UK General Election 24/25
- Thread starter LarryHagman
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Reeves and Slot are slowly turning you. It’s a miracle.
The 'big 6' have managed to get away with pulling the old "we hardly make any profits, it's the market price for fuel!" bs for ages - which is *technically* true if you only consider their retail arms, which often aren't making loads of profit.
But that's because they're paying through the nose for the fuel. Which sort of seems to support their position, until it's revealed that they're buying it off themselves, just the extraction arm, and that the umbrella company is fucking raking it in.
Or at least, that's certainly how things used to be when I could be arsed to go digging into this stuff. Can't imagine much has changed...
Do you not have one graph in you? Not even for old times sake? Pretend I'm Dantes and I've said something stupid.
<Manchester City have entered the chat>
There’s some sensible stuff in today’s Sausage Fingers speech.
Budget responsibility bill: Otherwise nicknamed the “Liz Truss bill” – this sets out, in the wake of the short-serving PM’s disastrous mini-budget, that all such fiscal measures must come with an independent assessment by the Office for Budget Responsibility.
National wealth fund bill: Setting out in law one of the government’s main wealth-creating efforts, a £7.3bn capitalised fund to spread investment.
Draft audit reform and corporate governance bill: A more technical piece of legislation setting out a revamped regulator for the auditing sector.
Pension schemes bill: A broad pensions-based bill covering measures intended to help people get more from their retirement pots.
Water (special measures) bill: A law that taps into the anger about dirty waterways and privatised water companies which includes personal criminal liability for water bosses and powers to ban bonuses if environmental standards are not met.
Sustainable aviation fuel (revenue support mechanism) bill: An attempt to increase investment in UK plants to make lower-emission aviation fuels.
Mental health bill: A broad bill to modernise mental health provisions, including in areas such as how people can be detained and treated under the Mental Health Act.
Renters’ rights bill: Finally introducing an end to “no fault” evictions, as long promised but never delivered by Sunak’s government.
Draft leasehold and commonhold reform bill: Another housing plan not delivered under Sunak, this attempts to reform the leasehold system, including a ban on extortionate ground rents and on the sale of new leasehold flats.
Crime and Policing Bill: A more general policing bill, including measures on neighbourhood policing, and stronger rules for the inspectorate to intervene with failing police forces.
Victims, Courts and Public Protection Bill: Among other measures, this would boost the powers of the Victims’ Commissioner.
Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill: Otherwise known as Martyn’s Law, after Martyn Hett, among those killed in the Manchester Arena attack, this would make sure public buildings are better protected against such attacks.
Hillsborough Law: Introducing a legal duty of candour on public servants and authorities, in an attempt to precent Hillsborough-style cover-ups.
House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill: No more heredity peers will sit in the Lords.
Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Bill: This would aim to increase the number of female bishops in the Lords.
Rail Reform Bill: The other element of this, which formally establishes Great British Railways, the state-run rail firm.
High Speed Rail (Crewe to Manchester) Bill: An acknowledgment in law that Labour will not resurrect the Birmingham to Manchester leg of HS2, but will instead focus on east to west links.
Better Buses Bill: A measure which could have a big impact, this changes the law to allow local authorities and mayors to bring bus services under local control, rather than being privately run.
Skills England Bill: Fairly self-explanatory, it brings together employers, unions and others to try to boost skills training.
Draft Conversion Practices Bill: Likely to be quite knotty – a bill to ban so-called conversion practices, including connected to gender.
Armed Forces Commissioner Bill: Another self-explanatory one – to create a commissioner for the forces.
Northern Ireland Legacy Legislation: Another potentially tricky measure, aiming to replace the Northern Ireland Legacy Act, which was criticised for measures such as conditional amnesties for Troubles-era crimes.
Bank Resolution (Recapitalisation) Bill: A fairly technical bill about what happens if a bank fails, including efforts to make sure taxpayers do not bear the costs.
Cybersecurity and Resilience Bill: Another fairly technical bill, about protecting digital services.
Arbitration Bill: A bill which aims to modernise and hasten dispute resolution systems.
Product Safety and Metrology Bill: “Metrology” means measurement – this is another quite specific intended to boost economic efficiency and thus growth.
Digital Information and Smart Data Bill: In a similar vein, this would change data-sharing standards, and introduce a proper system for digital verification services.
The Crown Estate Bill: This aims to modernise the crown estate, the semi-detached property management arms of the state, including improving its ability to invest.
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Bill: Perhaps the most specific bill of all: this would “treat the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the International Committee of the Red Cross in a manner comparable to that of an international organisation of which the United Kingdom, or His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom, is a member”.
Holocaust Memorial Bill: To establish a national Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre next parliament.
Economy and money
Budget responsibility bill: Otherwise nicknamed the “Liz Truss bill” – this sets out, in the wake of the short-serving PM’s disastrous mini-budget, that all such fiscal measures must come with an independent assessment by the Office for Budget Responsibility.
National wealth fund bill: Setting out in law one of the government’s main wealth-creating efforts, a £7.3bn capitalised fund to spread investment.
Draft audit reform and corporate governance bill: A more technical piece of legislation setting out a revamped regulator for the auditing sector.
Pension schemes bill: A broad pensions-based bill covering measures intended to help people get more from their retirement pots.
Environment
Great British Energy bill: Very much one of the big-ticket bills, this sets up Labour’s long-promised publicly owned clean energy production company.Water (special measures) bill: A law that taps into the anger about dirty waterways and privatised water companies which includes personal criminal liability for water bosses and powers to ban bonuses if environmental standards are not met.
Sustainable aviation fuel (revenue support mechanism) bill: An attempt to increase investment in UK plants to make lower-emission aviation fuels.
Health
Tobacco and vapes bill: Left over from Rishi Sunak’s government, this would gradually ban smoking and stop vapes being marketed at children.Mental health bill: A broad bill to modernise mental health provisions, including in areas such as how people can be detained and treated under the Mental Health Act.
Housing
Planning and infrastructure bill: One of the government’s flagship measures, intended to streamline and speed up planning measures, plus associated infrastructure needs, to get more housing built. It includes a more top-down approach – with penalties for councils that fail to get moving.Renters’ rights bill: Finally introducing an end to “no fault” evictions, as long promised but never delivered by Sunak’s government.
Draft leasehold and commonhold reform bill: Another housing plan not delivered under Sunak, this attempts to reform the leasehold system, including a ban on extortionate ground rents and on the sale of new leasehold flats.
Workers’ rights
Employment rights bill: The long-promised bill, coming with a pledge that it will be introduced to parliament in the first 100 days of the government, would ban zero-hours contracts and fire and rehire practices, add extra rights such as on flexible working, and make parental leave, sick pay and protection from unfair dismissal immediate rights.Crime and immigration
Border security, asylum and immigration bill: This sets up the new Border Security Command, intended to limit the number of unofficial Channel crossings by asylum seekers, with other enforcement measures introduced.Crime and Policing Bill: A more general policing bill, including measures on neighbourhood policing, and stronger rules for the inspectorate to intervene with failing police forces.
Victims, Courts and Public Protection Bill: Among other measures, this would boost the powers of the Victims’ Commissioner.
Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill: Otherwise known as Martyn’s Law, after Martyn Hett, among those killed in the Manchester Arena attack, this would make sure public buildings are better protected against such attacks.
Devolution and governance
English Devolution Bill: Yet another much-touted measure, intended to extend devolution as a default setting across England, giving the opportunity for extra powers for mayors and local authorities.Hillsborough Law: Introducing a legal duty of candour on public servants and authorities, in an attempt to precent Hillsborough-style cover-ups.
House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill: No more heredity peers will sit in the Lords.
Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Bill: This would aim to increase the number of female bishops in the Lords.
Transport
Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill: A simple bill, but a potentially big change – bringing rail services back into public ownership.Rail Reform Bill: The other element of this, which formally establishes Great British Railways, the state-run rail firm.
High Speed Rail (Crewe to Manchester) Bill: An acknowledgment in law that Labour will not resurrect the Birmingham to Manchester leg of HS2, but will instead focus on east to west links.
Better Buses Bill: A measure which could have a big impact, this changes the law to allow local authorities and mayors to bring bus services under local control, rather than being privately run.
Education and skills
Children’s Wellbeing Bill: Introduces free breakfast clubs in primary schools, as well as efforts to make uniforms cheaper.Skills England Bill: Fairly self-explanatory, it brings together employers, unions and others to try to boost skills training.
Equality
Draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill: This would set out equal pay rights for people from minority ethnic groups and disabled people, including mandatory ethnicity and disability pay reporting for bigger employers.Draft Conversion Practices Bill: Likely to be quite knotty – a bill to ban so-called conversion practices, including connected to gender.
Miscellaneous
Football Governance Bill: Would introduce a fans-friendly independent football regulator.Armed Forces Commissioner Bill: Another self-explanatory one – to create a commissioner for the forces.
Northern Ireland Legacy Legislation: Another potentially tricky measure, aiming to replace the Northern Ireland Legacy Act, which was criticised for measures such as conditional amnesties for Troubles-era crimes.
Bank Resolution (Recapitalisation) Bill: A fairly technical bill about what happens if a bank fails, including efforts to make sure taxpayers do not bear the costs.
Cybersecurity and Resilience Bill: Another fairly technical bill, about protecting digital services.
Arbitration Bill: A bill which aims to modernise and hasten dispute resolution systems.
Product Safety and Metrology Bill: “Metrology” means measurement – this is another quite specific intended to boost economic efficiency and thus growth.
Digital Information and Smart Data Bill: In a similar vein, this would change data-sharing standards, and introduce a proper system for digital verification services.
The Crown Estate Bill: This aims to modernise the crown estate, the semi-detached property management arms of the state, including improving its ability to invest.
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Bill: Perhaps the most specific bill of all: this would “treat the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the International Committee of the Red Cross in a manner comparable to that of an international organisation of which the United Kingdom, or His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom, is a member”.
Holocaust Memorial Bill: To establish a national Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre next parliament.
That will come after the COVID inquiry has finished.
While I agree with the 2 child cap , I hate it when politicians are forced to tow the party line. That's not what politics/democracy should be about.
possibly one of my more right leaning views.. why should the tax payer have to pay for the 'breeders' who milk the system?
Tax avoidance is a much bigger bill than the social security bill. Complain about that first.
So as background I am a net payer into the tax system. I pay a lot of tax.
It often occurs to me it’d be a lot more efficient if we paid in to the tax system in one simple route rather than the myriad ways we do currently, and those in need get supported by one payment.
As it stands we tax those in need through Income tax, NI, VAT etc and then give back via a myriad of routes that all cost money to administer and need to be requested (in general).
I realise I’m just musing and it’ll never happen
It often occurs to me it’d be a lot more efficient if we paid in to the tax system in one simple route rather than the myriad ways we do currently, and those in need get supported by one payment.
As it stands we tax those in need through Income tax, NI, VAT etc and then give back via a myriad of routes that all cost money to administer and need to be requested (in general).
I realise I’m just musing and it’ll never happen
Because for every "breeder milking the system" there are 4 families who have found themselves in financial trouble for whatever reason, and a great functioning society should have a way to support them and prevent them from ending up homeless or in povety.
Maybe the better answer is harsher penalties for benefit cheats, but TBH there is much better 'reward' for saving on Government spending / maximising government income by focusing at the top rather than the bottom of the earning tree.
I’m never convinced by that. The higher earners that HMRC chase cost a lot more to prosecute because they fight back. There’s been a string of losses in the last few years that have taken time to build and take to court and failed. One case went to court 4 times and ended up with the Revenue paying not only their own expenses but chunks of the plaintiff too.
Unfortunately, the best stream of income has, and will continue to be, middle income earners. The ones who have enough money to pinch and but no means to fight back
Because the replacement rate is crashing through the floor and without more kids everything is gonna fall apart? On a purely selfish level even, the projections for the ability to provide state pensions look a mess even 15 years from now.
Yes, this is fair I guess. It kinda depends where middle income stops and high earners begin. I feel the bands for higher rate and additional rate need changing, and I would be in favour of a higher rate for the additional rate.
So now it is:
1. Up to 12.5k - 0%
2. 12.5 - 50.25k - 20%
3. 50.25 - 125.14 - 40%
4. 125.15k and over - 45%
I'm sure there is a calculator that can refine this but I think it would be better more like below, or even a higher upper band for level 2.
1. Up to 15k - 0%
2. 15 - 55k- 20%
3. 55 - 200k 40%
4. 200k and over - 50%
The more favourable the combined 1 & 2 are, the more spending we will see in the country e.g. in high streets, pubs, restaurants etc. This (in my view, and unsupported by data that probably shows i'm wrong) feels to be where there is higher propensity to spend disposable income.
With the population crash about to wreck things combined with the enivronmental crash about to wreck most other things, it's almost starting to seem like basing the economy around continuous growth is a bad thing.
You’re focussing on the 0.01% of cases.
I look at meatier cases and bring in £millions. Not all those cases go through the courts. I’ve only been threatened once to be taken through the tribunal system and even then they backed down. Even those which go through the courts, HMRC win more than they lose. When they win, they generally win big.
My job essentially is looking at all aspects, small, medium and large as well as wealthy individuals. Putting stops in place to facilitate errors and avoidance. That’s a massive income stream.
There are some silly things in place which unnecessarily squeeze the middle income earners. The higher income benefit charge is politically motivated. It’s a poor revenue raiser and inefficient to police.
Back to the point about the cap, it’s bonkers in my opinion. It’s small change. I’d also throw in free school meals too.
I looked at breakfast/after school clubs and it’s not worth it. Luckily me and Mrs Momo have flexible working so can sort out pick up and drop offs. Otherwise we’d be spending loads on it.
*adds reminder never to let Momo know my real name and NI number*
....*or to be mean to him again*
All these years I could have asked you something and I didn't take the opportunity...
The problem with shifting the starting threshold is that it benefits all taxpayers. Which is a conundrum because trying to tax the lowest paid less and excluding all others means multiple tax systems which are already MASSIVELY complex.
You also have to throw in NI which is based on different criteria, has different classes and adds further complexity to what is essentially a parallel income tax.
Stupid system!
Then on top of that we have a super complex system of taxing almost everything we buy as am individual or as a company. Massively expensive to operate. I have to pay additional accountancy fees just to add 20% to my invoices which I then pass on to the government. In other words it costs me to pay the government!
If you want to drop anyone in it feel free.
I'm no snitch! Actually, I would snitch on some of the cunts here...
Nah, it was myself but that's in the past now. I'm as clean as a fucking whistle, swear on me mother's life, guvnor.
Unlike Dee who is clearly up to something.
Legacy systems man. Common theme in the general chat these days.
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