry on like that with ULW but at a vastly reduced administrative cost and no chance of improvement. But many more people probably do want to improve their lot. By working they can develop new skills that allow promotion, advancement and better pay.
I forgot to include Environment in my manifesto.
Rolling programme of legal personhood for rivers and other natural features subject to despoilation. Fines starting at 10% of gross revenue before tax and deductions for companies found guilty.
Screening of investors and sponsors of water and environmental companies to prevent green-washing.
Compulsory 100 hours litter picking for all those prosecuted for littering. Vehicles used in fly tipping to be crushed and registered owner subject to 100 hours litter picking. Funded by 5% levy on all fast food companies and soft drink producers not covered by the Nutrition tax.
Complete ban on building on flood plains.
Free trade agreement...have you tried buying anything expensive (over £200) from Europe recently?
Yes. I regular bring in items in excess of £5k without any difficulty. I have a pallet on it's way from Slovakia at the moment.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheeze
That doesn't really answer my question and maybe I'm misunderstanding you.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheeze
I am imagining this as a Universal Guaranteed Income, because you linked it to dismantling the Welfare State.
I already see issues with the Minimum Wage which I expected when it was introduced. The curtain and blind factory owned by John Lewis where my wife worked between 2018 and 2023 now as staff category of "Level 10 operative" and it is the everyone who isn't management/supervisor.
So the sweeper up gets the same pay as a highly skilled machinist or cutter.
When she started in 2018 they paid the L10s about 15% above MW but with the inflation + increases of MW each year, in 2023 they received a £0.02 per hour increase in order to keep them legal.
Incentive to work hard, produce good quality at a pace, such as piecework used to imbue, has been driven out of the workforce.
People started on menial jobs, and progressed to higher skilled jobs, or became utilities, covering several operations at a high level for better remuneration.
That's gone.
The rise of the welfare state, which allows circumstances where some can live better off the state than some working full time on MW, has also driven out incentive.
I am concerned that a universal income is further problematic move.
I agree we dismantle the welfare state, but I go down the Universal Job route. I do not agree with something for nothing.
This is an interesting perspective on GE chocies by Hugh Willbourn (Psychologist and traditional Labour supporter)
"It is a shocking, mind-boggling truth that the Reform Party is simultaneously more conservative than the Tories and more socialist than Labour... How on earth is that possible?
Why Socialists should vote Reform
https://www.hughwillbourn.com/post/5...ld-vote-reform
NOT A DUPLICATE
This is an interesting perspective on GE chocies by Hugh Willbourn (Psychologist and traditional Labour supporter)
"It is a shocking, mind-boggling truth that the Reform Party is simultaneously more conservative than the Tories and more socialist than Labour... How on earth is that possible?
Why Socialists should vote Reform
https://www.hughwillbourn.com/post/5...ld-vote-reform
This is an interesting perspective on GE chocies by Hugh Willbourn (Psychologist and traditional Labour supporter)
NOT A DUPLICATE
"It is a shocking, mind-boggling truth that the Reform Party is simultaneously more conservative than the Tories and more socialist than Labour... How on earth is that possible?
Why Socialists should vote Reform
https://www.hughwillbourn.com/post/5...ld-vote-reform
This is an interesting perspective on GE chocies by Hugh Willbourn (Psychologist and traditional Labour supporter)
"It is a shocking, mind-boggling truth that the Reform Party is simultaneously more conservative than the Tories and more socialist than Labour... How on earth is that possible?
Why Socialists should vote Reform
https://www.hughwillbourn.com/post/5...ld-vote-reform
This is an interesting perspective on GE chocies by Hugh Willbourn (Psychologist and traditional Labour supporter)Quote:
Originally Posted by Witton Park
"It is a shocking, mind-boggling truth that the Reform Party is simultaneously more conservative than the Tories and more socialist than Labour... How on earth is that possible?
Why Socialists should vote Reform
https://www.hughwillbourn.com/post/5...ld-vote-reform
TESTING
This is an interesting perspective on GE chocies by Hugh Willbourn (Psychologist and traditional Labour supporter)
"It is a shocking, mind-boggling truth that the Reform Party is simultaneously more conservative than the Tories and more socialist than Labour... How on earth is that possible?
Why Socialists should vote Reform
https://www.hughwillbourn.com/post/5...ld-vote-reform
This is an interesting perspective on GE chocies by Hugh Willbourn (Psychologist and traditional Labour supporter)
"It is a shocking, mind-boggling truth that the Reform Party is simultaneously more conservative than the Tories and more socialist than Labour... How on earth is that possible?
Why Socialists should vote Reform
https://www.hughwillbourn.com/post/5...ld-vote-reform
This is an interesting perspective on GE chocies by Hugh Willbourn (Psychologist and traditional Labour supporter)
not a duplicate
"It is a shocking, mind-boggling truth that the Reform Party is simultaneously more conservative than the Tories and more socialist than Labour... How on earth is that possible?
Why Socialists should vote Reform
https://www.hughwillbourn.com/post/5...ld-vote-reform
This is an interesting perspective on GE chocies by Hugh Willbourn (Psychologist and traditional Labour supporter)
"It is a shocking, mind-boggling truth that the Reform Party is simultaneously more conservative than the Tories and more socialist than Labour... How on earth is that possible?
Why Socialists should vote Reform
https://www.hughwillbourn.com/post/5...ld-vote-reform
CHECK
This is an interesting perspective on GE chocies by Hugh Willbourn (Psychologist and traditional Labour supporter)
CHECK
"It is a shocking, mind-boggling truth that the Reform Party is simultaneously more conservative than the Tories and more socialist than Labour... How on earth is that possible?
Why Socialists should vote Reform
https://www.hughwillbourn.com/post/5...ld-vote-reform
This is an interesting perspective on GE chocies by Hugh Willbourn (Psychologist and traditional Labour supporter)
"It is a shocking, mind-boggling truth that the Reform Party is simultaneously more conservative than the Tories and more socialist than Labour... How on earth is that possible?
Why Socialists should vote Reform
https://www.hughwillbourn.com/post/5...ld-vote-reform
This is an interesting perspective on GE chocies by Hugh Willbourn (Psychologist and traditional Labour supporter)
"It is a shocking, mind-boggling truth that the Reform Party is simultaneously more conservative than the Tories and more socialist than Labour... How on earth is that possible?
Why Socialists should vote Reform
https://www.hughwillbourn.com/post/5...ld-vote-reform
This is an interesting perspective on GE chocies by Hugh Willbourn (Psychologist and traditional Labour supporter)
"It is a shocking, mind-boggling truth that the Reform Party is simultaneously more conservative than the Tories and more socialist than Labour... How on earth is that possible?
Why Socialists should vote Reform
https://www.hughwillbourn.com/post/5...ld-vote-reform
This is an interesting perspective on GE chocies by Hugh Willbourn (Psychologist and traditional Labour supporter)
"It is a shocking, mind-boggling truth that the Reform Party is simultaneously more conservative than the Tories and more socialist than Labour... How on earth is that possible?
Why Socialists should vote Reform
https://www.hughwillbourn.com/post/5...ld-vote-reform
This is an interesting perspective on GE chocies by Hugh Willbourn (Psychologist and traditional Labour supporter)
NOT A DUPLICATE
NOT A DUPLICATE
"It is a shocking, mind-boggling truth that the Reform Party is simultaneously more conservative than the Tories and more socialist than Labour... How on earth is that possible?
Why Socialists should vote Reform
https://www.hughwillbourn.com/post/5...ld-vote-reform
Reading through I am pretty much on the same page as Wheeze, certainly on energy, why on earth no government would renew our nuclear power stations years ago shows shortsightedness. In an unstable world having in-house energy (fossil, nuclear and green) becomes more and more important. We shall see, but I fear the lights may go out in a few years.
Was only thinking yesterday that I have heard nothing about the environment (perhaps I haven’t paid enough attention). I recall the last election each major party attempting to outdo the other with tree planting, all got a bit silly “you say one million, I raise you another half million”. Long forgotten. But waterways need seriously sorting, now am I convinced nationalisation is the answer, enforcement is. Building houses, population expansion all contribute to problems.
For the record, I still have no idea where I shall put my X, all parties dangling carrots that they will snatch away or be forgotten 6 months later. Quite frankly, I don’t believe anything they say - depressing state of affairs.
This is an interesting perspective on GE chocies by Hugh Willbourn (Psychologist and traditional Labour supporter)
"It is a shocking, mind-boggling truth that the Reform Party is simultaneously more conservative than the Tories and more socialist than Labour... How on earth is that possible?
Why Socialists should vote Reform
https://www.hughwillbourn.com/post/5...ld-vote-reform
By universal living wage I guess I mean universal basic income...the name keeps evolving.
Universal jobs is problematic because of the rise of automation and AI. As Hinari says, we will soon be in the age of the "useless human".
No jobs left!
This is an interesting perspective on GE chocies by Hugh Willbourn (Psychologist and traditional Labour supporter)
"It is a shocking, mind-boggling truth that the Reform Party is simultaneously more conservative than the Tories and more socialist than Labour... How on earth is that possible?
Why Socialists should vote Reform
https://www.hughwillbourn.com/post/5...ld-vote-reform
This is an interesting perspective on GE chocies by Hugh Willbourn (Psychologist and traditional Labour supporter)
"It is a shocking, mind-boggling truth that the Reform Party is simultaneously more conservative than the Tories and more socialist than Labour... How on earth is that possible?
Why Socialists should vote Reform
https://www.hughwillbourn.com/post/5...ld-vote-reform
This is an interesting perspective on GE chocies by Hugh Willbourn (Psychologist and traditional Labour supporter)
"It is a shocking, mind-boggling truth that the Reform Party is simultaneously more conservative than the Tories and more socialist than Labour... How on earth is that possible?
Why Socialists should vote Reform
https://www.hughwillbourn.com/post/5...ld-vote-reform
This is an interesting perspective on GE chocies by Hugh Willbourn (Psychologist and traditional Labour supporter)
"It is a shocking, mind-boggling truth that the Reform Party is simultaneously more conservative than the Tories and more socialist than Labour... How on earth is that possible?
Why Socialists should vote Reform
https://www.hughwillbourn.com/post/5...ld-vote-reform
This is an interesting perspective on GE chocies by Hugh Willbourn (Psychologist and traditional Labour supporter)
"It is a shocking, mind-boggling truth that the Reform Party is simultaneously more conservative than the Tories and more socialist than Labour... How on earth is that possible?
Why Socialists should vote Reform
https://www.hughwillbourn.com/post/5...ld-vote-reform
For the Manifesto thread - but I've been unable to post there directly. Moderator!!!!
This is an interesting perspective on GE chocies by Hugh Willbourn (Psychologist and traditional Labour supporter)
"It is a shocking, mind-boggling truth that the Reform Party is simultaneously more conservative than the Tories and more socialist than Labour... How on earth is that possible?
Why Socialists should vote Reform
https://www.hughwillbourn.com/post/5...ld-vote-reform
An ongoing source of extreme irritation for me is the Tory's claim re Labour's £2,000 tax hike. The fact that this is a more or less made up figure is only half of it. The other side of the coin is the implication that the British public wants the cheapest public services possible, even if those services are stretched - 7 hour wait to be seen in A+E, 2 days on a trolley in a corridor anyone - or virtually non existent - NHS dentistry for example. I for one would be happy to pay more tax for better services, even if I do not need those services, as long as those who earn more than me also pay their fair share. The idea that efficiency savings, reform and growth are all we need to improve public services is clearly nonsense - if it was that easy it would have been done by now.
it is my understanding that "comparable" European countries - France and Germany for example - pay more total tax than we do. And even if that isn't true, it costs what it costs, given where we are starting from.
Even more irritating is Penny Mordaunt. I hope she becomes the next Tory leader - that will destroy them if the election doesn't.
I'll get my coat.
Mike I agree on the £2000k. The number is incorrect. It could be more, it could be less, but it is a guess and I don't like that kind of debate, but they are toast, floundering around for anything to pick at.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike T
However, I'd just like to point out that public spending has doubled IN REAL TERMS from 646 Billion in 2000 to the OBR forecast of 1.22 Trillion in this financial year.
That is a monetary increase, and an increase as a % of GDP from 34.8% to 45.6% over the period.
Over the same period we have 500,000 extra public sector employees.
So we have gone way beyond pay a little more tax for improved services.
One has to also take that in the context of National debt that has gone from 28% of GDP to 98.8% over the same period and soon to reach 3 Trillion with no end to the deficit in sight during the next Parliament.
And our interest payments on that debt? £74 Billion forecast this year as we still run up the national overdraft.
That's the 5th highest category of spending, almost double the defence budget.
So when any of these politicians say "our plans are costed" they are talking shite.
If I ever took such a budget to my board, I would have been fired.