Great News for the UK

[Mock Turtle]

I prefer the monarchy to scumbag politicians

It is altogether more dignified

There are some proper arseholes who go into politics for all the wrong reasons

Unfortunately the UK often gets arseholes in both.

 

[Sumadji]

I think Starmer is a slimy git but I voted Labour to prevent the Tories taking away disabled benefits and other actions against the most vulnerable and those on disabled benefits.

Then guess what was Labour's first move? Taking away pensioner winter fuel benefits, to save 1.5 billion. To be followed closely by -- you guessed it -- taking away disability benefits and forcing disabled people to seek work.

The latter will save the economy a huge 129 million a year -- a tiny amount for the misery it will cause. It may pay for a couple of offshore windmills.

If Labour has announced this benefit stripping before the election they would have lost a BIG lot of votes.

So Starmer proved me right -- a slimeball, imo

 

[RestlessSoul]

I think Starmer is a slimy git but I voted Labour to prevent the Tories taking away disabled benefits and other actions against the most vulnerable and those on disabled benefits.

Then guess what was Labour's first move? Taking away pensioner winter fuel benefits, to save 1.5 billion. To be followed closely by -- you guessed it -- taking away disability benefits and forcing disabled people to seek work.

The latter will save the economy a huge 129 million a year -- a tiny amount for the misery it will cause. It may pay for a couple of offshore windmills.

If Labour has announced this benefit stripping before the election they would have lost a BIG lot of votes.

So Starmer proved me right -- a slimeball, imo

Most - admittedly not all - pensioners are a hundred times richer than their grandchildren can ever hope to be. My 89 year old mum won’t miss her winter fuel payment, and the pensioners who will miss it won’t lose it.

On the other hand, my son and his little family are crammed into a tiny flat, unable to get on the housing ladder. That’s the generation which needs help from the government, not their home owning mortgage free grandparents, many - again, not all - of whom have generous workplace pensions which won’t be available to future generations.

 

[Mock Turtle]

I will not get the Winter Fuel payment either - did before - but it will not hurt that much even though I am not that well off. And things that might hurt me as an individual, in general, do not play a part in why I might vote for a political party. I try to take a broad view of the likely policies that any government would enact rather than be swayed by personal considerations. Probably not what most actually do however - wherever they happen to live - and I hardly expect this, but it does seem to be a more rational approach to voting than just voting for what might affect any particular individual. Not going to change though I suspect.

And of course it is best to do the unpopular things at the beginning of any term than at the end.

 

[Wherenextcolumbus]

Lol yeah because becoming more like the USA would be such a wise move for us to take!!

God save the King!
Preserve some English history, culture, celebrations, rituals and the royal horse guards that tourists love
It part of the culture here, and part of why people want to visit, let it be!

 

[Hooded_Crow]

Preserve some English history, culture, celebrations, rituals...

(and some Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish too.)

 

[Wherenextcolumbus]

(and some Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish too.)

Big up the celts,
Love them bad! I need to visit Ireland and more of Scotland

 

[Sumadji]

I will not get the Winter Fuel payment either - did before - but it will not hurt that much even though I am not that well off. And things that might hurt me as an individual, in general, do not play a part in why I might vote for a political party. I try to take a broad view of the likely policies that any government would enact rather than be swayed by personal considerations. Probably not what most actually do however - wherever they happen to live - and I hardly expect this, but it does seem to be a more rational approach to voting than just voting for what might affect any particular individual. Not going to change though I suspect.

And of course it is best to do the unpopular things at the beginning of any term than at the end.

Neither the winter fuel benefits nor the disability benefits affect me personally. However pensioners I know are affected by the loss of £250 for fuel in winter. Labour is assumed to protect not attack the elderly and vulnerable, imo

 

[Hooded_Crow]

I think Starmer is a slimy git but I voted Labour to prevent the Tories taking away disabled benefits and other actions against the most vulnerable and those on disabled benefits.

Then guess what was Labour's first move? Taking away pensioner winter fuel benefits, to save 1.5 billion. To be followed closely by -- you guessed it -- taking away disability benefits and forcing disabled people to seek work.

The latter will save the economy a huge 129 million a year -- a tiny amount for the misery it will cause. It may pay for a couple of offshore windmills.

If Labour has announced this benefit stripping before the election they would have lost a BIG lot of votes.

So Starmer proved me right -- a slimeball, imo

Before a general election, the sitting party should fully disclose the state of the country's finances, allowing any future party to plan accordingly. I'm not a Labour supporter, but I can understand why they did what they did. They inherited a mess that they were unaware of.

 

[Sumadji]

Most - admittedly not all - pensioners are a hundred times richer than their grandchildren can ever hope to be. My 89 year old mum won’t miss her winter fuel payment, and the pensioners who will miss it won’t lose it.

On the other hand, my son and his little family are crammed into a tiny flat, unable to get on the housing ladder. That’s the generation which needs help from the government, not their home owning mortgage free grandparents, many - again, not all - of whom have generous workplace pensions which won’t be available to future generations.

I understand the age disparity in the UK and the resentment of the young at having to support an increasing retired percentage of the population.

But I'm not convinced that pensioners who need the winter fuel payment will be able to get it

Anyway ...

 

[RestlessSoul]

I understand the age disparity in the UK and the resentment of the young at having to support an increasing retired percentage of the population.

But I'm not convinced that pensioners who need the winter fuel payment will be able to get it

Anyway ...

The entire U.K. economy needs major surgery imo, and doing that requires bold action which is bound to affect some people in negative ways. I agree that the vulnerable, including vulnerable old people, should be protected.

The optics of a Labour government means testing (not abolishing, note) a benefit paid to the elderly don’t make great politics. But I think the budget has made clear what ambitions this government has on behalf of working people, and how bold they are willing to be to achieve them. Time will tell if it works, but after several decades of neo-liberal, free market capitalism which has done nothing but widen the gap between rich and poor, the time is ripe for bold action.

 

[Secret Chief]

the pensioners who will miss it won’t lose it.

This. I used to work for the DWP (when it was the DHSS, DSS, Benefits Agency...). Automatic payments (not means tested) are ridiculous. My wealthy aunt received the winter fuel payment; like she needed it. Not. She probably didn't even realise she was getting it. Same with child benefit. What's the point of giving wealthy people this? Better to give that money to those assessed to be in need. I'm sure we all know people who put such payments into savings accounts. Even assessments are fraught. My wife has three friends who all receive carer's allowance. None of them need it clearly cos they've been putting it in a savings account for years - it's supposed to be an income required on an ongoing basis. There's more deserving people out there.

 

[Sumadji]

This. I used to work for the DWP (when it was the DHSS, DSS, Benefits Agency...). Automatic payments (not means tested) are ridiculous. My wealthy aunt received the winter fuel payment; like she needed it. Not. She probably didn't even realise she was getting it. Same with child benefit. What's the point of giving wealthy people this? Better to give that money to those assessed to be in need. I'm sure we all know people who put such payments into savings accounts. Even assessments are fraught. My wife has three friends who all receive carer's allowance. None of them need it clearly cos they've been putting it in a savings account for years - it's supposed to be an income required on an ongoing basis. There's more deserving people out there.

Fair enough.

What do you think about the crackdown on disability benefits?
From the Big Issue 30/10/2024

Hundreds of thousands of people with health conditions could miss out on financial support after the chancellor confirmed plans to tighten the disability benefits system.

In her autumn budget, Rachel Reeves suggested that Labour will honour proposals brought forward by the Conservative government to reform the work capability assessment.

This is an assessment which people with health conditions and disabilities undergo to determine their capability for work and if they will get an extra amount of universal credit.

Labour has not confirmed exactly what its reforms will look like, but it has committed to the billions of pounds of savings which the Conservative government had set out in their plans.

Previous figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) showed that 457,000 people will face lower benefits or higher work search conditions by 2028/2029 as a result of reforms proposed by the Conservatives, which are expected to save the government around £3bn.

Reeves said: “We inherited the last government’s plans to reform the work capability assessment. We will deliver those savings as part of our fundamental reforms to the health and disability benefits system that my right honourable friend the work and pensions secretary will bring forward.”

According to the Resolution Foundation, regardless of how exactly the current government implements these reforms to the work capability assessment, “if their total savings are to match those of the previous plan, they will inevitably have a downward effect on the incomes of many low-income families”.

Disability charities have called the plans “devastating”. Richard Kramer, chief executive of Sense, said: “The government’s decision today is deeply disturbing for disabled people. They have chosen to continue the previous government’s harmful plans to reduce access to benefits.

“This risks undermining the wellbeing of disabled people, and the consequences could be devastating. Disabled households are living in crisis, their current welfare benefits barely cover the essentials and spiralling food and energy costs have pushed many into debt and despair.

“But instead of choosing to give disabled people proper financial support and beginning to transform lives, the government has played into the dangerous narrative that disabled people should be forced to work and tightened the work capability assessment. They did this knowing that not all disabled people can work.”

Under the Conservatives, the DWP confirmed that the reforms would cut the number of people due to be put onto the highest tier of incapacity benefits by more than 424,000 people, equating to a loss of almost £400 every month per person.

“This contemptible measure is purely about saving money at disabled people’s expense. It will force still more disabled people into poverty,” Kramer said. “We are demanding that this dismal decision is urgently reversed. We need the government to realise that benefits are a lifeline and disabled people need more financial support not less.

“Instead of pushing on with measures that will directly harm hundreds of thousands of disabled people, benefits should be properly reviewed through the government’s plans to consult on them – and the views of disabled people should be listened to.”

The proposals will initially impact new claimants undergoing the work capability assessment, but current claimants could be impacted if their circumstances change, such as if they move house.

Anela Anwar, chief executive of anti-poverty charity Z2K, said it is “bitterly disappointing” Reeves has decided to “press ahead” with the plans to cut the welfare bill.

“Disabled people living in poverty, who will bear the brunt of these cuts, already face some of the poorest living standards in our country. The impact on communities of the removal of this support will be very serious indeed,” she said.

According to the Office for Budget Responsibility, proposed cuts to the work capability assessment would have led to only 3% of those affected moving into work.

“The government said it wants to restore trust between the DWP and disabled people. But by returning to the same old failed approach of cutting benefits, it is seriously endangering these efforts before they have even got started. This will have serious implications for its plans to reduce economic inactivity,” Anwar added.

“The government must now urgently set out the long-term plans for reforming the work capability assessment, as promised in its manifesto. Further cuts to our threadbare social security system won’t drive growth. They will just deepen decline.”

Etc ...

Read full article ...

This is not about benefit fraud but about the weakest and most vulnerable members of society.

NB: the 3 billion figure is the accumulated saving from now until 2030. The short term annual saving for 2024/5 will only be about £130 million, for all the misery it causes

 

[Altfish]

I think Starmer is a slimy git but I voted Labour to prevent the Tories taking away disabled benefits and other actions against the most vulnerable and those on disabled benefits.

Then guess what was Labour's first move? Taking away pensioner winter fuel benefits, to save 1.5 billion. To be followed closely by -- you guessed it -- taking away disability benefits and forcing disabled people to seek work.

The latter will save the economy a huge 129 million a year -- a tiny amount for the misery it will cause. It may pay for a couple of offshore windmills.

If Labour has announced this benefit stripping before the election they would have lost a BIG lot of votes.

So Starmer proved me right -- a slimeball, imo

I don't understand why he didn't put (say) 5p on petrol

 

[Altfish]

This. I used to work for the DWP (when it was the DHSS, DSS, Benefits Agency...). Automatic payments (not means tested) are ridiculous. My wealthy aunt received the winter fuel payment; like she needed it. Not. She probably didn't even realise she was getting it. Same with child benefit. What's the point of giving wealthy people this? Better to give that money to those assessed to be in need. I'm sure we all know people who put such payments into savings accounts. Even assessments are fraught. My wife has three friends who all receive carer's allowance. None of them need it clearly cos they've been putting it in a savings account for years - it's supposed to be an income required on an ongoing basis. There's more deserving people out there.

Agreed, we got it but didn't need it BUT we are applying for it for my Mum; it is not an easy process.

 

[Sumadji]

it is not an easy process.

This ^

There are 200 questions, I believe? Many old people will just be overwhelmed

 

[Wherenextcolumbus]

This. I used to work for the DWP (when it was the DHSS, DSS, Benefits Agency...). Automatic payments (not means tested) are ridiculous. My wealthy aunt received the winter fuel payment; like she needed it. Not. She probably didn't even realise she was getting it. Same with child benefit. What's the point of giving wealthy people this? Better to give that money to those assessed to be in need. I'm sure we all know people who put such payments into savings accounts. Even assessments are fraught. My wife has three friends who all receive carer's allowance. None of them need it clearly cos they've been putting it in a savings account for years - it's supposed to be an income required on an ongoing basis. There's more deserving people out there.

Maybe because I’m lower class, this is my perspective but why do old wealthy people hoard money like they can take it with them when they bite the dust?
What are they saving for exactly? I’d be helping all the single parents in my family, my friends and anyone else who needs the help, ta day! Even if it meant sending them on holiday just so they could get a bit of enjoyment out of life, anything, anything!
Or is that an instant gratification mentality?
I could be ignorant

 

[RestlessSoul]

I don't understand why he didn't put (say) 5p on petrol

Because she (Rachel Reeves is the Chancellor) didn’t want to load any further costs on small and medium sized businesses, on top of the increased NI payments

 

[Secret Chief]

Agreed, we got it but didn't need it BUT we are applying for it for my Mum; it is not an easy process.

The whole benefit system is a nightmare and needs overhauling (and simplifying).

 

[Secret Chief]

Maybe because I’m lower class, this is my perspective but why do old wealthy people hoard money like they can take it with them when they bite the dust?
What are they saving for exactly? I’d be helping all the single parents in my family, my friends and anyone else who needs the help, ta day! Even if it meant sending them on holiday just so they could get a bit of enjoyment out of life, anything, anything!
Or is that an instant gratification mentality?
I could be ignorant

My take (including my dear old aunt) is such money is "hoarded" simply because they don't need it. Or at least "saving it for a rainy day."