budget 2008

[Maybes]

I drive a 207. Thought you were inferring you smoked!!! I know government gets so much money from cigarettes yet knows they kill people!!

Yeah 207 very low on emissions. Mine is 190 ...ouch.

[Tommy G]

I drive a 207. Thought you were inferring you smoked!!! I know government gets so much money from cigarettes yet knows they kill people!!

Nah no way!

To be honest with you I did a bit a couple of years ago when I was an arse hole. I've now realise how bad they are and how pointless it is?

Government love the tax on them, if smokers quit then either fuel/alcohol with bear the tax burden instead so I couldn't care less if people carried on smoking, I encourage it if anything if it keeps the fuel/alcohol tax lower!

[Tommy G]

At least I'll have got rid of my car by October, fooking bitch that rise though. I'm sure I read they other day that they're looking at ways to measure how far people travel and actually tax the miles a car does ON TOP of the petrol taxation? That really would sting.

Also, £2bn on the Military... fook me.

Also, a reduction in corporation tax? I'm quite uneducated about all this, does that actually mean that big companies, as well as little ones, will be paying far less?

Dont quote me but... Corporation tax is based on different bands of profits. They have reduced corporation tax on higher profits, I believe the threshhold is over 300k? Anything under that stays at the same rate which is currently 20%, unless they've changed that aswell?

Do you run a business then and are worried about the tax implications?

[StroudFox]

Nah no way!

To be honest with you I did a bit a couple of years ago when I was an arse hole. I've now realise how bad they are and how pointless it is?

Government love the tax on them, if smokers quit then either fuel/alcohol with bear the tax burden instead so I couldn't care less if people carried on smoking, I encourage it if anything if it keeps the fuel/alcohol tax lower!

I don't think its fair that people smoke, get ill and take up beds on NHS. I know that they are addictive but people know the risks when they start smoking. I am proud to say I have never tried a cigarette ever. Can't stand it. All smokers do is moan about their human rights, well what about passive smoking!!

Sorry - rant over, gets my goat.

At school we have so many children that smell of smoke because of their parents. Selfish Twats!

[Maybes]

Dont quote me but... Corporation tax is based on different bands of profits. They have reduced corporation tax on higher profits, I believe the threshhold is over 300k? Anything under that stays at the same rate which is currently 20%, unless they've changed that aswell?

Do you run a business then and are worried about the tax implications?

Thats is correct. I believe.

[Tommy G]

I don't think its fair that people smoke, get ill and take up beds on NHS. I know that they are addictive but people know the risks when they start smoking. I am proud to say I have never tried a cigarette ever. Can't stand it. All smokers do is moan about their human rights, well what about passive smoking!!

Sorry - rant over, gets my goat.

At school we have so many children that smell of smoke because of their parents. Selfish Twats!

In principle it's wrong yes. But like I said the tax revenue will more than cover the health costs on the NHS. So the only cost to society is passive smoking, which has been eliminated in public places due to the smoking ban.

The only people that suffer are the smokers themselves and if they have children and smoke around them, which I agree with you is unfair.

Thats is correct. I believe.

Ha I rely on my Tax card and the programme to work it out for me

[AoWW]

Booze, cigarettes, petrol, car tax... oh well - no surprise. Will it get me to change my habits? Nope, not at all - I'll just moan more.

[Manwell Pablo]

I don't think its fair that people smoke, get ill and take up beds on NHS. I know that they are addictive but people know the risks when they start smoking. I am proud to say I have never tried a cigarette ever. Can't stand it. All smokers do is moan about their human rights, well what about passive smoking!!

Sorry - rant over, gets my goat.

At school we have so many children that smell of smoke because of their parents. Selfish Twats!

Even though tax on fags generates six times the amount of money it costs to treate smoking relating illness's on the NHS? I think it's perfectly fair. Passive smoking is a thing of the past as you can't smoke inside anymore, and anyone who smokes near children should be branded a fool not a smoker.

[StroudFox]

1. Even though tax on fags generates six times the amount of money it costs to treate smoking relating illness's on the NHS? I think it's perfectly fair. 2. Passive smoking is a thing of the past as you can't smoke inside anymore, and anyone who smokes near children should be branded a fool not a smoker. 3.

1. But they are still taking up beds.

2. True but I get annoyed by smokers who feel they have had their human rights infringed by not being able to smoke in doors yet they (a generalisation, I know) had no thoughts about the people that didn't want to breathe in their smoke and their human rights.

3. I totally agree with you. Or I could think of some different adjectives to describe them!

Everyone is entitled to their view and I am biased in mine because I cannot stand smoking and have no sympathy whatsoever for anyone that does!

[James.]

1. But they are still taking up beds.

2. True but I get annoyed by smokers who feel they have had their human rights infringed by not being able to smoke in doors yet they (a generalisation, I know) had no thoughts about the people that didn't want to breathe in their smoke and their human rights.

3. I totally agree with you. Or I could think of some different adjectives to describe them!

Everyone is entitled to their view and I am biased in mine because I cannot stand smoking and have no sympathy whatsoever for anyone that does!

Those beds and more may not even exist if it wasn't for tax on cigarettes...

[Dr The Singh]

Those beds and more may not even exist if it wasn't for tax on cigarettes...

Irespective of whether someone smokes, drinks, is on the dole, we all should be entitled to treatment!!!

[StroudFox]

Those beds and more may not even exist if it wasn't for tax on cigarettes...

Oh so that's ok then.

[StroudFox]

Irespective of whether someone smokes, drinks, is on the dole, we all should be entitled to treatment!!!

All I was really trying to say was how much I hate smoking and have little sympathy for smokers when they moan.

[James.]

Irespective of whether someone smokes, drinks, is on the dole, we all should be entitled to treatment!!!

Yes of course. I was merely suggesting that smokers make a very important tax contribution and it would be a little ignorant of people if they fail to acknowledge that.

By the way I quit years ago.

[Dr The Singh]

Yes of course. I was merely suggesting that smokers make a very important tax contribution and it would be a little ignorant of people if they fail to acknowledge that.

By the way I quit years ago.

My comments weren't aimed at anybody in particular, may we alll enjoy the delights that our great health service has to offer!!!

[StroudFox]

Yes of course. I was merely suggesting that smokers make a very important tax contribution and it would be a little ignorant of people if they fail to acknowledge that.

By the way I quit years ago.

If you are trying to infer that I am ignorant I am highly offended!! Just because Smokers provide a lot of income for the governemnt doesn't make it right or ok. That is just a ridiculous thing to say.

[James.]

If you are trying to infer that I am ignorant I am highly offended!! Just because Smokers provide a lot of income for the governemnt doesn't make it right or ok. That is just a ridiculous thing to say.

Oh shit what have I started!

I wasn't commenting at all on the morality of smoking. As far as I'm concerned people are free to do what they want to their bodies as long as it doesn't infringe on others. As such I supported a smoking ban before and after I stopped smoking.

[andyh1884]

Dont quote me but... Corporation tax is based on different bands of profits. They have reduced corporation tax on higher profits, I believe the threshhold is over 300k? Anything under that stays at the same rate which is currently 20%, unless they've changed that aswell?

Do you run a business then and are worried about the tax implications?

Up to 21% now, going up another 1% next year. Marginal rate of 29.75% from £300k to £1.5mill & 28% on £1.5mill +

[StroudFox]

Oh shit what have I started!

I wasn't commenting at all on the morality of smoking. As far as I'm concerned people are free to do what they want to their bodies as long as it doesn't infringe on others. As such I supported a smoking ban before and after I stopped smoking.

Exactly.

I was merely voicing my opinions!!

[AoWW]

No one joining me for a fresh air break, then?

[James.]

No one joining me for a fresh air break, then?

Marlboro Lights?

If you're going to smoke at least smoke some proper fags.

Filterless - for the hardcore.

[breadandcheese]

Dont quote me but... Corporation tax is based on different bands of profits. They have reduced corporation tax on higher profits, I believe the threshhold is over 300k? Anything under that stays at the same rate which is currently 20%, unless they've changed that aswell?

Do you run a business then and are worried about the tax implications?

Not quite right. Corporation tax is being reduced on profits over 300K, however to pay for this, corporation tax is being increased on profits below this level. So small businesses gets hit.

This government is hypocritical, self-serving and deceiving. They chop and change tax policy, with scant regard for the lives they affect. They seem to ignore the fact that their policy decisions have the knock-on effect of causing people to alter their habits. A government cannot ask people to change their lives and then move the goalposts when they do. From 10% lowest tax band, Capital Gains Tax, Promotion of limited liability companies to green taxes, people have been stung when they've followed what the government prescribes only for them to completely alter their tax position.

[Monk]

As many of you have said I haven't found the budget particularly suprising.

What annoys me most is the blatent propeganda exercise this past month on justifying raising alcohol duty. The government has no money... will be seen as hugely unpopular to raise taxes on income... so why not make everyone feel OK about raising alcohol duty with a nice big campaign that 'accidentally' coincides with the budget.

The government is really getting into a big mess now, and to such an extent that I myself consider leaving the country. Canada is an attractive option right now. Good jobs, cheap houses, low tax, good healthcare.

I'm a tory at heart but I think even when they do come to power at the next election that the mess they inherit is going to take a phenomenal amount of unwinding to fix.

BADGER!

[stez]

As many of you have said I haven't found the budget particularly suprising.

What annoys me most is the blatent propeganda exercise this past month on justifying raising alcohol duty. The government has no money... will be seen as hugely unpopular to raise taxes on income... so why not make everyone feel OK about raising alcohol duty with a nice big campaign that 'accidentally' coincides with the budget.

The government is really getting into a big mess now, and to such an extent that I myself consider leaving the country. Canada is an attractive option right now. Good jobs, cheap houses, low tax, good healthcare.

I'm a tory at heart but I think even when they do come to power at the next election that the mess they inherit is going to take a phenomenal amount of unwinding to fix.

BADGER!

they've done it before. there have been some good times under labour, but (as tony blair probably knew) it's at an end now and gordon brown will be left in the brown.