Budget 2015

Can't say that it will affect me much. A few pence less in income tax and a tax-free allowance on dividend income.

There are a few things that I don't agree with. A 1% pay rise is insulting for anyone. There should be at least automatic annual cost of living increases.

I don't like this notion of making 'higher income' households pay maket rates for rent on social housing. The thresholds they quote are not exactly high. I'm more in favour of renewable 2 -5 year contracts.

Nothing for pensioners either (as far as I can see).

Re: Budget 2015

The Government vs Opposition spin Doctors are always entertaining to watch in action post budget. The Budget looks vaguely inoffensive to me, and if the growth forecast figures are correct, and they stick to the minimum wage and base taxation cut promises it will keep Labour out for another Parliament with any luck! As for the 1% for Public Sector workers, these are funded by the taxpayer and as the Private Sector suffered during the last Parliament surely this is fair. It could be argued Public Sector workers were over-indulged during Labour's Parliaments and some restraint in the PS is just.

Re: Budget 2015

Erm, at the risk of sounding controversial, a huge number of public sector workers, particularly in the NHS, have had pay cuts consistently for the past five or more years. And a 1% annual pay rise will continue this trend.

Re: Budget 2015

They are hoping higher earners in social housing will buy their homes I expect rather than pay higher rents. I think it more likely that the older tenants will buy rather than downsize. That'll take even more family sized homes out of social housing. How on Earth do they think youngsters are going to pay rent if they're unemployed and how will they get a job without a permanent address? How are we going to fund an aging population's care if we end up with less young people paying tax, as they seem to think having more than two children is bad. Oh I know! We could get more immigrants over here to work! That'll do it

Re: Budget 2015

And many of us in the private industry have not had a pay rise in 8 years or more, 1% would be nice

Re: Budget 2015

Sorry Julie, I was responding to Steven's post which implied that only private sector workers had suffered during the last government which clearly was not the case.
I never got a pay rise in my latter years working either. But many I know had pay CUTS of as much as 30% some years.

Re: Budget 2015

So this living wage will it replace the minimum wage as in will we get the pay rise or still be on £6.50 an hour ?

Re: Budget 2015

I read it as:-
a) You have to be over 25 (Are you OK on that one )
b) Yes you will get it
c) But it will be in stages so the 38.46% you're in line for won't happen until 2018

I read it that you should get the a 10% rise in April (£7.2 minus 6.5 over 6.5 times100)

Re: Budget 2015

I feel it's so unfair that university grants are to be scrapped and replaced with loans for a generation that aren't privileged but want to get on the world.

Re: Budget 2015

Thank you Losos, well again I am better off under the tories, happened before with Mrs T. All very confusing because I don't feel like a tory but I should be one if I want to be better off