There will be a full analysis given afterwards on the news, think it would be better to follow it that way. She is marching along at a fair clip.
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Good Morning Bank Holiday Monday 31st August 2026
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We won’t know too much until we can read tomorrows analysis , but we do know of this government’s intended direction of travel, and whether it meets with our expectations as voters and what we all voted for, which of course changes with each individual.
My vote and expectation was for
First and foremost to save our NHS and crumbling public services.
Second was to address the state of our environment, the polluted seas and rivers, and the lack of diversity.
Next -to address the fact that economic growth has been more or less stagnant since 2010. We need a Keynesian type budget for growth, that is imaginative and forward thinking to produce the revenue to invest in out country.
Personally I have never thought it possible to have this type of successful economy where citizens can be confident of a cradle to grave welfare state, where education is first class, health is free at the point of use and available within a very reasonable time limit, where public services are well run and invested in and care for all in need comes as a right, can be obtained by the tax payer on the cheap. This type of economy must be paid for and we will need to see tax at Scandinavian levels in order to achieve this.
Looking at the state the country is in, we knew in July that this would be a mighty task. Mighty tasks need research/planning and massive effort. They always start painfully slowly but momentum will gather as each year passes and we will gradually see the result of the effort put in to save our country from the ravages of 14 long years of economic blows our public services received.
Of course the right wing media - childlike - is insisting on jam today without spending any of their pocket money, but as wise parents we know that all jam does is rot your teeth. Instant gratification is only for the hard of thinking, the more intelligent know that time is the master.
So now looking back at the few short months Labour has been in government, i am pretty supportive of the direction of travel, and the achievements to date - which probably need listing to remind everyone - but not for this thread.
Some stuff has been announced but I think it best until we begin to see how it fits into the overall picture before we begin to comment.
It looks as if this is going to be a massive budget though - so hold onto your hats!
There will be a full analysis given afterwards on the news, think it would be better to follow it that way. She is marching along at a fair clip.
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She's talking so fast... even Martin Lewis must be finding it hard to keep up!
fancythat
Lack of diversity?
What’s diversity got to do with the budget 🤷♀️
escaped and NotSpaghetti That was because your local authorities had decided to use some of their own funds. Provision of school transport for 16-18 year olds isn't statutory, so most local authorities decided not to fund it.
escaped
I taught in a London Borough and I'm sure the 16 - 18 year old travelled free on buses. It was Zip Oyster I think?
Some of my sisters grandchildren benefit from an IGO card, which works in a similar way in Manchester.
Our DGC don’t have that benefit.
growstuff bus travel is free for all hildren and young adults up to age 22 here It saves parents money and time and keeps old bangers and boy racers off the roads .We do pay a bit more in tax but isn,t that what a progressive government is? My friend who is a nurse says she pays just £4 a month more tax than her equivalent nurse in England but she gets far more back in free uni free personal care for her mother and free travel for her school age son.
If Scotland is doing this on a FIXED BUDGET why with Englands ability to print money ( used in strange ways and given to friends) aren’t,t they helping the people at the bottom of the tree instead of spending it on stupid stuff
Still, at least the cap hasn’t gone as it was intended to do this autumn.
Re buses for a moment. Mrs Thatcher privatised bus services, let there be no misunderstanding there. Over the years local councils have been able to some extent to subsidise routes which the bus companies found uneconomic. But this has never been a statutory duty and councils are starved of cash so these subsidies are being withdrawn in a piecemeal way
paddyann As I'm sure you know, education spending is devolved in Scotland. I'm afraid I only know what the situation is in England. (Sorry!)
Blimey!! Now I know why I voted Labour!!
growstuff
Allira
Mollygo
Improving the life of my DGD will not immediately become apparent when her bus fare becomes £30pw. Easier if you live in an IGO area, but she doesn’t.
I was surprised that bus fares have to be paid for to attend FE College here; when I asked if DGD should get a pass, DS said no, they had enquired, even though the local schools have no sixth form.
Another expense for parents.It's not just wherever you are. 16-18 year olds have to pay for transport everywhere.
Of course they have too. There is help with student bus and rail cards.
Whitewavemark2
Blimey!! Now I know why I voted Labour!!
!
In Essex, the standard charge for post 16 transport is £900 a year.
Some low income families receive a bursary.
www.essex.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools/school-transport/post-16-transport
Hooray on the personal tax thresholds!
Whitewavemark2
Blimey!! Now I know why I voted Labour!!
Didn’t she do well!
Seriously though, I thought she presented a pretty good budget considering the mess she was left by the Tories. I wonder if anyone could lip read what J Hunt was saying - he looked livid.
Thank God for no change on IHT. I was worried about having to live for 10 years, after gifting, rather than 7.
Casdon
Hooray on the personal tax thresholds!
I've been following on the BBC Live section ( I cannot stand Reeves' voice & accent)
What they reported about tax thresholds didn't look particularly 'hooray' to me, basically no change until 2028, but perhaps the BBC got it wrong.
What do you think she said?
Whitewavemark2
Still, at least the cap hasn’t gone as it was intended to do this autumn.
Exactly.
This is a classic example of spin. An allowance which was login to be cut has not been cut. Instead of celebrating that, those who want to do down anything the government have done are moaning because fares are capped at a maximum of £3. As I've said before, when I was working full time the cheapest fare I could get was £12 a day return, and that was over 7 years ago. There was no season ticket option. A cut to £6 return is a huge saving on that, and that is without factoring in what the fares would have cost had inflation taken its toll at the rate we've seen over the last 14 years.
A forceful, commanding budget speech, 80mins, most tax increases as predicted and very large investment plans long overdue.
Not too much short term gain but small businesses protected from NIC payments, if growth does materialize as planned we should all be better off
Boz
Thank God for no change on IHT. I was worried about having to live for 10 years, after gifting, rather than 7.
But now pension pots will not be free from inheritance tax but will be included in the value of your estate
I thought it was going ok, on the whole. Though I am sure there were some gaps to things. And much fine print detail will need looking into of course.
But am I right in thinking that the figures "dont add up"?
As in spending seemed to be roughly[and I mean very roughly] £50 billion, over what extras she is going to accumulate in extra taxing?
MaizieD
Casdon
Hooray on the personal tax thresholds!
I've been following on the BBC Live section ( I cannot stand Reeves' voice & accent)
What they reported about tax thresholds didn't look particularly 'hooray' to me, basically no change until 2028, but perhaps the BBC got it wrong.
What do you think she said?
She has kept what was written in by the Tories until that date, after which she will raise it year on year.
MayBee70
Whitewavemark2
Blimey!! Now I know why I voted Labour!!
!
👏👏
So glad to hear news on the NHS at the end. No miracles, but some hope.
Sunak - high on rhetoric, low or absent on suggesting any alternatives of what they would have done.
Sorry, but anyone can clap for spend spend spend[if that is what it turns out to be].
If it turns out to be much more balanced, then it may be ok.
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