What on earth is it with the Tories!?

I hear that the Conservatives pledge to help veterans but Labour don’t even mention them.

Well, mollie11158, you could still vote, but either, as you suggested, write "None of the above" or vote for someone who has no hope of getting in but who has some ideas that you agree with. The Monster Raving Loonie party is a good example, if that tickles your fancy (do they still exist, does anyone know?) but any independent or minor party would do. You would still have voted, but not supported either of the big parties.

This is exactly how I feel. None of the parties are believable at the moment, all promise the world until they get in

I know what you’re saying is right as I’ve told people that over the years and also aware of the people who suffered to get the women’s vote but all I’m saying is I’m not just putting a tick in a box because it’s what I’ve done for 49 years! All the parties on offer are just really disappointing at this time

Why is it mean to try and sort out the welfare state? There are genuine people who deserve taxpayers help but there are far too many who don’t intend working for a living. We require legal immigration due to not having enough of our own people willing to do minimum wage jobs but they can get top ups from universal credit if they are not earning enough so let’s try and stop people having a free life. It’s NOT unfair for a government (and I hope Labour would agree) to try and stop wasting taxpayers money

But mollie, if there's going to be change for the better, people do need to vote. If they don't, the scene is set for extremists, who could theoretically win with one vote in each constituency.

First time since 1979 that I might not vote. Not one of the main parties are making me feel like they deserve my vote. I’ve always voted conservative but might even spoil my vote to show I bothered to turn up but “none of above”. It’s your own personal decision why you vote for a party but nothing anyone party is saying makes me want to vote for 1 party. How about we have a coalition of all parties? They can fight it out for policies they really want to get through and the public might get more of their view across. It wouldn’t work obviously but there a couple of things I like from different parties but also things I don’t like. Who knows who is more likely to keep to their promises! I think it’s a real shame the conservatives as they may not have a future but disappointed with a lot of their MPs/advisers to let it happen. I don’t think it’s 14 years of chaos as believe the first few years of austerity were required because of the financial state the country was in. I know worldwide it was an issue but there were errors from labour too. Austerity went on far too long and then we had covid which by the way would have been dealt with by labour in the same way. I personally think that trying to help everyone went too far, furlough was very generous, but not sure all the grants were necessary. Also the war has cost us all because of oil prices and cost of living shot up too. The Gaza situation hasn’t helped either. I think everyone is just so fed up and just want to feel better with a change (this usually happens every 10-15 years as people get fed up with the government in power just like in 2010 after 13 years of Labour). Just my opinion and how I feel so very undecided.

Cossy

I cannot take anything Farage or Reform UK say or do in any way seriously! Even Farage admits his “Party” will never ever be able to form a government so he can lots of fun describing all the stuff he wants to do. He can tell us all he’ll refund all of our mortgages, turn Buckingham Palace into DisneyWorld and give us all a £1m Christmas Bonus, it’s never ever going to happen.

After the GE he either wins Clacton and promptly crosses the floor to join the Tories or he fails to become an MP for the 8th time and slithers back under a rock til the next attention seeking opportunity arises.

Maybe Coutts will upset him again, or he will go onto another game show or Bug Brother, who knows, and frankly, who cares!

I'd love to see him on BugBrother.

Cossy

sazz1

Reform want to raise the personal allowance to 20k before tax, and to 70k from 50k for the next tax bracket. This would help the poor eg pensioners with a small private pension, low earners, people who earn over 50k but have high mortgage commitment or high rent and children/dependants.
This is the example you asked for

Hahaha Totally uncosted and would be a fiscal nightmare. How on earth is he going to make up the huge fortune of income lost?

Not only that, but the wealthier would gain more, which would be inflationary and push up rices for everybody so any slight gain would be swallowed up by higher prices.

Jess20 totally agree with your comments.

Apparently the Tories methodology was to add up the ‘notional’ amount they thought Labour ‘might’ spend and divide it by the number of households / families / people (nobody’s quite sure which) in the country. What a meaningless calculation!

Using that same methodology, analysts have found that, under the Tories, we’ll all pay £3000 extra tax🙈

You’d think the Tories would shut up about now that it’s been proved ridiculous, but no, they’re still banging on about it and, as you say Jess making themselves look even more stupid🤷‍♀️

I cannot take anything Farage or Reform UK say or do in any way seriously! Even Farage admits his “Party” will never ever be able to form a government so he can lots of fun describing all the stuff he wants to do. He can tell us all he’ll refund all of our mortgages, turn Buckingham Palace into DisneyWorld and give us all a £1m Christmas Bonus, it’s never ever going to happen.

After the GE he either wins Clacton and promptly crosses the floor to join the Tories or he fails to become an MP for the 8th time and slithers back under a rock til the next attention seeking opportunity arises.

Maybe Coutts will upset him again, or he will go onto another game show or Bug Brother, who knows, and frankly, who cares!

I

sazz1

Reform want to raise the personal allowance to 20k before tax, and to 70k from 50k for the next tax bracket. This would help the poor eg pensioners with a small private pension, low earners, people who earn over 50k but have high mortgage commitment or high rent and children/dependants.
This is the example you asked for

Hahaha Totally uncosted and would be a fiscal nightmare. How on earth is he going to make up the huge fortune of income lost?

sazz1

Reform want to raise the personal allowance to 20k before tax, and to 70k from 50k for the next tax bracket. This would help the poor eg pensioners with a small private pension, low earners, people who earn over 50k but have high mortgage commitment or high rent and children/dependants.
This is the example you asked for

They don't say what will have to be cut to reach this figure, sazz1. The NHS as we know it will disappear into the private sector and demands that individuals will pay medical insurance.

Horror of US style medical funding looms large there.

Tho they talk about Care in the Community they dont fund it, again, one can only presume that everyone a bit better off re tax changes will or can pay for it.

They want to cut funding for local councils without mentioning how on earth can councils raise the money for delivery of services. and so it goes on.

Its a quick fix headline grabber.

sazz1

Farage came out with a good policy today that I totally agree with.
He said it costs around 400k to train a Dr up to consultant level. Then some leave to work in Australia to earn more money. He thinks doctors should have to stay working in the UK NHS for a period of time to pay back for their training, like in the olden days. I think it was called indentured not sure.
But if this was applied to nurses doctors and dentists we wouldn't have the staff shortages in the NHS that we have now. Perhaps with a clause that they could buy themselves out by paying back some of the money it cost to train them which would add money to the NHS.
I like Farage and will vote Reform if they have a candidate in my area. He talks a lot of sense and seems to want to help poorer people where the other parties are more for helping the rich.

Why on earth should ANY student, studying here in England, having to pay both fees and accommodation/living expenses AND struggle to find what used to be called F1 and F2 positions and spend considerable cash on books etc?

Farage needs his help examining particularly as we are struggling to get people into the medical profession.

Freya 5
Only people who live in and know Bradford ( as I do) are allowed to be rude about it!

Just like screaming lord sutch used to! And that odious Galloway

Totally agree - how can anyone trust such an odious man after destroying this country by inciting hatred and persuading people to vote for Brexit! Whilst still taking his MEP pension!
Lying again when he says he’s not doing it for the money!
Hahaha - joke of the year!

Agree that the Labour Party (as a Labour Voter) have very substantial work ahead of them in Wales re the NHS - tho some areas of care like MH perform better there. (speaking relatively for this grossly underfunded service everywhere).

Health Wales claim a massive "43% more than England on social care, which is fundamental to supporting the NHS and helping people to live independent lives. Some of this additional funding goes towards paying the Real Living Wage to every care worker in Wales". (L party source)

Nuffield Health stats re social care says "As of 2021, England remains by far the least generous – spending on average £352 per head, compared to £478 in Scotland, £494 in Wales and £550 in Northern Ireland.

but the waiting lists have to be a priority for in coming government.

Finding it increasingly difficult to decide which party to vote for this time. Have listened to all the election broadcasts and they have just confirmed my opinion that neither of the 2 main parties are fit to govern. Have not even seriously considered any of the also rans and would rule out any party led by Farage as a priority.
Just been listening to Any Questions on radio4 and heard about the appalling state of the labour run Welsh NHS!

Above for Maybe70

Reform want to raise the personal allowance to 20k before tax, and to 70k from 50k for the next tax bracket. This would help the poor eg pensioners with a small private pension, low earners, people who earn over 50k but have high mortgage commitment or high rent and children/dependants.
This is the example you asked for

Zoe65

Well hope you will be quite so self satisfied when all the Labour taxes come in such as taxes on inheritance,taxes on selling your main house,road pricing and everything else they keeping quiet .
Perhaps you’ll feel differently then .

None of that would bother me in the slightest.

Surely it's obvious that the Tories do not want to win this election? Not sure why, but it's worrying.

sazz1

Farage came out with a good policy today that I totally agree with.
He said it costs around 400k to train a Dr up to consultant level. Then some leave to work in Australia to earn more money. He thinks doctors should have to stay working in the UK NHS for a period of time to pay back for their training, like in the olden days. I think it was called indentured not sure.
But if this was applied to nurses doctors and dentists we wouldn't have the staff shortages in the NHS that we have now. Perhaps with a clause that they could buy themselves out by paying back some of the money it cost to train them which would add money to the NHS.
I like Farage and will vote Reform if they have a candidate in my area. He talks a lot of sense and seems to want to help poorer people where the other parties are more for helping the rich.

Doctors become consultants in their early 30's.

Yes they have had years of training

but also have worked considerable years as junior doctors for us at rubbish pay and hours and hours every week....and for the first 5 years of medical training they have to pay for student loans like any other student.

The best way to keep consultants is to offer better conditions in the ~NHS. Its not at all about money - its respect, its situations where they feel they can actually help patients instead of current waiting list pressures - ie working conditions that allow them to actually do a satisfying job.