Budget 2012 - Thoughts?

[Tielemans63]

I was initially disgusted to hear that the 50p tax rate had been scrapped, however having had time to consider it I guess if it can culminate in the creation of more jobs through business coming to the UK then it could be a good thing. However it still feels like robbing from the poor to feed the rich.

I agree with the increase in stamp duty for properties over £2million and the removal of child benefit payments to 50k+ earners.

The penalisation of middle-class pensioners is a weird one - I cannot see any logic in that - perhaps someone can enlighten me? In fact, the middle and working classes appear to have been squeezed massively once again.

[Libertine Dream]

Bit of a meh budget, nothing really happened in reality.

I agree with the increase in stamp duty for properties over £2million

Don't you think it would be better to charge them extra every couple of years or something like that, because how many 2+million houses are brought for it to make a difference?

Agree that the cutting of the 50p tax rate is a good thing, we want to encourage people to work their way up become wealthy and prosper rather than penalise them because they've 'made it' so to speak.

[davieG]

I was initially disgusted to hear that the 50p tax rate had been scrapped, however having had time to consider it I guess if it can culminate in the creation of more jobs through business coming to the UK then it could be a good thing. However it still feels like robbing from the poor to feed the rich.

I agree with the increase in stamp duty for properties over £2million and the removal of child benefit payments to 50k+ earners.

The penalisation of middle-class pensioners is a weird one - I cannot see any logic in that - perhaps someone can enlighten me? In fact, the middle and working classes appear to have been squeezed massively once again.

It's always been like that because they are the biggest group so any changes to their status will cost or bring in significant funds.

[whoareyaaa]

The goverment are just idiotic money grabbing fools.

[jonthefox]

Less tax made me sit up and listen.

[Tielemans63]

Bit of a meh budget, nothing really happened in reality.

Don't you think it would be better to charge them extra every couple of years or something like that, because how many 2+million houses are brought for it to make a difference?

Absolutely, would never happen though. You're right though - people probably move every 10 years or so, it's not as if it's something people do regularly. I hadn't thought about it until now but that's very much a false tax isn't it? Masquerading as a tax on the rich to seemingly balance out the benefits of the abolition of the 50p tax rate. Slippery buggers - fooled me at first!

[Haydos]

The goverment are just idiotic money grabbing fools.

Yeah, looking after a whole country's finances is a piece of piss. You should let them know you'll be happy to take care of it all.

[Zingari]

Ed Milliband

“We’re all in this together ?”

“Stand up all of you on the benches that will benefit from the reduction in higher rate tax”

Nice one Mr Ed

edit;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17463207

[Rincewind]

Didn't know about the budget. Hows it affecting us scroungers? (thought I'd say it before somebody else does)

[Tom17LCFC]

As a student, my only real input to this thread is that Clegg is a cvnt of the highest, highest order.

I was watching it earlier, and whilst I'm not that into politics and don't really know all the implications of this budget, I couldn't believe how much of a playschool the commons seemed. Grown men and women failing to keep quiet and listen, absolutely ridiculous.

[Jon the Hat]

I love the increase in tax free threshold, as this is by far the simplest and best way to help those on low incomes. Cheap to administer, and it doesn't create the handout dependency of tax credits. I also think on reflection that there is no reason really why pensioners should have a higher threshold now that it is heading for the same point of around £10k - again nice and simple to align it.

The 50p tax rate is a shit idea in principle, so happy to see it drop, would rather see it gone all together. Delaying it seems weird.

Corporation tax drop brilliant, should be 20% maximum. Taxing more than other countries costs us.

I will be worse off next year, as usual, happens every year. Seriously considering a much more fuel efficient car, so fuel duty attack might be achieving its aims.

[The People's Hero]

Corporation tax reduced. This is excellent, excellent news.

Echo basically what Jon the Hat said.

[danny.]

I love the increase in tax free threshold, as this is by far the simplest and best way to help those on low incomes. Cheap to administer, and it doesn't create the handout dependency of tax credits. I also think on reflection that there is no reason really why pensioners should have a higher threshold now that it is heading for the same point of around £10k - again nice and simple to align it.

The 50p tax rate is a shit idea in principle, so happy to see it drop, would rather see it gone all together. Delaying it seems weird.

Corporation tax drop brilliant, should be 20% maximum. Taxing more than other countries costs us.

I will be worse off next year, as usual, happens every year. Seriously considering a much more fuel efficient car, so fuel duty attack might be achieving its aims.

Anyone know is the small profits rate is affected?

[The Padster]

Didn't know about the budget. Hows it affecting us scroungers? (thought I'd say it before somebody else does)

Some silly sod thought it a good idea to pop 37p on a pack of baccy. But hey, not my money that's buying 'em . (actually I should point out here, I'm currently on contributions based JSA so technically it is my money.)

[leicester4life]

increase on tobacco is piss take, i pay massively over the odds already, treasury just gonna loose a shit-ton more when more people buy smuggled/duty free

[Daggers]

Yeah, looking after a whole country's finances is a piece of piss. You should let them know you'll be happy to take care of it all.

Osborne has a 2:1 in History and no financial job experience in the real world. In fact, apart from being a data entry clerk and folding towels in Selfridges, he's never held down a job at all.

Personally, I feel he was about at his level typing dead people's names into an NHS computer.

There's not a single person on Foxestalk who isn't more qualified to do the Chancellor job than that coke-loving gimp.

‎14,000 millionaires get a tax break of £40,000 every single year. A banker earning £5 million will be £240,000 better off as a result of today's budget.

4.5 million pensioners would lose out as a result of the decision to phase out their additional age-related allowances.

Age UK said it was “disappointed” with the move warning that it could leave some pensioners up to £259-a-year worse off, with little chance to change their retirement plan.

True blue Budget is nail in coffin for 'green government' pledge www.carolinelucas.com

I love that we are all in it together. Not even Telegraph readers are taken in by this abysmal, helping-my-mates budget:

[21st Century Fox]

Tory donors have done alright out it.

[Webbo]

Osborne has a 2:1 in History and no financial job experience in the real world. In fact, apart from being a data entry clerk and folding towels in Selfridges, he's never held down a job at all.

Personally, I feel he was about at his level typing dead people's names into an NHS computer.

There's not a single person on Foxestalk who isn't more qualified to do the Chancellor job than that coke-loving gimp.

I love that we are all in it together. Not even Telegraph readers are taken in by this abysmal, helping-my-mates budget:

Come off it Daggers, a self selecting internet poll? What does that prove?

And Caroline Lucas? Really?

[Daggers]

Come off it Daggers, a self selecting internet poll? What does that prove?

That 45% of people reading the online version of the Torygraph have voted this budget unfair and bad for Britain. I thought it was quite clear actually.

And Caroline Lucas? Really?

Really, the actual Caroline Lucas. Did you think it might have been an impostor?

[Webbo]

Really, the actual Caroline Lucas. Did you think it might have been an impostor?

Seriously?

[Saxondale]

Regardless of his actual motives, the 50p tax rate cut is a PR disaster and distracts from the fact that one of the biggest changes is the rise in tax-free allowance, which will benefit everybody - especially those on the lowest incomes.

I think it's a very positive budget (apart from the 37p rise in duty on fags).

[Daggers]

Seriously?

Did a lady with short hair once touch you inappropriately?

[davieG]

So the pensioners tax allowances are frozen/stopped because the current system is particularly complicated and needs to be simplified and yet introduce child benefits cuts based on earnings where they'll have to rely on people owning up to earning above the cut off points for it to work.

[Guest MattP]

Caroline Lucas , I still chuckle at her last appearance on question time. The wonderful line of "I totally support the Falkland islanders people's right to self-determination, but we probably should give it back to Argentina"

Agree with what one of the opening posts said, bit of a meh budget really, the reduction to 45% is a good thing, should actually raise revenue in the long term and get more money back into the economy, it's a shame a lot on the left just can't get past the class war aspect of everything to do with the Conservatives.

That said I've still not been too impressed with Cameron overall, far too compassionate, when I vote for the Tories I demand a return to the Thatcher years.

[reynard]

Osborne has a 2:1 in History and no financial job experience in the real world. In fact, apart from being a data entry clerk and folding towels in Selfridges, he's never held down a job at all.

Personally, I feel he was about at his level typing dead people's names into an NHS computer.

There's not a single person on Foxestalk who isn't more qualified to do the Chancellor job than that coke-loving gimp.

I love that we are all in it together. Not even Telegraph readers are taken in by this abysmal, helping-my-mates budget:

Seem to recall a certain Gordon brown having a degree in history and look at the mess he got us into so perhaps there is something in what you say.