Budget review

[Matblack]

So, the next PM of Great Britian has set out his Budget Review

There are quite a few things here I agree with, although there are a few glareing errors too.

I'm not overly pleased about fuel tax going up, if I has some form of cast iron promise that the extra money will be spent on the transport system or on green initatives I would be less cross though. £5 on flights is acceptable AGAIN as long as the money doesn't just go into the pot.

I salute the increase in Apprenticeships, although apprenticeships are not made by the government, they need willing employees and until there is an incentive to take on apprentices then any initative will fail. More money for basic skills for adults is great, increasingly young people are falling out of the system and not realising the value of an education until later in life, but I would like to see more investment in keeping them in in the first place, prevention is almost always cheaper and more effective than cure!

But there is one thing that really bothers me
An extra £600m for operations in Afghanistan and Iraq
An extra £84m for intelligence and counter-terrorism


Surely this should be the other way around? I am very keen for us to hand back both Iraq and Afganistan as soon as possible, we need to cut and run, congratulate ourselves on freeing these dictatorships, apologise for the deaths we have caused get the hell out!

The chancellor said economic growth of 2.75% had beaten forecasts and he pledged to pay Child Benefit from the 29th week of pregnancy, from 2009.

Although fuel duty is going up 1.25p per litre from midnight and air passenger duty from £5 to £10 for most flights, Mr Brown rejected demands to re-link petrol prices to inflation.







Mr Brown, who is widely expected to take over as prime minister next year, told MPs the UK was performing better than its major competitors, apart from the US.

He said the UK was enjoying the "longest period of sustained growth in our history".


Children
Former director general of the CBI, Sir Digby Jones, has been made the government's skills envoy, said Mr Brown.
And there would be new cash for children who had fallen behind at schools and more basic skills training for adults.



There would also be an increase in the number of apprenticeships on offer for young people, he said. With all eyes on next summer's Comprehensive Spending Review, Mr Brown held off from making major policy anouncements.

But he unveiled further details of planned capital investments in schools in England. Separate announcements will be made for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

He pledged to increase annual spending to £10bn by 2010, which he said would match spending per-pupil on buildings in the state sector to that in the private sector.
Other measures include:

• A further 300,000 households to be offered free insulation and free central heating.
• Consultation on bringing in bursaries worth £2,000 for looked-after children - such as those in local authority care - to go to university.
• Bookstart scheme to be extended so children get more free books when they leave primary school.
• An extra £600m for operations in Afghanistan and Iraq
• An extra £84m for intelligence and counter-terrorism

Mr Brown said trend growth (the assumed rate) of the UK economy will be maintained at 2.75%, while the public finances will be based on a rate of 2.5% And he forecast economic growth next year of 2.75% to 3.25%.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6211176.stm

All in all nothing majorly wrong here, the taxes imposed appeal to my liberal sensibilities as long as they are used properly, the spending emphasis is on children and the environment which sits well and the economic forcasts look good, of course this is Gordy's spin so its going to come across looking rosey but it could be worse.

In my eyes it was always going to take a major cock up on the part of Labour to end up out of office at the next election, people still remember the mess the Conservatives made last time and if Labour can get Iraq pushed firmly under the carpet before the next election and nothing else bad happens I can't see Camaron pulling off a victory.

Ideas?

MB

[Mark]

Oops. I completely forgot this was today. Annoyed at myself for missing it.

I did scan through some of your post and agree with you to a point on the transportation taxes. If the Government is serious about environmental issues, then it makes sense for them to increase taxes on transportation, but only if that money is used to help offer a viable alternative for those who can't drive or can't afford to drive. However, my main fear is that it'll act as an inflationary pressure and thus prompt the Bank of England to shove up rates again earlier than it otherwise might have.

I'll have to leave the rest for another day. No time.

[Will]

The question one has to ask is are they really going to be spending money in the key areas they stiuplate? And does throwing more money at the problems actually help? Look at all the money they are throwing at public transport, the NHS, education and other public key services, has it helped? I don't know - I think it often causes more bureaucracy and paper work, and lines pockets of people rather than it being put to good use. Or is that over simplistic and cynical?

Furthermore what about the £10-£25bn for new trident nuclear submarines? Do we really need that sort of spending?

I think it's a folly to even spend anywhere near £600m for the Afghanistan and other war "efforts" - I'd rather the spent that money on diplomatic and peaceful missions and activities.

Ok it's great news that the UK economy is growing and expanding, but I personally view this as an excuse to jack prices up, and jack salaries of functionaries up. If there is growth, we should see an improvement in services and public sectors, but I really dont' believe we do - as the more the UK grows the more money is required to feed it.

[Matblack]

I honestly believe we have seen an improvement in the NHS, as for transport, well the railways were sold off so thats not the government's problem, roads take a long time to build too.

I do see what you are saying about extra levels of beaurocracy and I see this more and more in my own organisation, we are seeing more and more middle management collateing figures for reporting :/

MB

[Admiral Huddy]

Originally Posted by Matblack

....In my eyes it was always going to take a major cock up on the part of Labour to end up out of office at the next election, people still remember the mess the Conservatives made last time and if Labour can get Iraq pushed firmly under the carpet before the next election and nothing else bad happens I can't see Camaron pulling off a victory.

Ideas?

MB

You really think that people will forget? I'm not so sure.


Seems an odd sort of budget to me.. I thought there may have been some anti-inflation tactics brought in. This will only mean that interest rates will rise again. Possibly at a higher rate than normal. Will hve to see what the BoE makes of this.


600M for iraq and afgan ops... WTF? and on the news yesterday they are closing hospitals and a uni in reading tut tut.

[Von Smallhausen]

£600 million for Iraq and Afghanistan.

My force is facing a £6 million budgetry shortfall and will lose officers as a result. When people retire etc, they won't be replaced as the money is not there to replace them. Several forces are facing the same problems.

The public loses frontline police officers, making the blue line even thinner and the Government will not fork out cash to help, despite it's guidelines being the reason for the problems in the first place.

It ******* stinks !

I see the motorist is hammered again. Start slamming people with fuel rises when public transport is fit to take away the burden of personal vehicles. It is grossly unfair. I work 25 miles away from home, travelling time 35 minutes. By public transport ? 2 hours. What do they expect ?

This government piss me off beyond belief, Lets tax who can afford it, lets tax who on paper can afford it and lets use the money for hairbrained schemes and policies beset by fraud, mismanagement and waste.

I do not like Gordon Brown's version of social justice.

[Admiral Huddy]

Originally Posted by Von_Smallhausen

.....
This government piss me off beyond belief, Lets tax who can afford it, lets tax who on paper can afford it and lets use the money for hairbrained schemes and policies beset by fraud, mismanagement and waste.

I do not like Gordon Brown's version of social justice.

I agree and it will be a black day if he comes to be the head man.

I'm not sure about more taxation on those that can afford it. Define your definition of "afford". I think it may be just better if they make better use of the taxes they do collect.. the 600m for example.

[Burble]

To be honest, I see the budget as nothing more than background noise. Mr. Brown is already ass raping me for £1.8k/month income tax so an extra hundred quid or so a year on fuel is pissing in the wind.

Not that I'm happy about it of course, I'm playing more and more, and getting less and less back.

[Admiral Huddy]

Originally Posted by Kitten_caboodle

unfortunately for those of us who are already struggling, these 'little' increases mean the difference between struggling and managing. It really is galling to know that had i left school with nothing but a couple of babies dangling off my boobs, I'd probably have a much better standard of living than I've had the last few years. At least that's what's happened to the girls I knew at school that did it. Decent houses (most of them now bought from the council at a fraction of what I paid for mine and sold on for more than double - so their houses are far more spacious and expensive than mine), most bills paid, little or no debt, hefty payouts for the kids, top ups of family credit/income support/housing benefit and huge support to get them into the workforce.

Whereas I've worked like a donkey the last 10 years and am treated as such. Except donkeys get given carrots now and again - they don't just suffer the stick all the time.

yep that stinks. I'm penalised for being a higher rate tax payer and so does my wife for being married to me. Aparantly, the goverment think i should support people on lower income?? How does that work then.. Do nothing = get more... Do more = get nothing?? Makes me so damn mad!!

Our neighbours are both work but are on low income yet they manage to support 5 kids. Family tax credits, income support, child benefit etc.. yet they still seem to keep a 2 year old Range Rover going ??? He get jack... I'm puzzled by the whole thing...

[Desmo]

The whole system needs to be looked at, but it's never going to happen :/
It does make you wonder why you bother.