2024 Budget - Mar 6 announced

[macron]

So they're gambling on inflation further falling, and interest rates to be other down or looking like it at that point.

Telegraph yesterday had a headline about IHT to be scrapped, presumably not straight away as it has to be a reward for voting blue:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/12/26/ri...

Curiously The Times was given mere first time buyer hope:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/worried-tories-...

That's a coordinated set of stories if ever there was one.

Last hurrah before election..?

[Rufus Stone]

It'll be full of attempted bribes and Labour project fear.

[Carl_VivaEspana]

It will be fun watching, that's for sure.

[Eric Mc]

Will this government make it that far? I'm expecting it to fall apart at any moment.

[Jamescrs]

Trying to set their stall out for a late spring/ early summer General Election, i'm sure I read there are a lot of local elections at the start of May where they are expecting to take a hammering.

[bitchstewie]

Looking forward to seeing a few poster on here going into full on hysteria as the election draws closer.

Have we had anyone say they're selling up and moving abroad so their wealth escapes the clutches of Starmer and Rayner yet?

[Rufus Stone]

bhstewie said:

Looking forward to seeing a few poster on here going into full on hysteria as the election draws closer.

Have we had anyone say they're selling up and moving abroad so their wealth escapes the clutches of Starmer and Rayner yet?

If you are thinking of Cranked, he's staying. Apparently he has need of the NHS. Somewhat ironic as the Tories have pretty much ruined it.

[bitchstewie]

No I wasn't as I know from other threads he has some legitimate challenges.

It was more the stead stream of fanboys who seem to genuinely piss themselves at the thought of a Labour government.

[julian987R]

This budget will be more proof that Liz was right all along.

[borcy]

Seems a bit desperate, hardly anyone pays IHT. Unless those few people are spread out across marginal seats, I can't see it making much difference to their election chances.

[Condi]

The IHT story, if true, seems an odd tax break to give. Very few of the population pay it, especially those who are likely to be struggling at the moment and especially those who are already going to vote Labour/Lib Dem, so who exactly is it aimed at, other than the traditional Tory voter who is probably going to vote for them already?

From a swing voters point of view, the money would be much better spent of public services or tax breaks for the lower earners than a tax break for the wealthiest 4%. IMO it is likely to put more people off, seeing the government so out of touch, than it is to buy votes.

EDIT - another point, decreasing IHT while increasing the tax on work (income tax via fiscal drag), is contributing to one of the biggest issues the country faces, which is low productivity. Part of the reason for that low productivity is that work is taxed heavily but wealth is not taxed anywhere near as much, resulting in people being dis-incentivised to work harder, while enabling those with wealth already to build more wealth.

All in all, a terrible policy which sends totally the wrong message and achieves totally the wrong aims.

Edited by Condi on Wednesday 27th December 13:56

[Electro1980]

borcy said:

Seems a bit desperate, hardly anyone pays IHT. Unless those few people are spread out across marginal seats, I can't see it making much difference to their election chances.

Lots of people hope they might.

[bitchstewie]

I'm sure it'll go down very well in the traditional red wall seats where they promised to level up back in 2019.

[Carl_VivaEspana]

borcy said:

Seems a bit desperate, hardly anyone pays IHT. Unless those few people are spread out across marginal seats, I can't see it making much difference to their election chances.

There is a Telegraph poll running at the minute, the results of which should sober Sunak up. The concern is that Sunak is only interested in stuff that makes him look good on the U.S speaking circuit and corporate advisory and therefore IHT abolition should keep that set sweet whilst ignoring what we really need to get done.

[anonymoususer]

Eric Mc said:

Will this government make it that far? I'm expecting it to fall apart at any moment.

It really does look like it's their end of days doesn't it.
I'm not a big Labour Fan and think the Lib Dems are way away from having much influence but this just feels like it's on it's last legs

[Condi]

Seems a bit farcical holding out against the junior doctors who have seen below inflation pay rises for years, watching over a record NHS backlog of 7m people waiting for routine treatment, many of whom could go back into the workforce if they got the help they needed, and deciding instead the government's priority is to give an £8bn tax break to the wealthiest 4%.

Clearly a government for the people. Not just any people, these are M+S people....

[Gecko1978]

julian987R said:

This budget will be more proof that Liz was right all along.

Not a chance Rishi loves ir35 benefits his family.

[Seasonal Hero]

julian987R said:

This budget will be more proof that Liz was right all along.

More proof?

[borcy]

Electro1980 said:

borcy said:

Seems a bit desperate, hardly anyone pays IHT. Unless those few people are spread out across marginal seats, I can't see it making much difference to their election chances.

Lots of people hope they might.

Lots of people hope to pay IHT?

[Gecko1978]

borcy said:

Seems a bit desperate, hardly anyone pays IHT. Unless those few people are spread out across marginal seats, I can't see it making much difference to their election chances.

The NI cut was a good move the 20% band cut maybe to 19% or raise the threshold might be a vote winner.

The 100 to 120 claw back is something I would like to see gone it makes no sense at all.