And here we go on here again discussing why we need more benefits, not less.
I despair.
I’d argue we need fewer benefits not less benefits
The state is trying to do too much and penny pinching in the process.
Better to do less and fund it properly
The latest borrowing figures are horrific. The 30 year rates are eye-watering.
We are heading for a sovereign debt crisis at this rate.
Just imagine if we get a bit of Greekery with public sector pensions capped or heavily discounted, a 20% haircut on all benefits across the board, a 5% public sector paycut, 3-4p on the basic and higher rate, and a double-lock being imposed by the IMF.
We should trim back the bribes and fund the core functions of the state - justice, defence, foreign affairs, industrial strategy, and education - properly.
Trimming back isn’t going to work.
You need to say “I want to do X” - what is the best way of achieving it.
It’s the accretion of small and medium sized programmes that get done for reasons and never cancelled that is the problem. Winter fuel allowance is a classic example.
But education, for example, we should fund properly. Eliminating 1 TA per class or the Sure Start programme is probably counterproductive
No, but that's exactly where we're heading at the moment. And for it to be imposed on us.
Because no-one wants to grasp the nettle, and neither do the voters.
It's worth noting that a big driver of Reform support is things like the qualification of Winter Fuel allowance and, no doubt, other perks and benefits - so I expect zero change on that front.
And here we go on here again discussing why we need more benefits, not less.
I despair.
I’d argue we need fewer benefits not less benefits
The state is trying to do too much and penny pinching in the process.
Better to do less and fund it properly
The latest borrowing figures are horrific. The 30 year rates are eye-watering.
We are heading for a sovereign debt crisis at this rate.
Just imagine if we get a bit of Greekery with public sector pensions capped or heavily discounted, a 20% haircut on all benefits across the board, a 5% public sector paycut, 3-4p on the basic and higher rate, and a double-lock being imposed by the IMF.
We should trim back the bribes and fund the core functions of the state - justice, defence, foreign affairs, industrial strategy, and education - properly.
We aren't Greece. Our debt is in a currency we both control and print. And our economy is a tad larger than theirs.
Our debt level is only a problem because we're not growing, and we stopped doing that because we stopped investing.
Borrow. Invest. Gain a Return on the Investment. Reinvest.
And here we go on here again discussing why we need more benefits, not less.
I despair.
What we want is functioning families - and they need some sort of financial safety net just like PB'ers. What was that comment about "the price of everything and the value of nothing"?
The problem is that benefits aren't being used as a safety net, they are being used to support families long-term
And here we go on here again discussing why we need more benefits, not less.
I despair.
What we want is functioning families - and they need some sort of financial safety net just like PB'ers. What was that comment about "the price of everything and the value of nothing"?
throwing even more cash at feckless feckers is not the answer, enough is squandered on them already.
It's not just that. It's the families who work hard but, being responsible, will only have kids if they are sure they can provide for them. Average savings for young people in this country are small, so most families will be reliant on benefits in the event they lose their jobs or are seriously injured - particularly single mothers.
I received a call today from Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, requesting an extension on the June 1st deadline on the 50% Tariff with respect to Trade and the European Union. I agreed to the extension — July 9, 2025 — It was my privilege to do so. The Commission President said that talks will begin rapidly. Thank you for your attention to this matter!
He’s the boy who cried wolf. He’ll go on announcing tariffs and then he’ll extend deadlines or reverse them before the deadline.
Trump is in a terrible bind of his own making. He's probably hoping the bond market gives him an out. At least he can then keep MAGA onside by blaming somebody else and taking no personal responsibility.
She's a socialist. She wants sweeping tax rises across the board to pay for an expanded welfare state, higher spending on pay and services, more nationalisations and much tougher treatment of the private sector.
She'd delight the base for a few weeks. Until she crashed the economy.
Yes, I agree, and perhaps that is what we need to get some fiscal discipline. A modern winter of discontent
And here we go on here again discussing why we need more benefits, not less.
I despair.
I’d argue we need fewer benefits not less benefits
The state is trying to do too much and penny pinching in the process.
Better to do less and fund it properly
The latest borrowing figures are horrific. The 30 year rates are eye-watering.
We are heading for a sovereign debt crisis at this rate.
Just imagine if we get a bit of Greekery with public sector pensions capped or heavily discounted, a 20% haircut on all benefits across the board, a 5% public sector paycut, 3-4p on the basic and higher rate, and a double-lock being imposed by the IMF.
We should trim back the bribes and fund the core functions of the state - justice, defence, foreign affairs, industrial strategy, and education - properly.
The PIGS are all currently paying rather less than we are to borrow.
I received a call today from Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, requesting an extension on the June 1st deadline on the 50% Tariff with respect to Trade and the European Union. I agreed to the extension — July 9, 2025 — It was my privilege to do so. The Commission President said that talks will begin rapidly. Thank you for your attention to this matter!
He’s the boy who cried wolf. He’ll go on announcing tariffs and then he’ll extend deadlines or reverse them before the deadline.
Trump is in a terrible bind of his own making. He's probably hoping the bond market gives him an out. At least he can then keep MAGA onside by blaming somebody else and taking no personal responsibility.
He's given Putin a jolly good telling off, I see. It's headline news so the delusion that what he says means something remains intact.
And here we go on here again discussing why we need more benefits, not less.
I despair.
I’d argue we need fewer benefits not less benefits
The state is trying to do too much and penny pinching in the process.
Better to do less and fund it properly
The latest borrowing figures are horrific. The 30 year rates are eye-watering.
We are heading for a sovereign debt crisis at this rate.
Just imagine if we get a bit of Greekery with public sector pensions capped or heavily discounted, a 20% haircut on all benefits across the board, a 5% public sector paycut, 3-4p on the basic and higher rate, and a double-lock being imposed by the IMF.
We should trim back the bribes and fund the core functions of the state - justice, defence, foreign affairs, industrial strategy, and education - properly.
The public want more without paying more taxes . The triple lock should have been a temporary measure and isn’t sustainable but which party will put getting rid of it in their next election manifesto ?
Unless there’s cross party support to do away with it then it’s going nowhere .
As Casino says , every benefit should be cut , including triple lock , all government pension schemes and all government departments. We cannot go on forever giving away more and more of less and less people's hard earned cash as largesse to people who should be looking after themselves. Real disabled people excepted.
And here we go on here again discussing why we need more benefits, not less.
I despair.
I’d argue we need fewer benefits not less benefits
The state is trying to do too much and penny pinching in the process.
Better to do less and fund it properly
The latest borrowing figures are horrific. The 30 year rates are eye-watering.
We are heading for a sovereign debt crisis at this rate.
Just imagine if we get a bit of Greekery with public sector pensions capped or heavily discounted, a 20% haircut on all benefits across the board, a 5% public sector paycut, 3-4p on the basic and higher rate, and a double-lock being imposed by the IMF.
We should trim back the bribes and fund the core functions of the state - justice, defence, foreign affairs, industrial strategy, and education - properly.
We aren't Greece. Our debt is in a currency we both control and print. And our economy is a tad larger than theirs.
Our debt level is only a problem because we're not growing, and we stopped doing that because we stopped investing.
Borrow. Invest. Gain a Return on the Investment. Reinvest.
like HS2 and hinkley point , forests of trees on planning, they cannot do anything right, 100 million spent on 100 bats, the country is run by moronic halfwits. Time to take an axe to the state and the hangers on big time.
Comments
Because no-one wants to grasp the nettle, and neither do the voters.
It's worth noting that a big driver of Reform support is things like the qualification of Winter Fuel allowance and, no doubt, other perks and benefits - so I expect zero change on that front.
Our debt level is only a problem because we're not growing, and we stopped doing that because we stopped investing.
Borrow. Invest. Gain a Return on the Investment. Reinvest.
NEW THREAD
We cannot go on forever giving away more and more of less and less people's hard earned cash as largesse to people who should be looking after themselves. Real disabled people excepted.
Time to take an axe to the state and the hangers on big time.