Labour’s Social Care plan

I agree with you GrannyGravy if I pay my PAYE/NI even one day late I get a very threatening letter. VAT one day late equals a large fine . Now we have MTD to deal with too and no doubt there will be threats and fines attached to that as well . I honestly don’t know why anyone would want to run a small business in this country these days .

I think you know the answer to that one! Because some of them fund the Tories and some MPs have their own offshore funds.

It's quite difficult for a single country to do anything about tax evasion, unless it actually breaks the law. That's why countries need to work together and why some of them are so keen to leave the EU.

All parties need to realise that these businesses are the backbone of the UK and unfortunately are easily broken.

I think that Labour does, GG13. I recall that they did consider them in their last manifesto. It tends to be the tories who really don't do much for them. Why aren't they going after the big tax evaders...

GrannyGravy They are only suggestions which have been bandied around.

Oh, growstuff, thanks. You've answered GG13 for me.

I agree with you abut prescriptions, they should be free.

Exactly paddyann. I haven't paid for prescriptions for decades because I'm diabetic and I'm over 60 now too. I have an HC2 certificate which means I don't pay for dentistry either. However, I know there are some people who are only a little richer and younger than I am who have to pay for prescriptions.

If we as a small business are one day late with our VAT or NI/Tax HMRC are immediately on the phone. Small / medium sized businesses are an easy cash cow for the government, they know where we are and can be extremely heavy handed.

All parties need to realise that these businesses are the backbone of the UK and unfortunately are easily broken.

They wouldn't need to cap rents if they built more council housing because supply and demand would keep rents down. The trouble with that, of course, is that some landlords might pull out of the market, which could cause shortages. There isn't an overnight fix.

humtydumpty that is exactly the reason made by the Scottish Government about "free" prescriptions...sadly still disputed by some here.Not long after the new "free" scripts became law I was talking to a friend who is a pharmacist locally .She told me that this had saved her sanity and her marriage ,that there were days when she had a string of people prescription in hand asking which items they could "manage" without to save cash ..which would cause the least harm if they didn't take it .These were in the main people in work ,not people on benefits because their earings were just over the limit for any help ,people who were playing russian roullette with their health.
I can tell you my friend has a much happier working day now that she doesn't try to make difficult decisions about peoples health that she shouldn't have had to make .

GrannyGravy They are only suggestions which have been bandied around. However, I agree with you that it's the "big boys" who need to pay for this. At the moment, too many of them are escaping paying taxes because they have clever accountants and have their HQ abroad, etc.

Companies choose to operate in the UK because they know that we have a relatively stable, educated, healthy population. The infrastructure isn't perfect, but it's better than in many places in the world and we have good market access. All of that doesn't come cheap and it's only right that big multinationals should contribute to the education and health of their staff and roads they come to work on and which they transport their goods, etc.

I'm still holding my breath for evidence that Labour really does have a big vision for industry and business and isn't just tinkering around with some headline promises.

IMO the first thing it should do is commit to staying in the EU and explain why that's the best option for workers.

Presumably the application of prescription charges costs - and since the majority of people don't pay them anyway, maybe the reduced bereaucracy will outweigh the loss in revenue?

WWMK2 see growstuffs post of 11.25.55 today, where she itemised some of the proposed tax increases.

I was commenting on her post!

Are Labour going to cap rents and rates too ? Fuel prices ?

Ahem, a shorter working week with no loss of pay ? Another promise. Another laugh.

Not for my D it won't be ! Where she works they can't get anyone to work the unsociable hours----5am start ! Split duties well into the night and weekends. Even holidays are hit and miss, no cover and again no cover for sickness.

gg13 there are no plans to hit small businesses with tax rises.

Youve got that wrong

growstuff s post 11.25.55 today MaizieD, those tax rises will hit small businesses harder than the big boys.

Actually I think prescriptions should be free for everybody. There are plenty of people who are just above the threshold for free prescriptions who struggle to pay, especially if there are a couple of items on the prescription.

It seems very unfair that only 10% of people pay - and they're not all rich by any means.

Corbyn announces radical plans to reopen empty shops to ‘revive Britain’s struggling high streets’

labour.org.uk/press/corbyn-announces-radical-plans-reopen-empty-shops-revive-britains-struggling-high-streets/

Another Labour policy helping the already haves not the have nots!

I thought you might be pleased about that, GG13. Following the tory party example, isn't it?

I must have missed the bit about taxing small businesses, GG13. Can you point me to it?

Interesting 90.6% of prescriptions are dispensed free of charge in UK.

Another Labour policy helping the already haves not the have nots!

If Labour thinks taxing small businesses more is a good idea, then they really are out of touch!!!!

There needs to be a big rethink about high street properties. As a result of online shopping and retail parks, I can't ever see the country returning to full high streets. If necessary, shops should be converted to residential units.

If I needed social care, I wouldn't have to pay for it anyway, but the bar to eligibility has been set so high that it's difficult to get social care.

The poorest won't benefit from free social care because they get it anyway. The only people who will benefit are those with assets and severe needs, which seems a bit odd coming from a party which is supposed to support the poorest. The real issue is providing it to more people than currently.

hugshelp Does your daughter receive PIP?

It's been proven that businesses aren't making a profit because of all those which are empty. Excruciating rates and rents have led to the demise of many in the high street with staff at a minimum because of the costs of employment.

I don't see any easy way of providing social-care and with many care homes closed and closing at break-neck speed it would have to be at home. It'll be another postcode lottery----watch this space.

All I can find is references for free care for the elderly, but happy to be proved wrong.