Excuses, Excuses, Excuses

[greenmark]

Labour made a 'rod' for their own backs with that one.
By Gorden Brown giving the payment to everyone whether they needed it or not kept them in power till 2010,
Only for Liam Byrne, chief secretary to Gorden Brown. to leave a letter in 2010, saying 'there's no money left'

YCMIU

GORDON BROWN????]

FFS FFS have you no concept of irony?
2006 was the last time we hit the target for 18 week wait for treatment.

I totally agree, both parties are a pile of 'shite' and it looks like we are in for another 27 years of even more 'shite'

The last govt had time to address that issue. As it unfolded for 18 years. Jeez you could have a child and nurture them to adulthood in that time.
I don't understand your lack of tolerance for govt 2 months old. I am genuinely baffled. I don't "like" any govt. In my view - they do what we say.
No-one can change the UK in 2 months.....No one!!!

[ForFolksSake]

GORDON BROWN????]

FFS FFS have you no concept of irony?
2006 was the last time we hit the target for 18 week wait for treatment.

I totally agree, both parties are a pile of 'shite' and it looks like we are in for another 27 years of even more 'shite'

No-one can change the UK in 2 months.....No one!!!

They've just changed it in the last month by getting rid of the pensioner's winter fuel payment - had you missed that ?

[Archery1969]

Meanwhile, the Times, Guardian and Fortune.com are stating that 9,500 millionaires have or will leave the UK in 2024. That’s more than any other country in the world apart from China.

Yikes….

[greenmark]

I totally agree, both parties are a pile of 'shite' and it looks like we are in for another 27 years of even more 'shite'

No-one can change the UK in 2 months.....No one!!!

They've just changed it in the last month by getting rid of the pensioner's winter fuel payment - had you missed that ?

I don't agree with the withdrawal of the winter fuel payment.
I think it's about time that every automatically paid freebie from the govt can be returned.
And then redeployed to those that need it most.
That would shut up all those that whinge about benefits, it would assist those most in need and make all those donating feel a lot better too.
Of course it would cost money, but it's an ongoing problem that will never end (sadly).

But I still think people ranting about the state of the nation and pointing at Labour is insane.
I will be at the front of the queue to criticise them if they mess up. Thats only right.
But right now my view this country is fubared and it will take a lot of effort and time to sort it out.

[ForFolksSake]

No-one can change the UK in 2 months.....No one!!!

They've just changed it in the last month by getting rid of the pensioner's winter fuel payment - had you missed that ?

I don't agree with the withdrawal of the winter fuel payment.
I think it's about time that every automatically paid freebie from the govt can be returned.
And then redeployed to those that need it most.
That would shut up all those that whinge about benefits, it would assist those most in need and make all those donating feel a lot better too.
Of course it would cost money, but it's an ongoing problem that will never end (sadly).

But I still think people ranting about the state of the nation and pointing at Labour is insane.
I will be at the front of the queue to criticise them if they mess up. Thats only right.
But right now my view this country is fubared and it will take a lot of effort and time to sort it out.

Totally agree with all you have said apart from winter fuel payment is also a freebie and should therefore be returned.
Our 2-party political system has led to this mess.
Conservatives are on the verge of extinction.
Capitalism is dead.
This is Labour's chance to be in power for a very long time.

[greenmark]

They've just changed it in the last month by getting rid of the pensioner's winter fuel payment - had you missed that ?

I don't agree with the withdrawal of the winter fuel payment.
I think it's about time that every automatically paid freebie from the govt can be returned.
And then redeployed to those that need it most.
That would shut up all those that whinge about benefits, it would assist those most in need and make all those donating feel a lot better too.
Of course it would cost money, but it's an ongoing problem that will never end (sadly).

But I still think people ranting about the state of the nation and pointing at Labour is insane.
I will be at the front of the queue to criticise them if they mess up. Thats only right.
But right now my view this country is fubared and it will take a lot of effort and time to sort it out.

Totally agree with all you have said apart from winter fuel payment is also a freebie and should therefore be returned.
Our 2-party political system has led to this mess.
Conservatives are on the verge of extinction.
This is Labour's chance to be in power for a very long time.
Capitalism is dead.

Perhaps I didn't explain my view on winter fuel payment clearly.
In general we should have a system for people to return govt money they don't need. The tech is out there - justgiving, for example. Their tech could be used by govt to hoover up all the money people want to give back.
Winter fuel payment was a freebie for a lot of people and yet for some a really big deal.
If I could have given my fuel payment to someone in need, I would have. But I couldn't, there isn't a mechanism to do that. And there should be. Hope I've clarified.

[ForFolksSake]

I don't agree with the withdrawal of the winter fuel payment.
I think it's about time that every automatically paid freebie from the govt can be returned.
And then redeployed to those that need it most.
That would shut up all those that whinge about benefits, it would assist those most in need and make all those donating feel a lot better too.
Of course it would cost money, but it's an ongoing problem that will never end (sadly).

But I still think people ranting about the state of the nation and pointing at Labour is insane.
I will be at the front of the queue to criticise them if they mess up. Thats only right.
But right now my view this country is fubared and it will take a lot of effort and time to sort it out.

Totally agree with all you have said apart from winter fuel payment is also a freebie and should therefore be returned.
Our 2-party political system has led to this mess.
Conservatives are on the verge of extinction.
This is Labour's chance to be in power for a very long time.
Capitalism is dead.

If I could have given my fuel payment to someone in need, I would have. But I couldn't, there isn't a mechanism to do that. And there should be.

Just give it away - how about £1/day to the homeless

I'm confronted by them everyday - on the trains/tubes, sitting on pavements/outside shops all over London

[greenmark]

Totally agree with all you have said apart from winter fuel payment is also a freebie and should therefore be returned.
Our 2-party political system has led to this mess.
Conservatives are on the verge of extinction.
This is Labour's chance to be in power for a very long time.
Capitalism is dead.

If I could have given my fuel payment to someone in need, I would have. But I couldn't, there isn't a mechanism to do that. And there should be.

Just give it away - how about £1/day to the homeless

I'm confronted by them everyday - on the trains/tubes, sitting on pavements/outside shops all over London

Indeed. I travel to Edinburgh 3 times a year. The streets are littered with "beggars". I drop 'em a quid and pay the Big Isssue guys/gals too.
Perhaps we are on the same page. Back in the day, a few years after Maggie got her claws into our nation. I was wandering around Manchester as I had done for years and started seeing beggars on the streets.
Braverman's notion that living on the street is a lifestyle choice drives me absolutely mad. I've lived through years when this didn't happen.
What changed? Political will to sort it out.

[ForFolksSake]

If I could have given my fuel payment to someone in need, I would have. But I couldn't, there isn't a mechanism to do that. And there should be.

Just give it away - how about £1/day to the homeless

I'm confronted by them everyday - on the trains/tubes, sitting on pavements/outside shops all over London

Indeed. I travel to Edinburgh 3 times a year. The streets are littered with "beggars". I drop 'em a quid and pay the Big Isssue guys/gals too.
Perhaps we are on the same page. Back in the day, a few years after Maggie got her claws into our nation. I was wandering around Manchester as I had done for years and started seeing beggars on the streets.
Braverman's notion that living on the street is a lifestyle choice drives me absolutely mad. I've lived through years when this didn't happen.
What changed? Political will to sort it out.

Labour needs to start building council houses again - on a mass scale like they did in the 50's

[greenmark]

Just give it away - how about £1/day to the homeless

I'm confronted by them everyday - on the trains/tubes, sitting on pavements/outside shops all over London

Indeed. I travel to Edinburgh 3 times a year. The streets are littered with "beggars". I drop 'em a quid and pay the Big Isssue guys/gals too.
Perhaps we are on the same page. Back in the day, a few years after Maggie got her claws into our nation. I was wandering around Manchester as I had done for years and started seeing beggars on the streets.
Braverman's notion that living on the street is a lifestyle choice drives me absolutely mad. I've lived through years when this didn't happen.
What changed? Political will to sort it out.

Labour needs to start building council houses again - on a mass scale like they did in the 50's

Of course. 100% right. That will cheese off those exploiting the suppy/demand imbalance. Those people have worked hard to earn money. But now I'm p***d off with the lack of "trickle down". We need a big reset. Homes are unaffordable for too many.

This is not ok.
Changing this will hurt people that have invested their capital. Some will be at the start of their journey and will be hurt even more.
But too many have been hurt in this unregulated housing market.
A roof over your head at a reasonable cost is a given in a civilised society. It's like water, energy, food, law. It's essential.

[Archery1969]

So, Labour government will save £1.4 billion by scrapping the universal winter payment.

But if every new eligible person on pension credit and a few other benefits claims it then it will cost an additional £2.2 billion.

mmm, maybe I not great at maths but doesn’t the above mean the government could end up saving nothing if everyone applies ?

[ForFolksSake]

Indeed. I travel to Edinburgh 3 times a year. The streets are littered with "beggars". I drop 'em a quid and pay the Big Isssue guys/gals too.
Perhaps we are on the same page. Back in the day, a few years after Maggie got her claws into our nation. I was wandering around Manchester as I had done for years and started seeing beggars on the streets.
Braverman's notion that living on the street is a lifestyle choice drives me absolutely mad. I've lived through years when this didn't happen.
What changed? Political will to sort it out.

Labour needs to start building council houses again - on a mass scale like they did in the 50's

Of course. 100% right. That will cheese off those exploiting the suppy/demand imbalance. Those people have worked hard to earn money. But now I'm p***d off with the lack of "trickle down". We need a big reset. Homes are unaffordable for too many.

This is not ok.
Changing this will hurt people that have invested their capital. Some will be at the start of their journey and will be hurt even more.
But too many have been hurt in this unregulated housing market.
A roof over your head at a reasonable cost is a given in a civilised society. It's like water, energy, food, law. It's essential.

Every word, absolutely spot on

[ForFolksSake]

So, Labour government will save £1.4 billion by scrapping the universal winter payment.

But if every new eligible person on pension credit and a few other benefits claims it then it will cost an additional £2.2 billion.

mmm, maybe I not great at maths but doesn’t the above mean the government could end up saving nothing if everyone applies ?

It doesn't matter whether the sums add up or not.
But it's absolutely ridiculous that 'rich' pensioners living in 5-bedroom houses are subsidised with payment's to help them pay their heating bills.
And the majority of them spend winter's abroad anyway

What a Fukn liberty

[greenmark]

So, Labour government will save £1.4 billion by scrapping the universal winter payment.

But if every new eligible person on pension credit and a few other benefits claims it then it will cost an additional £2.2 billion.

mmm, maybe I not great at maths but doesn’t the above mean the government could end up saving nothing if everyone applies ?

It doesn't matter whether the sums add up or not.
But it's absolutely ridiculous that 'rich' pensioners living in 5-bedroom houses are subsidised with payment's to help them pay their heating bills.
And the majority of them spend winter's abroad anyway

What a Fukn liberty

I agree. But there is no other mechanism. Only 2 choices..1. Pay everyone. 2. Means test the payment.
1. everyone gets it and cannot give it back even if they wanted to.
2. Means tests cost massive money, the irony being lots of people would gladly hand back their freebie, but they can't.

[ForFolksSake]

So, Labour government will save £1.4 billion by scrapping the universal winter payment.

But if every new eligible person on pension credit and a few other benefits claims it then it will cost an additional £2.2 billion.

mmm, maybe I not great at maths but doesn’t the above mean the government could end up saving nothing if everyone applies ?

It doesn't matter whether the sums add up or not.
But it's absolutely ridiculous that 'rich' pensioners living in 5-bedroom houses are subsidised with payment's to help them pay their heating bills.
And the majority of them spend winter's abroad anyway

What a Fukn liberty

1. everyone gets it and cannot give it back even if they wanted to.

Not for much longer - if you ain't claiming benefits you won't be able to claim the winter fuel payment

Free prescriptions are probably next.

Current prescription charges are £9.90/item - free if you are a pensioner

I'm so glad I voted Labour.