5 years hard labour ?

[Haliotis]

On 9/9/2024 at 10:58 PM, Big_D said:

It's like the old classic joke:

How do you know a Politician is lying??

 

They open their mouth

Only the side of their mouth when they are whispering to their cronies!

[Bper]

4 hours ago, Haliotis said:

I think, as is usual with newspaper headlines, that there is a deliberate sensationalism here.  Any tax on savings is limited to the amount of interest earned - not the capital sum.  If your annual income is less than £50,000 then, AT PRESRENT,  you can earn a total interest of £1,000 in any year without being taxed.  Who knows how this might change with the October budget?  But they still cannot take tax out of the capital.

On the subject of savings and tax,I was reading that many pensioners receive the full state pension but may not have any other income aside from interest on savings. This information might be useful for anyone in a similar position, especially those concerned about the annual triple lock pension increases and the possibility of falling into the tax bracket.

You can have a total income from your pension and savings interest of up to £17,570 per year without paying tax, as long as your pension income is below £12,570.Your pension income (or other non-savings income) is covered by the Personal Allowance, which is currently £12,570. You won’t pay tax on this amount.

Starting Rate for Savings, if your pension income is less than £12,570, you can earn up to £5,000 in savings interest tax-free under the Starting Rate for Savings.

So, if your pension income is £12,570 or less, and your savings interest is £5,000 or less, you can have a total income of up to £17,570 without paying any tax. Many probably know this already but it seems many do not.😄

[Eddie G]

16 minutes ago, Bper said:

On the subject of savings and tax,I was reading that many pensioners receive the full state pension but may not have any other income aside from interest on savings. This information might be useful for anyone in a similar position, especially those concerned about the annual triple lock pension increases and the possibility of falling into the tax bracket.

You can have a total income from your pension and savings interest of up to £17,570 per year without paying tax, as long as your pension income is below £12,570.Your pension income (or other non-savings income) is covered by the Personal Allowance, which is currently £12,570. You won’t pay tax on this amount.

Starting Rate for Savings, if your pension income is less than £12,570, you can earn up to £5,000 in savings interest tax-free under the Starting Rate for Savings.

So, if your pension income is £12,570 or less, and your savings interest is £5,000 or less, you can have a total income of up to £17,570 without paying any tax. Many probably know this already but it seems many do not.😄

Good info 👍 even if i have to wait till i am 67 to retire, mind you with Labour in power and the way they are going on am glad am not at retirement age! never thought i would ever say that! 😆

[Eddie G]

On 9/11/2024 at 11:03 AM, Bper said:

Despite many Labour MPs opposing the removal of the winter fuel allowance, instead of voting against the bill, they abstained. When the vote was announced, they cheered. Does this not show the contempt they have for pensioners? They didn’t have the courage to stand by their convictions and vote against the bill. Is this because it would damage their political chances of gaining a position around the cabinet table? They should hang their heads in shame, and voters will not forget this.😡

Disgraceful, have only ever not voted Labour once but will not be voting for them ever again.

[Rhymes with Paris]

A bunch of turkeys voted for Christmas once, I don't think it turned out that well.

Then again they too had probably been sold lies and a concealed manifesto.

From a selfish outlook, I do fear for what future I have left, save what you can for your old age and get had over, don't save and you have no money for immediate needs, and are dependent on the ever changing requirements and inevitable delays to obtain it.

Edit: not least the couple of grand I have had to spend in the last year or so getting essential dental treatment to get me out of severe pain.

If I had no savings,it would have been tough, suffer, no dental treatment for you.

[Bper]

A wholesaler surrenders 35,000 Zombie blades worth £350,000 and who's paying for this "WE ARE".🤬

[Bper]

2 hours ago, Rhymes with Paris said:

A bunch of turkeys voted for Christmas once, I don't think it turned out that well.

Then again they too had probably been sold lies and a concealed manifesto.

From a selfish outlook, I do fear for what future I have left, save what you can for your old age and get had over, don't save and you have no money for immediate needs, and are dependent on the ever changing requirements and inevitable delays to obtain it.

Edit: not least the couple of grand I have had to spend in the last year or so getting essential dental treatment to get me out of severe pain.

If I had no savings,it would have been tough, suffer, no dental treatment for you.

Hi Paul,I believe pensioners and even younger adults with families are also fearful for the future. It's like we're all living through a nightmare. So many changes that would have been laughed off years ago have now become reality. Nothing seems to work in this country, and many people who are able to work don't. The list of things going wrong is growing daily, along with NHS waiting lists.

People who have worked all their lives, paid taxes, and raised their children to be responsible, law abiding members of society are sick and tired of politicians ruining nearly everything they touch.

For many, being a pensioner today is a real nightmare. Some face the daily choice between heating or eating. They were led to believe they would be taken care of in old age, only to realise they've been sold a lie. Pushed to the back of the queue, feeling worthless and uncared for like an old toy abandoned in the cupboard, no longer of any use.

They're fearful of complaining or too proud to ask for help. It's a society of "me, me, me," where people forget that one day they too will be pensioners. All of this is driven home by those who promise to take care of them, only to lie once they secure their votes. We are an aging population, with more elderly than ever in the future. Politicians need to stop and recognise the real effects their policies and decisions are having on pensioners.😡

 

[Cyker]

4 hours ago, Eddie G said:

Disgraceful, have only ever not voted Labour once but will not be voting for them ever again.

To be fair, that's hardy limited to Labour. ALL the political parties are like that - They literally have people called whips to force their members to vote along party lines and to clamp down on dissenters.

The more you look at how the system works the less democratic it seems!

That's why I was saying maybe political parties should be banned altogether, to stop this sort of stuff.

[FROSTYBALLS]

2 minutes ago, Cyker said:

That's why I was saying maybe political parties should be banned altogether, to stop this sort of stuff.

Dictatorship ?

I suggest Mr Bean.

[Cyker]

Well you could say that's effectively what we have at the moment - a Choose Your Own Dictator, since once in power they do whatever they like regardless of any prior promises and have little to no accountability for their actions if they know how to play the system.

But no you misunderstand me, the idea I was mooting before was not banning parliament etc., just banning the parties so that all the MPs were effectively independent - No political parties, just people.

And you vote for someone because you think they're good and will represent you, not because they are Labour or Conservative.

Your MP should be putting the interests of your area first, not this bizzaro system we have where the party's interests come at the expense of the peoples and MPs are forced to vote against their will by their own parties.

The whole Labour vs Conservative thing is outdated and archaic. Half of the things they do are things you'd expect from the other party, and the other side only opposes it because that side did it, even when it's something you'd expect they themselves to have implemented.

It's like watching two rival hillbilly clans fighting against each other - There's no logic or reason behind it any more, they just oppose something because the other party wants it, even if it hurts them.

Even school children have a better sense of co-operation than these idiots, so maybe it's time we broke them all up.

 

[Eddie G]

17 minutes ago, Cyker said:

To be fair, that's hardy limited to Labour. ALL the political parties are like that - They literally have people called whips to force their members to vote along party lines and to clamp down on dissenters.

The more you look at how the system works the less democratic it seems!

That's why I was saying maybe political parties should be banned altogether, to stop this sort of stuff.

They are all as bad as each other, one can see why a lot of people don't even bother to vote.

[Big_D]

2 minutes ago, Eddie G said:

They are all as bad as each other, one can see why a lot of people don't even bother to vote.

I totally agree. 

[FROSTYBALLS]

Reading an article on Starmer's junk food ads ban and NHS reform in the Express tonight, came across a possible worrying increase in constipation - quote:

"He singled out money wasted on agency staff who cost up to £5,000 a shit"

[Basil-BarryC]

2 minutes ago, FROSTYBALLS said:

Reading an article on Starmer's junk food ads ban and NHS reform in the Express tonight, came across a possible worrying increase in constipation - quote:

"He singled out money wasted on agency staff who cost up to £5,000 a ****"

Starmer seems to have verbal diarrhoea at the moment 😀

[Eddie G]

17 minutes ago, Basil-BarryC said:

Starmer seems to have verbal diarrhoea at the moment 😀

Starmer has said "Turn The Page" that much that i now speed read everything 😆

[Cyker]

23 minutes ago, Eddie G said:

They are all as bad as each other, one can see why a lot of people don't even bother to vote.

21 minutes ago, Big_D said:

I totally agree. 

Exactly, and this is how extremist parties could take over, as everybody becomes disillusioned, and then some crazy psycho party gets in with like 10 votes because only their fanatics bothered to vote!

Admittedly I have cribbed this scenario from the plots of several books, but it feels like it's getting more and more plausible as time goes on and voter engagement continues to drop because it just seems like the parties are only in it for their own agenda

 

[Big_D]

At least I can't blame myself. I never voted for the idiots

[Haliotis]

I regularly watch Politics Today on. BBC, particularly PMQ on Wednesdays.  Two things have been patently obvious:    (1) The uproar from the back benches, for which The Speaker frequently need to call order, renders MPs to a level worse than unruly children.             (2) When a panel of MPs is holding a “discussion” on TV, They constantly interrupt each other and will talk incessantly to prevent a different point of view from being presented.  They are mentally fixed in their own opinions, to the point that they will reject a better suggestion from the Opposition, simply because it did not evolve from their own Party.  Dhow can they run a country when they probably cannot correctly run a tap???

[Bper]

Drivers who fail to pay their Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) fines could soon find bailiffs knocking at their door, after Sadiq Khan revealed he was weighing up all options to chase almost £400million owed to Transport for London. 

£376m of outstanding fines has now been racked up as thousands of drivers of cars that do not meet strict environmental standards fail to pay the controversial daily £12.50 charge.It is thought TfL's bad debts are now in excess of £450m, with a large proportion of that attributed to ULEZ. So bolt the door and draw the curtains.😡

 

[Eddie G]

5 hours ago, Haliotis said:

I regularly watch Politics Today on. BBC, particularly PMQ on Wednesdays.  Two things have been patently obvious:    (1) The uproar from the back benches, for which The Speaker frequently need to call order, renders MPs to a level worse than unruly children.             (2) When a panel of MPs is holding a “discussion” on TV, They constantly interrupt each other and will talk incessantly to prevent a different point of view from being presented.  They are mentally fixed in their own opinions, to the point that they will reject a better suggestion from the Opposition, simply because it did not evolve from their own Party.  Dhow can they run a country when they probably cannot correctly run a tap???

Have noticed that as well, it's like they are back in the school play yard and shouting at each other trying to get their point across, what happened to manners and letting someone finish their point or in fact just acting like a grown up? next up they will start stamping their feet at the same time 😆

Edited September 13 by Eddie G
Added information

[Eddie G]

19 hours ago, Cyker said:

Exactly, and this is how extremist parties could take over, as everybody becomes disillusioned, and then some crazy psycho party gets in with like 10 votes because only their fanatics bothered to vote!

Admittedly I have cribbed this scenario from the plots of several books, but it feels like it's getting more and more plausible as time goes on and voter engagement continues to drop because it just seems like the parties are only in it for their own agenda

 

Time will tell but looking like it could end up that way down the line.

[Bper]

5 hours ago, Haliotis said:

I regularly watch Politics Today on. BBC, particularly PMQ on Wednesdays.  Two things have been patently obvious:    (1) The uproar from the back benches, for which The Speaker frequently need to call order, renders MPs to a level worse than unruly children.             (2) When a panel of MPs is holding a “discussion” on TV, They constantly interrupt each other and will talk incessantly to prevent a different point of view from being presented.  They are mentally fixed in their own opinions, to the point that they will reject a better suggestion from the Opposition, simply because it did not evolve from their own Party.  Dhow can they run a country when they probably cannot correctly run a tap???

Its worse then a chimps tea party to watch PMQs sometimes. The constant shouting and interruptions  make the whole thing seem more like a schoolyard scuffle than serious debate. It’s really annoying when MPs talk over each other and won’t even listen to good ideas from the opposition just because they didn’t come from their own party. It shows you how effective they are at running the country when they can’t even manage a civil discussion. It’s clear that something needs to change to make politics more productive and less about winning arguments.😡

 

[First_Toyota]

I read that Labour are ‘considering’ removal of the 25% Council Tax discount for single occupants of a property, saying it would ‘save’ £3BN.

Whilst it is true this would be another attack on single pensioners, more risky for Labour it would also impact millions of under 30 year-olds who increasingly live alone. With rents/mortgages remaining high and the cost of living generally still higher than it has been in decades, this may finally make a large number of those younger voters who supported Labour reconsider their choice when they get hit in the pocket.

I’m beginning to think that Sunak may have (unintentionally) played a bit of a blinder here. 14 years of Conservative Government, which certainly wasn’t brilliant, followed by this current shambles with Labour (currently approaching Truss levels of polling popularity!) likely means another 10-20 years of Conservative Government next..😂😂😂

P.S. One thing I always believed from my politics studies many years ago was that there is a clear order of obligation for MPs, which always was;

- national interest

- constituents

- party

I’d be fairly sure that hasn’t changed, so the current crop are playing a risky game ignoring the needs of their constituents and claiming ‘national interest’ for the Winter Fuel Allowance (as an example). 

Some very credible people are challenging the narrative being pushed by Labour. I think it’s becoming clear they’re out of their depth and - to be frank - simply dishonest.

https://news.sky.com/video/mini-fiscal-event-in-july-was-unnecessary-and-probably-unhelpful-says-former-bank-of-england-chief-economist-andy-haldane-13213588
 

 

[Eddie G]

13 minutes ago, First_Toyota said:

I read that Labour are ‘considering’ removal of the 25% Council Tax discount for single occupants of a property, saying it would ‘save’ £3BN.

Whilst it is true this would be another attack on single pensioners, more risky for Labour it would also impact millions of under 30 year-olds who increasingly live alone. With rents/mortgages remaining high and the cost of living generally still higher than it has been in decades, this may finally make a large number of those younger voters who supported Labour reconsider their choice when they get hit in the pocket.

I’m beginning to think that Sunak may have (unintentionally) played a bit of a blinder here. 14 years of Conservative Government, which certainly wasn’t brilliant, followed by this current shambles with Labour (currently approaching Truss levels of polling popularity!) likely means another 10-20 years of Conservative Government next..😂😂😂

P.S. One thing I always believed from my politics studies many years ago was that there is a clear order of obligation for MPs, which always was;

- national interest

- constituents

- party

I’d be fairly sure that hasn’t changed, so the current crop are playing a risky game ignoring the needs of their constituents and claiming ‘national interest’ for the Winter Fuel Allowance (as an example). 

Some very credible people are challenging the narrative being pushed by Labour. I think it’s becoming clear they’re out of their depth and - to be frank - simply dishonest.

https://news.sky.com/video/mini-fiscal-event-in-july-was-unnecessary-and-probably-unhelpful-says-former-bank-of-england-chief-economist-andy-haldane-13213588
 

 

Out of their depth and dishonest sums it up for me, the 25% council tax cut which am guessing will happen come budget time in Oct is a disgrace. The Tories will be back after 5 years of one term Labour but i will not be voting for either of them if i vote at all again?

[First_Toyota]

10 minutes ago, Eddie G said:

Out of their depth and dishonest sums it up for me, the 25% council tax cut which am guessing will happen come budget time in Oct is a disgrace. The Tories will be back after 5 years of one term Labour but i will be voting for either of them if i vote at all again?

Whether Labour or Conservative, what we have are a number of entitled and wealthy individuals preaching to, and penalising, the population, safe in the knowledge that they’ll continue to be wealthy regardless. It’s corrupt. 

They speak about public service, honesty, and integrity. None of them know the meaning of such words. I’ve always been politically active and interested, but increasingly I can’t see the point. They only meet people with whom they know there’s agreement or a risk free photo opportunity. They simply have no care for the impact of their actions. I really believe they are all simply in politics for what they can get out of it, and that they look down on us as ‘the plebs.’

One final point. All of this increased taxation does, to quote Labour, impact ‘those with the broadest shoulders.’ We all know that’s a lie. Those with the ‘broadest shoulders’ simply move elsewhere or pay/avoid tax through their Shell company.

The people this affects, they’ll stop paying for a cleaner, a gardener, a decorator. They’ll spend less in the shops. In the end, this attack on the ‘middle earners and elderly’ actually ends up costing the genuine strivers in society. Once a generation people vote Labour. There’s a reason it’s generally only once!