davidb

how do members feel about the abolition of the 10p tax rate ? ,there seems to be an unlimited supply of taxpayers money for banks which seemingly have been reckless with their business in the pursuit of greed , yet no help for ordinary people in low paid jobs wholl be hardest hit ,this is supposed to be a labour government ?

faginsgirl

I despair of any government this country has!

xx

We`re changin` lodggggggggings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DB7

I'm not sure if the sums are as bad as estimated but it's one of those policy decisions where intent can be more damaging than effect. I think Brown has been a dreadful PM and I can sympathise with those who tried to delay and delay Blair handing over power. If Cameron can ditch the smooth-talking populism and flesh out what his policies really are he should have a fair chance of winning the next election.

Freddy

At the moment it's a bit like a football match in a way, if the Conservatives do win it'll be because the other side played badly rather than the Conservatives played well.

As for the 10p tax, it must be annoying for low paid single people that not only are they penalised by the budget but that their increase in taxes go towards child benefit; family allowance and education. A mischievous statement I know, but must be a tad galling for them.

Freddy

"What I owe you Colonel Lawrence, is beyond evaluation."

rskershaw

The people in the earning bracket you mention may be eligible for Working Tax Credits (or an increase in them if they are already in reciept) to offset the abolition of the 10p tax rate.

And what's all this about me having me leg off?

kelp

Just as an aside. People who have worked in our industry, and retired and have a small works pension have been hit by this disgusting move. I have a colleague who, although he has just a minimum private pension lost £15. from his monthly money! Forget the Government Cop-Out "Ah, but people can apply for tax credits" That is a MEANS TESTED, and also a means of snooping (once again) into your private affairs. Its demeaning too.
I wonder.....could this be ANOTHER European directive, like our Post Office closures and two weekly bin collections, or am I being cynical? Whatever happened to the Labour Party I knew????

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR...YOU MAY GET IT!

davidb

in my circumstances im a few quid a week better off by the last budget ,they can have the money back if it means penalising people in lower paid jobs , when the conservatives had the poll tax whether you liked the idea or not , at least they were benefitting their core voters ,this is hurting labours ,it looks like idiocy in comparison

macmurray

The crucial element in that staement is "may". I post this in sorrow as a pretty loyal member of the Labour Party but this policy decision (and the subsequent way the Party leadership have handled it) has depressed me no end.

This , by the Institute of Fiscal Studies sets things out quite well: Institute for Fiscal Studies: Press

rskershaw

I mentioned the possibility of Tax Credit entitlement before as I read that some eligible people do not realise that they are entitled to it, or in some cases do not know what it is. Also, some retired people may be entitled to Pensions Credit, though as Kelp says, this is means tested.

And what's all this about me having me leg off?

Steve Crook

Why do people assume that the party in power has anything to do with the Labour Party of old?

Post Office closures and two weekly bin collections are nothing to do with Europe

Steve

Frank63

Pension Credit is means tested and they take everything into consideration.

What is the point of taking more tax off a person then giving it back via tax credits, sounds to me like it just creates a job for someone and thus costs more in the long run.

I reckon Brown has cut his own throat with this major gaff. It will be interetsing to see what happens in the local elections in May.

" I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception" Groucho Marx

David Brent

Methinks there will be more Brits leaving the UK in droves.

Dave.

JamesM

I wish I was paying tax on a weekly basis instead of spending the tax some of you are paying.

I have been looking for work constantly for five years but have only had one interview in that time. In was offered a job once and agreed to take it nut it never materialized. I have worked in a self-employed capacity occasionally and have been able to sign off but I have never had the security of knowing I would be working beyond the next day.

The first four years I had to apply for work without a work related referee. As a result of some freelance work I did, I now have two work related referees and so the future is brighter. I have been applying for some crap filler-in jobs over this time and would take one now if offered but, with the loss of the 10p tax bracket , I probably could not afford to take many as I live in London where the rents are high.

I was self-employed for eight years before that but everything I did in my own business does not really count as far as employees, or more precisely human resource departments, are concerned. When you don't know your arse from your elbow and can not hold a job down and have a colourful employment history it seems you are everything human resource departments are looking for. As long as HR departments have something written down from you saying you can do the job, regardless of truth, it seems they do not care whether or not you will actually be any good at the job you are given.

Santonix

I am so annoyed at the abolishion of the 10p tax bracket. The thought of hitting our most vulnerable members of society in this way, beggars belief. The goverment knows full well that the take up of tax credits, pension credits etc is low because a lot of people generally don't like to be investigated, don't like to fill out forms and don't like to be made to feel like they are begging to claim something which should be given to them automatically.

DB7

According to today's paper £1.2bn in tax credits goes unclaimed. Sorry to be cynical, but I'm sure part of the government's strategy was that 20-30% of those eligible would simply not bother to claim; perhaps thinking they weren't entitled.