Farage Ltd and Similar Watch

[sycophantia]

I do agree with you largely EW, but it just feels as though they (labour) are doing nothing to correct the narrative. They don't seem to have a strategy at all.

It's mad, the less hotels used and lower immigration things are all correct and easy to verify, just dont understand why they dont bang the drum.

 

[leedswolf]

 

[jd1981]

Most people won’t vote labour back in simply on the basis they’ve not seen their own lives improve since they’ve been in power.
Cost of living is sky high, simple house bills, food etc keep going up.
All this whilst the threat of a tax hike in the next budget, tax rises on businesses.
Regardless what people think not all business owners are wealthy people many live hand to mouth existences.
It’s been said before but trying to tax your way to growth is utter stupidity and is just robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Pointing the finger of blame at the previous government again people won’t buy that crap when you do not a lot to reverse it.
Whilst bills get higher and wages don’t match that growth people get disillusioned very quickly.
My house is an example of this I work very hard as does my wife and we earn probably around the national average wage ( not living wage).
I can barely afford to any recreational activity that costs, haven’t had a holiday in 3 years. Desperately need dental treatment but no NHS dentist are taking on anywhere and cannot afford a private cost.
All my disposable income goes on food and clothing if I’m very lucky. I bust a gut to exist basically and yet I might be taxed more.
The illegal immigration issue for most voters is nothing more than a side issue that becomes front and centre when it’s convenient.
Reality is when people’s lives are in a poor state they will always look for a radical solution and voting reform on the very right or green on the very left will seem viable to them.

 

[sycophantia]

Most people won’t vote labour back in simply on the basis they’ve not seen their own lives improve since they’ve been in power.
Cost of living is sky high, simple house bills, food etc keep going up.
All this whilst the threat of a tax hike in the next budget, tax rises on businesses.
Regardless what people think not all business owners are wealthy people many live hand to mouth existences.
It’s been said before but trying to tax your way to growth is utter stupidity and is just robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Pointing the finger of blame at the previous government again people won’t buy that crap when you do not a lot to reverse it.
Whilst bills get higher and wages don’t match that growth people get disillusioned very quickly.
My house is an example of this I work very hard as does my wife and we earn probably around the national average wage ( not living wage).
I can barely afford to any recreational activity that costs, haven’t had a holiday in 3 years. Desperately need dental treatment but no NHS dentist are taking on anywhere and cannot afford a private cost.
All my disposable income goes on food and clothing if I’m very lucky. I bust a gut to exist basically and yet I might be taxed more.
The illegal immigration issue for most voters is nothing more than a side issue that becomes front and centre when it’s convenient.
Reality is when people’s lives are in a poor state they will always look for a radical solution and voting reform on the very right or green on the very left will seem viable to them.

Wish I'd written this.
Probably the most sensible and balanced political post I've seen on here.

 

[Tredman]

Most people won’t vote labour back in simply on the basis they’ve not seen their own lives improve since they’ve been in power.
Cost of living is sky high, simple house bills, food etc keep going up.
All this whilst the threat of a tax hike in the next budget, tax rises on businesses.
Regardless what people think not all business owners are wealthy people many live hand to mouth existences.
It’s been said before but trying to tax your way to growth is utter stupidity and is just robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Pointing the finger of blame at the previous government again people won’t buy that crap when you do not a lot to reverse it.
Whilst bills get higher and wages don’t match that growth people get disillusioned very quickly.
My house is an example of this I work very hard as does my wife and we earn probably around the national average wage ( not living wage).
I can barely afford to any recreational activity that costs, haven’t had a holiday in 3 years. Desperately need dental treatment but no NHS dentist are taking on anywhere and cannot afford a private cost.
All my disposable income goes on food and clothing if I’m very lucky. I bust a gut to exist basically and yet I might be taxed more.
The illegal immigration issue for most voters is nothing more than a side issue that becomes front and centre when it’s convenient.
Reality is when people’s lives are in a poor state they will always look for a radical solution and voting reform on the very right or green on the very left will seem viable to them.

None of that is fixable in one year though. People will vote populism as they want instant fixes - see the US for how that goes.

 

[sycophantia]

None of that is fixable in one year though. People will vote populism as they want instant fixes - see the US for how that goes.

This is all true of course but it needs somehow a party to have a coherent plan that they can 'sell' to the electorate and show it is having a good if slow beneficial effect.
Given the vested interests and our mainstream media, that is a big ask not sure if it can be done tbh, I've been waiting 50 years and the closest imo was Blair, not perfect by a long way but he now seems to be universally hated.

 

[Tredman]

This is all true of course but it needs somehow a party to have a coherent plan that they can 'sell' to the electorate and show it is having a good if slow beneficial effect.
Given the vested interests and our mainstream media, that is a big ask not sure if it can be done tbh, I've been waiting 50 years and the closest imo was Blair, not perfect by a long way but he now seems to be universally hated.

I don't disagree, some things (NHS waiting lists) are getting better and having had kids just do 27 GCSE written papers the school changes sound good.

Ultimately there is just too much to resolve with an economy totally broke. The electorate won't realise this is their fault for continually voting Tory over the last 50 years, so will knee jerk to some other unrealistic solution. We're fucked, managed decline is the best we can hope for, we won't get that though sadly. Still looking forward to more flags and easy solutions.

 

[sycophantia]

I don't disagree, some things (NHS waiting lists) are getting better and having had kids just do 27 GCSE written papers the school changes sound good.

Ultimately there is just too much to resolve with an economy totally broke. The electorate won't realise this is their fault for continually voting Tory over the last 50 years, so will knee jerk to some other unrealistic solution. We're fucked, managed decline is the best we can hope for, we won't get that though sadly. Still looking forward to more flags and easy solutions.

Labour are terrible at getting their 'successes' out into the public consciousness.

 

[Tredman]

Labour are terrible at getting their 'successes' out into the public consciousness.

Not sure what they can do, they send emails out, do social media etc - I got one pushed to me yesterday for example.

The general media is controlled by people who's only interest is low wages and low taxes for billionaires.

 

[EpsomWolf]

Most people won’t vote labour back in simply on the basis they’ve not seen their own lives improve since they’ve been in power.
Cost of living is sky high, simple house bills, food etc keep going up.
All this whilst the threat of a tax hike in the next budget, tax rises on businesses.
Regardless what people think not all business owners are wealthy people many live hand to mouth existences.
It’s been said before but trying to tax your way to growth is utter stupidity and is just robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Pointing the finger of blame at the previous government again people won’t buy that crap when you do not a lot to reverse it.
Whilst bills get higher and wages don’t match that growth people get disillusioned very quickly.
My house is an example of this I work very hard as does my wife and we earn probably around the national average wage ( not living wage).
I can barely afford to any recreational activity that costs, haven’t had a holiday in 3 years. Desperately need dental treatment but no NHS dentist are taking on anywhere and cannot afford a private cost.
All my disposable income goes on food and clothing if I’m very lucky. I bust a gut to exist basically and yet I might be taxed more.
The illegal immigration issue for most voters is nothing more than a side issue that becomes front and centre when it’s convenient.
Reality is when people’s lives are in a poor state they will always look for a radical solution and voting reform on the very right or green on the very left will seem viable to them.

Pretty balanced that, especially given the pressures you’re under.

I think that’s a territory where a lot of people begin to become resentful - you’re in the ‘engine room’, grafting grafting and grafting with little break or reward, and the government turns to you to be squeezed even harder as the panacea for their financial problems, with everything falling to you.

Working people have to have a return for their endeavours and Labour and the Tories have taken the eye off the ball there. That fuels an easily exploitable resentment, an ideal deflection towards different groups the rich elite, the lazy poor, asylum seekers, loaded pensioners, or whatever.

But it’s not surprising people aren’t exactly warming to Labour when they’re telling people they’re coming after even more, while you yourself are working through the misery necessary to accrue the very assets they intend to come for when/if you finally get them.

 

[jd1981]

None of that is fixable in one year though. People will vote populism as they want instant fixes - see the US for how that goes.

Upping taxes on people flies straight in the face of their manifesto, which is a frank betrayal to those who they say they stand up for.
If the conservatives were in power for the same amount of time after a labour government they’d be hit with the same criticism.
FWIW I voted labour in the last GE, time before that was 25 years ago then they proceeded to send me to a con of a war in Iraq.
People don’t have time to wait for them to get things right when they have to skip meals, turn the heating off etc just to survive.
Not saying I know the solution and that’s why I’m not a politician. However like all of us on here we’re at the very sharp end of life.
I know rising taxes doesn’t stimulate the economy just draws money away from it.

 

[Sniffer]

What are the assets they are coming for?

An honest conversation needs to be had when the young are struggling to make ends meet and millionaire pensioners are handed out an extra 200-400 a week to help them further. Nobody in the Labour Party has the bollocks to stand up and say that the triple lock is unaffordable going forward either.

Also why should those who live off assets pay a lower rate of tax than those going out and working. Thats the first thing I’d fix about the tax system.

 

[Tredman]

Upping taxes on people flies straight in the face of their manifesto, which is a frank betrayal to those who they say they stand up for.
If the conservatives were in power for the same amount of time after a labour government they’d be hit with the same criticism.
FWIW I voted labour in the last GE, time before that was 25 years ago then they proceeded to send me to a con of a war in Iraq.
People don’t have time to wait for them to get things right when they have to skip meals, turn the heating off etc just to survive.
Not saying I know the solution and that’s why I’m not a politician. However like all of us on here we’re at the very sharp end of life.
I know rising taxes doesn’t stimulate the economy just draws money away from it.

If they do do it then it has been suggested that it will be in conjunction with a reduction in NI to make it cost neutral for workers.

 

[EpsomWolf]

What are the assets they are coming for?

An honest conversation needs to be had when the young are struggling to make ends meet and millionaire pensioners are handed out an extra 200-400 a week to help them further.

Oh, I think everything and anything. Labour are always going to be vulnerable to accusations wealth/profit/assets etc are dirty words.

The winter fuel allowance is a convenient smoke screen. It’s ridiculous it wasn’t means tested initially but in opening the door to targeting ‘wealthy’ pensioners, it opens the door to targeting whatever assets you might be working towards yourself. I think people need to be wary of what it might mean for themselves eventually but it’s not something on a radar if you don’t see an opportunity to ever get there yourself.

Pretty clear they’re interested in property especially. Understandable those unable to start on the property ladder would be resentful and want those with the yields of enormous tax-free equity in property they’ve paid mortgages on, to have some of that creamed off. There are all kinds of theories on how those perceived tax-free monies aren’t actually tax-free by manifesting themselves elsewhere, and how any changes destabilise the housing market etc, but fundamentally, the ‘assets’ they are coming for is pretty much whatever it is you’re likely to be striving for.

 

[sycophantia]

What are the assets they are coming for?

An honest conversation needs to be had when the young are struggling to make ends meet and millionaire pensioners are handed out an extra 200-400 a week to help them further. Nobody in the Labour Party has the bollocks to stand up and say that the triple lock is unaffordable going forward either.

Also why should those who live off assets pay a lower rate of tax than those going out and working. Thats the first thing I’d fix about the tax system.

Im not necessarily against means testing the state pension but not sure how we arrive at the correct trigger point for it, there'll be a different view for every set of circumstances.

 

[EpsomWolf]

Also why should those who live off assets pay a lower rate of tax than those going out and working. Thats the first thing I’d fix about the tax system.

How do they pay a lower rate?

They have the same income threshold of £12,570. After that any earnings from assets, part-time work or whatever are taxed at rates as we all are. Assets which anyone tries to accrue in order to assist a retirement existence beyond the struggles of replying solely on a state pension are taxed through a tax return with the same bands the same as everyone else?

 

[Tredman]

No NI though.

 

[PuntsWolf]

Im not necessarily against means testing the state pension but not sure how we arrive at the correct trigger point for it, there'll be a different view for every set of circumstances.

Not that I will likely ever receive it being only in my 30s but I don’t think you could stop people having something they’ve paid into just because they are deemed wealthy enough already. Obviously not the same but would be like paying 10% into a private pension for 40 years and then giving that away to someone else as you had enough money.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Not sure what they can do, they send emails out, do social media etc - I got one pushed to me yesterday for example.

The general media is controlled by people who's only interest is low wages and low taxes for billionaires.

Get on the radio and TV and shout about it!

Starmer had no problem repeating he was the son of a tool maker over and over again.

 

[EpsomWolf]

Pensioners don’t pay NI, but those below that age living off their assets do.

Loads of people retire early, or maybe decide to work reduced hours as they wind down a bit, supplemented by revenue from additional sources.

People need to be aware of what happening in order to protect their own futures, and the misconception pensioners somehow have distorted tax advantages etc is not going to help them.

It’ll be bad enough arriving at 70 or whatever the retirement age will be with no additional revenue and relying solely on the state pension, but it’ll be pretty damn galling if you’ve worked hard to avoid that but inadvertently voted to support a strategy that leaves you there anyway.

Unless thats the version of equality you’re happy with of course.