I have an anxiety disorder and depression that can be quite bad at times.
I may look like I can work, I don't need aiding in walking for example, but if you expect me to function on the same level as a person without an anxiety disorder, I will become quite unwell, quite quickly.
Nobody is saying that only people with visible disabilities can get help, or that poor mental health isn’t a disability. But as we are an aging population with low birth rate and we have 43% of the population on either UC/SP/Disability Ben the welfare system needs to be reviewed/reformed
It's a perfect time to tax the ultra wealthy more.
I don't see why the poorest should suffer while the wealthiest are busy buying super yachts.. If a society fails to protect and care for the most needing, what's the point of society at all?
Take a look at the information above from Tax Justice to give you an idea of how a wealth tax might work.
And there are other ideas on their website for ways of tweaking the existing tax system, such as just closing these 5 tax loopholes: https://taxjustice.uk/campaign/closing-loopholes/
There's nothing simple about a wealth tax. The country's richest 1% already contribute 30% of income tax revenue, and capital has never been so internationally mobile as it is today.
I’m afraid there is. They have more so should pay more. They can afford it without any inconvenience to their life at all.
We need tax bands up to 70%, simple.
I know, that was just pointing out that the country already does "tax the rich" and that brings a lot into state coffers. Also that you have to be careful if you want to get more out of them without driving them away. Like I said, there are no simple wealth taxes.
It’s the super rich that need their wealth taxed. I really don’t mind if the super rich leave. Their existence in our economy is not good for it. They suck up assets that we all need and put up prices. Some of them though do want to contribute to a more equitable stable safe society.
I understand where you're coming from, and I relate. But the cold hard fact is, without a considered approach to taxation you could end up raising less money.
Besides which the cuts to welfare have been shown to make no ‘savings’ to government spending as the consequences of them will hit other departments and local economies. Poverty costs money and harms everyone’s futures. It is as stupid as it is cruel.
There are some aspects of Labour policy I'm not comfortable with, but one thing I don't think they can be accused of is wanton cruelty per Tory policy. They have inherited a truly awful situation with decimated services and record debt. That's never going to be quick or easy to resolve.
Sure. But I dont buy into argument we must be careful with rich and taxing them because we will drive them away. Thats a hollow argument and from my point of view, no offence, mostly propaganda. Its an argument used by the rich to avoid taxation. We have deep inequalities that must be addressed
Im not sure quoting an article from City AM forwards your argument. Its a supply side, neoliberal economic argument with no basis in reality. Lots of economists, including my Chartered accountant Father, thinks its absolute nonsense and is highly contested amongst economists.
When did it become wrong for MP’s to rebel against their own party? It’s part of a democratic system which we apparently have. Too much dictator style governance for my liking.
When your colleagues who rebel find themselves still suspended 10 months after being given a 6 month suspension as a punishment for ignoring the whip to vote with their principles, gutless turds won’t bother for fear of their snout being ejected from the trough.
Gutless is the exact word. They should stand by their morals and just defect to another party rather than complying like mindless sheep. It’s so dangerous to just ‘do what you’re told’
No just that it isn’t as simple as it seems, plus it is a one off amount. What is needed are longer term changes, like inheritance tax, which despite what Jeremy Clarkson would have you think doesn’t hit most farmers but does catch Millionaire land owners, like erm …. Jeremy Clarkson.
I personally can no more design a tax system than I could a benefits system, they are complicated things. But there are lots of people to go to with expertise and policy ideas.
There are plenty of examples of how to raise revenue without taking from the very poorest in our society.
These welfare cuts are morally utterly indefensible. And they won’t even make savings!
We don't have the details yet, I'm prepared to wait until we do. And Labour are taxing the wealthy in ways they can't avoid. Ending non dom status, VAT on private school fees, 50% rise in passenger duty for private planes, big rise in stamp duty for 2nd homes.
We do have the details . The welfare cuts are out for consultation.
Taking money from the wealthy may cause a drop in a standard of living. Taking money from the poorest can cause death. Quite different.
Simple. Nobody is advocating for a wealth tax set at the low threshold in your example.
Green Party 2024 manifesto: "Wealth tax will be levied on individual taxpayers with assets above £10 million at 1% and assets above £1bn at 2% annually. We estimate less than 1% of households will pay this tax."
It’s a one off tax, increased inheritance/capital gains tax, removing non dom status, reducing tax avoidance/closing tax loop holes are all better ways to tax the rich rather than a one off wealth tax. Plus the increase minimum wage which forces business to pay fair wages over corporate bonuses
No system of taxation is perfect, and there will always be wealthy people who try to avoid their responsibility. Therefore existing tax loopholes should also be closed, as far as possible. But other countries already have forms of wealth tax, including France, Spain and Switzerland
Yes and if he cared about getting disabled people into jobs he would be investing more in the very scheme that successfully supports disabled people who work. But he is cutting it back!
He never explains where all these jobs are, especially when increased NI contributions are making companies hesitate to employ more people. Margaret Thatcher taxed the rich more than Labour does at present
He doesn’t care at all. I listened to all the Westminster hall debate today .thankfully some passionate supportive MPs opposing the brutal cuts. Bet he won’t listen to it !
Yeah, nah, Blackrock didn't like that idea and made it clear to Rachel Reeves that a wealth tax was out of the question. Just as Israel won't allow him to stop sending weapon parts. Really does beg the question: who's in charge of the UK?
Quite. This from @richardjmurphy.bsky.social
"Labour ministers admit that Downing Street is so controlling that they can do nothing to manage the country. How long can this government last in that case?"
Cruel, performative policies by someone who replaced a cruel performative Government. Starmer is deeply despised and his welfare PIP cuts will be the final nail for most in a coffin already almost nailed down. Mark my words, PIP and WFA are his poll tax moment. Hes already done. The rest is time.
Comments
I may look like I can work, I don't need aiding in walking for example, but if you expect me to function on the same level as a person without an anxiety disorder, I will become quite unwell, quite quickly.
So yes, it's cruel
I don't see why the poorest should suffer while the wealthiest are busy buying super yachts.. If a society fails to protect and care for the most needing, what's the point of society at all?
And there are other ideas on their website for ways of tweaking the existing tax system, such as just closing these 5 tax loopholes: https://taxjustice.uk/campaign/closing-loopholes/
We need tax bands up to 70%, simple.
https://www.cityam.com/millionaires-leave-britain-in-record-numbers-since-labour-took-power/
https://taxjustice.uk/blog/how-would-a-wealth-tax-work-in-practice/
These welfare cuts are morally utterly indefensible. And they won’t even make savings!
Taking money from the wealthy may cause a drop in a standard of living. Taking money from the poorest can cause death. Quite different.
Green Party 2024 manifesto: "Wealth tax will be levied on individual taxpayers with assets above £10 million at 1% and assets above £1bn at 2% annually. We estimate less than 1% of households will pay this tax."
How much time and money are they going to spend working out who owns what?
How do you know who has assets worth over £10m?
It's not about avoiding responsibility, there will be a lot of people who have owned property for 50+ years who can't accurately value it
Who are you going to insist gets their house valued and by whom?
But that would mean the granny in a million pound Brighton town house would pay more
https://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2025/05/06/dwp-access-to-work-changes/
"Labour ministers admit that Downing Street is so controlling that they can do nothing to manage the country. How long can this government last in that case?"
https://youtu.be/f1pLi3hpZUA?si=HLLuCvqGntpqpS-A