I think that welfare cuts are going to cause an even bigger stink than the winter fuel cuts. Once it becomes known who will be affected and by how much, there will be quite a public reaction. But it's a 'changing world' dontcha know?
Yes, it won't be pleasant. It's obvious a lot of people are struggling now so taking away more from them as time goes on isn't great. There's only so much hardship people will tolerate.
I expect the Spring statement will be spun about getting people back to work, capability assessments, PiP and so on but it will avoid saying what is obvious: the country is broke, we will all need to contribute more and it won't be over quickly.
On a personal level I am trying to keep our household expenditure as low as reasonably possible and hold on to as much cash as possible for the time being. I will probably invest that into a low risk stocks and shares ISA in due course.
Syl said
Mar 6 11:25 AM, 2025
State pension will go up approx £7 a week, just got our water rates for the year, £170 rise.
The council tax will be increased by at least that in this area...that's the state pension rise wiped out straight away.
Red Okktober said
Mar 6 11:46 AM, 2025
Barksdale wrote:
Yes, it won't be pleasant. It's obvious a lot of people are struggling now so taking away more from them as time goes on isn't great. There's only so much hardship people will tolerate.
I expect the Spring statement will be spun about getting people back to work, capability assessments, PiP and so on but it will avoid saying what is obvious: the country is broke, we will all need to contribute more and it won't be over quickly.
On a personal level I am trying to keep our household expenditure as low as reasonably possible and hold on to as much cash as possible for the time being. I will probably invest that into a low risk stocks and shares ISA in due course.
It will probably be all of that, but imo it will be a waste of resources and expense for the success percentage they will get from that section of society.
A lot of people are genuinely unable to work so it's pointless trying to get them into work if they can't physically do it (I believe these people should be left alone as the situation must be causing them a lot of stress). A lot of people probably could do some kind of work, but have fallen into a lame duck lifestyle and would require lots of training and confidence building. And there are people of course who have nothing wrong with them at all but have managed to swing the lead throughout their lives (we both know someone like that from elsewhere!) Most of these people will put up as much resistance as they can, and won't willingly cooperate in a complete overhaul of their lifestyle.
So there is a pool of unwilling sick or lazy people who the government is targeting to get back into work.
Here's the thing though - who the fuck is going to employ them? Reeves has just taxed businesses so that they are now employing fewer people, and some businesss are closing altogether. There is more competition now for jobs than before - who would a business now employ - someone reliable with a good work history, or someone who's been on the sick for 20 years with a bad back?
Personally, I would write this lot off, and devise a plan to prevent this situation from happening again with the younger generation.
Red Okktober said
Mar 6 11:50 AM, 2025
Syl wrote:
State pension will go up approx £7 a week, just got our water rates for the year, £170 rise. The council tax will be increased by at least that in this area...that's the state pension rise wiped out straight away.
Starmer has already told those having their winter fuel allowance removed that the annual pension increase will cover it.
He doesn't seem to realise that the increase is used for other things, as you have just pointed out.
Another case of fobbing the public off with untruths
Syl said
Mar 6 12:11 PM, 2025
Red Okktober wrote:
Syl wrote:
State pension will go up approx £7 a week, just got our water rates for the year, £170 rise. The council tax will be increased by at least that in this area...that's the state pension rise wiped out straight away.
Starmer has already told those having their winter fuel allowance removed that the annual pension increase will cover it.
He doesn't seem to realise that the increase is used for other things, as you have just pointed out.
Another case of fobbing the public off with untruths
I already know some people are not using their central heating because energy costs have gone up, and set to rise again next month.
We visited friends for the evening recently, their house was absolutely freezing, even the one room we were all sat in. I sat in my coat it was so cold.
It makes me sick the way the government claim that people on pension credit still get the heating allowance....millions dont qualify but hey are still living in poverty.
Magica said
Mar 6 3:20 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
Red Okktober wrote:
Syl wrote:
State pension will go up approx £7 a week, just got our water rates for the year, £170 rise. The council tax will be increased by at least that in this area...that's the state pension rise wiped out straight away.
Starmer has already told those having their winter fuel allowance removed that the annual pension increase will cover it.
He doesn't seem to realise that the increase is used for other things, as you have just pointed out.
Another case of fobbing the public off with untruths
I already know some people are not using their central heating because energy costs have gone up, and set to rise again next month.
We visited friends for the evening recently, their house was absolutely freezing, even the one room we were all sat in. I sat in my coat it was so cold.
It makes me sick the way the government claim that people on pension credit still get the heating allowance....millions dont qualify but hey are still living in poverty
Starme r doesn't care about.the.people. Hoping pensioners pop off quicker.
Barksdale said
Mar 6 4:56 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
...millions dont qualify but hey are still living in poverty.
This the sad thing about the UK.
Gven economic mismangement since 2008, Brexit and then COVID we have become a poor country, with some limited wealthy regions doing very well indeed. An equal, fair society is a happy society. Every year since 2008 we hope things would get better. Every year they get worse.
Syl said
Mar 7 12:42 PM, 2025
Barksdale wrote:
Syl wrote:
...millions dont qualify but hey are still living in poverty.
This the sad thing about the UK.
Gven economic mismangement since 2008, Brexit and then COVID we have become a poor country, with some limited wealthy regions doing very well indeed. An equal, fair society is a happy society. Every year since 2008 we hope things would get better. Every year they get worse.
It's getting harder for kids and grandkids to get on the property ladder, something my generation (bought early 80's) took for granted. I think many people are resigned to a life of rentng...which is wasted money really, pay all your life with nothing to show for it at the end.
Having said that, how many working class people have saved, bought their home, only to see it taken away at the end of heir lives when they need care, which in this country is often abysmal and ridiculously expensive.
Barksdale said
Mar 10 12:25 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
Having said that, how many working class people have saved, bought their home, only to see it taken away at the end of heir lives when they need care, which in this country is often abysmal and ridiculously expensive.
A house is the only asset most people will ever own and I'm sure most people want to hand it on to their children (I know I do.) However it is so difficult to hold on to it in later life it seems - you either have to downsize to help fund your retirement, lose it to some shady equity release scheme or give up a large chunk for care costs.
It looks like more of life is taken up by this "subscription model" where you never own the actual asset, but rather rent it indefinitely. A home shouldn't be like a mobile phone. Most people never end up owning the actual phone as they effectively rent it until the next model comes out, which they rent again etc.
Personally, I change phones every 3-4 years and I buy them outright (and get some money for the old phone from a trade in or selling it.) I then take a sim only plan which ends up being cheaper. Like most things if you have capital it is easier to live more cheaply than if you don't.
Barksdale said
Mar 10 12:29 PM, 2025
In other news, it looks like Reform have booted out Rupert Lowe, in much the same way they did to Ben Habib previously. He was probably their best MP, and Habib a close second.
It looks like it may have been a stitch-up and it comes very shortly after Rupert Lowe criticised Nigel Farage's hold on the party. Farage did a similar thing with UKIP and the Brexit Party. It seems like the country needs is secondary to what Farage needs,
Maddog said
Mar 13 3:53 AM, 2025
"When I asked if the villagers fear a cascade effect from petty crime to violent chaos, they nodded but do not speak. England isn’t a big country. Everyone knew that here, as everywhere in Europe, mass immigration correlates with spikes in serious crime. Everyone knew about the “grooming gangs” scandal, in which men of mostly Pakistani extraction trafficked and raped hundreds, and possibly thousands, of white British girls over decades in towns across the country. And everyone knows what happens to ordinary people who speak out.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer calls anti-immigrant sentiment “far right.” The police will show up on the doorstep of citizens who speak online too bluntly. Since the Orwellian-sounding Online Safety Act became law in October 2023, the government has directed the police to prosecute hundreds of people. When Vice President J.D. Vance berated Europeans in his recent address to the Munich Security Conference, he singled out Britain for its actions against free speech."
By the way, the Free Press is a good site for middle of the road, honest reporting..
Syl said
Mar 13 11:35 AM, 2025
Maddog wrote:
"When I asked if the villagers fear a cascade effect from petty crime to violent chaos, they nodded but do not speak. England isn’t a big country. Everyone knew that here, as everywhere in Europe, mass immigration correlates with spikes in serious crime. Everyone knew about the “grooming gangs” scandal, in which men of mostly Pakistani extraction trafficked and raped hundreds, and possibly thousands, of white British girls over decades in towns across the country. And everyone knows what happens to ordinary people who speak out.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer calls anti-immigrant sentiment “far right.” The police will show up on the doorstep of citizens who speak online too bluntly. Since the Orwellian-sounding Online Safety Act became law in October 2023, the government has directed the police to prosecute hundreds of people. When Vice President J.D. Vance berated Europeans in his recent address to the Munich Security Conference, he singled out Britain for its actions against free speech."
By the way, the Free Press is a good site for middle of the road, honest reporting..
Also...
UK maps show towns where up to 80% of council houses go to migrants
New figures show that over 50% of social housing in towns across the UK has been allocated to migrants.
Over half of social housing in 16 parts of the UK has been allocated to migrants, according to new figures. The data was compiled by right-wing political commentator and Professor of Politics at the University of Kent, Matt Goodwin, based on information from local authorities and the Migration Facts website.
He said: "These maps paint an incredibly troubling picture of what is now happening in some areas of the country. "These are just a handful of many places I could have chosen in England today where the vast majority of scarce social housing has gone to people who were not born in the UK, where most of the people who rely on the state are also not contributing to the state by working." Demand for social housing across the country is dwarfed by the level of demand, with a much higher number of applications than available properties - and over a million households on a waiting list at a given time.
Over 10 years ago, a poster put up a pic of the White cliffs of Dover, with the words 'PISS OFF, WE ARE FULL' scrawled on the side.
He was driven off forums for being racist, hounded by many, and sadly is no longer with us.
OK, he could have phrased it better, but for every immigrant, refugee, asylum seeker that lands here, the dependents that follow them, and the traditionally large families they often have once here, the UK has to provide them all with homes, jobs, welfare, NHS services, schools, etc....and that;s once they settle.
Add to that the ones who hate our way of life, refuse to follow laws, and God knows what intentions they have once here... and it's obvious something has to change, because actually...we are an island, and we are full.
Magica said
Mar 13 12:33 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
Over 10 years ago, a poster put up a pic of the White cliffs of Dover, with the words 'PISS OFF, WE ARE FULL' scrawled on the side. He was driven off forums for being racist, hounded by many, and sadly is no longer with us.
OK, he could have phrased it better, but for every immigrant, refugee, asylum seeker that lands here, the dependents that follow them, and the traditionally large families they often have once here, the UK has to provide them all with homes, jobs, welfare, NHS services, schools, etc....and that;s once they settle. Add to that the ones who hate our way of life, refuse to follow laws, and God knows what intentions they have once here... and it's obvious something has to change, because actually...we are an island, and we are full.
Yes we are. I've said this many times over the years, called racist to shut us up.
I've said this aswell, only young fighting men coming, have been for a few years now. I fear them taking over and we have no one to protect us.
Syl said
Mar 13 12:39 PM, 2025
In a couple of the papers yesterday, in light or recent events, there was talk of 'should the UK reintroduce conscription'.
That could possibly encourage mass migration. I wonder how many young men who come here illegally or not, would be prepared to fight for us.
Magica said
Mar 13 3:15 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
In a couple of the papers yesterday, in light or recent events, there was talk of 'should the UK reintroduce conscription'. That could possibly encourage mass migration. I wonder how many young men who come here illegally or not, would be prepared to fight for us.
They would leave.
Be left to boys like my grandson, even grandaughters! I will send them abroad, they're not fighting for this shit country!
Maddog said
Mar 13 3:23 PM, 2025
What if the UK had a bombastic crazy guy in charge that didn't care about the UN or any other entity or country, and he rounded up these folks and flew them home as fast as they got here..
Then he threatened France with a tariff if they didn't stop letting them get on boats?.
Just an idea 😉
Anonymous said
Mar 13 4:17 PM, 2025
Magica wrote:
Syl wrote:
In a couple of the papers yesterday, in light or recent events, there was talk of 'should the UK reintroduce conscription'. That could possibly encourage mass migration. I wonder how many young men who come here illegally or not, would be prepared to fight for us.
They would leave.
Be left to boys like my grandson, even grandaughters! I will send them abroad, they're not fighting for this shit country!
My family was predominately British Armed Forces - father career Army, brother Navy, another brother Army, my ex was in the forces, nephew and niece were both army - all proud to serve their country.
Not one of them said they would serve today.
Magica said
Mar 13 5:13 PM, 2025
Maddog wrote:
What if the UK had a bombastic crazy guy in charge that didn't care about the UN or any other entity or country, and he rounded up these folks and flew them home as fast as they got here..
Then he threatened France with a tariff if they didn't stop letting them get on boats?.
Just an idea 😉
Great idea! So easy yet we do nothing. Our government and previous government too idiotic to do this.
For sheer commonsense, you're voted in as PM Madders.
-- Edited by Magica on Thursday 13th of March 2025 05:13:50 PM
Maddog said
Mar 13 5:21 PM, 2025
Magica wrote:
Maddog wrote:
What if the UK had a bombastic crazy guy in charge that didn't care about the UN or any other entity or country, and he rounded up these folks and flew them home as fast as they got here..
Then he threatened France with a tariff if they didn't stop letting them get on boats?.
Just an idea 😉
Great idea! So easy yet we do nothing. Our government and previous government too idiotic to do this.
For sheer commonsense, you're voted in as PM Madders.
-- Edited by Magica on Thursday 13th of March 2025 05:13:50 PM
Yes, it won't be pleasant. It's obvious a lot of people are struggling now so taking away more from them as time goes on isn't great. There's only so much hardship people will tolerate.
I expect the Spring statement will be spun about getting people back to work, capability assessments, PiP and so on but it will avoid saying what is obvious: the country is broke, we will all need to contribute more and it won't be over quickly.
On a personal level I am trying to keep our household expenditure as low as reasonably possible and hold on to as much cash as possible for the time being. I will probably invest that into a low risk stocks and shares ISA in due course.
The council tax will be increased by at least that in this area...that's the state pension rise wiped out straight away.
It will probably be all of that, but imo it will be a waste of resources and expense for the success percentage they will get from that section of society.
A lot of people are genuinely unable to work so it's pointless trying to get them into work if they can't physically do it (I believe these people should be left alone as the situation must be causing them a lot of stress). A lot of people probably could do some kind of work, but have fallen into a lame duck lifestyle and would require lots of training and confidence building. And there are people of course who have nothing wrong with them at all but have managed to swing the lead throughout their lives (we both know someone like that from elsewhere!) Most of these people will put up as much resistance as they can, and won't willingly cooperate in a complete overhaul of their lifestyle.
So there is a pool of unwilling sick or lazy people who the government is targeting to get back into work.
Here's the thing though - who the fuck is going to employ them? Reeves has just taxed businesses so that they are now employing fewer people, and some businesss are closing altogether. There is more competition now for jobs than before - who would a business now employ - someone reliable with a good work history, or someone who's been on the sick for 20 years with a bad back?
Personally, I would write this lot off, and devise a plan to prevent this situation from happening again with the younger generation.
Starmer has already told those having their winter fuel allowance removed that the annual pension increase will cover it.
He doesn't seem to realise that the increase is used for other things, as you have just pointed out.
Another case of fobbing the public off with untruths
I already know some people are not using their central heating because energy costs have gone up, and set to rise again next month.
We visited friends for the evening recently, their house was absolutely freezing, even the one room we were all sat in. I sat in my coat it was so cold.
It makes me sick the way the government claim that people on pension credit still get the heating allowance....millions dont qualify but hey are still living in poverty.
Starme r doesn't care about.the.people. Hoping pensioners pop off quicker.
This the sad thing about the UK.
Gven economic mismangement since 2008, Brexit and then COVID we have become a poor country, with some limited wealthy regions doing very well indeed. An equal, fair society is a happy society. Every year since 2008 we hope things would get better. Every year they get worse.
It's getting harder for kids and grandkids to get on the property ladder, something my generation (bought early 80's) took for granted. I think many people are resigned to a life of rentng...which is wasted money really, pay all your life with nothing to show for it at the end.
Having said that, how many working class people have saved, bought their home, only to see it taken away at the end of heir lives when they need care, which in this country is often abysmal and ridiculously expensive.
A house is the only asset most people will ever own and I'm sure most people want to hand it on to their children (I know I do.) However it is so difficult to hold on to it in later life it seems - you either have to downsize to help fund your retirement, lose it to some shady equity release scheme or give up a large chunk for care costs.
It looks like more of life is taken up by this "subscription model" where you never own the actual asset, but rather rent it indefinitely. A home shouldn't be like a mobile phone. Most people never end up owning the actual phone as they effectively rent it until the next model comes out, which they rent again etc.
Personally, I change phones every 3-4 years and I buy them outright (and get some money for the old phone from a trade in or selling it.) I then take a sim only plan which ends up being cheaper. Like most things if you have capital it is easier to live more cheaply than if you don't.
In other news, it looks like Reform have booted out Rupert Lowe, in much the same way they did to Ben Habib previously. He was probably their best MP, and Habib a close second.
It looks like it may have been a stitch-up and it comes very shortly after Rupert Lowe criticised Nigel Farage's hold on the party. Farage did a similar thing with UKIP and the Brexit Party. It seems like the country needs is secondary to what Farage needs,
Prime Minister Keir Starmer calls anti-immigrant sentiment “far right.” The police will show up on the doorstep of citizens who speak online too bluntly. Since the Orwellian-sounding Online Safety Act became law in October 2023, the government has directed the police to prosecute hundreds of people. When Vice President J.D. Vance berated Europeans in his recent address to the Munich Security Conference, he singled out Britain for its actions against free speech."
www.thefp.com/p/english-village-migrants-outnumber-locals
By the way, the Free Press is a good site for middle of the road, honest reporting..
Also...
UK maps show towns where up to 80% of council houses go to migrants
New figures show that over 50% of social housing in towns across the UK has been allocated to migrants.
Over half of social housing in 16 parts of the UK has been allocated to migrants, according to new figures. The data was compiled by right-wing political commentator and Professor of Politics at the University of Kent, Matt Goodwin, based on information from local authorities and the Migration Facts website.
He said: "These maps paint an incredibly troubling picture of what is now happening in some areas of the country. "These are just a handful of many places I could have chosen in England today where the vast majority of scarce social housing has gone to people who were not born in the UK, where most of the people who rely on the state are also not contributing to the state by working." Demand for social housing across the country is dwarfed by the level of demand, with a much higher number of applications than available properties - and over a million households on a waiting list at a given time.
UK maps show towns where up to 80% of council houses go to migrants | UK | News | Express.co.uk
He was driven off forums for being racist, hounded by many, and sadly is no longer with us.
OK, he could have phrased it better, but for every immigrant, refugee, asylum seeker that lands here, the dependents that follow them, and the traditionally large families they often have once here, the UK has to provide them all with homes, jobs, welfare, NHS services, schools, etc....and that;s once they settle.
Add to that the ones who hate our way of life, refuse to follow laws, and God knows what intentions they have once here... and it's obvious something has to change, because actually...we are an island, and we are full.
Yes we are. I've said this many times over the years, called racist to shut us up.
I've said this aswell, only young fighting men coming, have been for a few years now. I fear them taking over and we have no one to protect us.
That could possibly encourage mass migration. I wonder how many young men who come here illegally or not, would be prepared to fight for us.
They would leave.
Be left to boys like my grandson, even grandaughters! I will send them abroad, they're not fighting for this shit country!
Then he threatened France with a tariff if they didn't stop letting them get on boats?.
Just an idea 😉
My family was predominately British Armed Forces - father career Army, brother Navy, another brother Army, my ex was in the forces, nephew and niece were both army - all proud to serve their country.
Not one of them said they would serve today.
Great idea! So easy yet we do nothing. Our government and previous government too idiotic to do this.
For sheer commonsense, you're voted in as PM Madders.
-- Edited by Magica on Thursday 13th of March 2025 05:13:50 PM
I'm not orange enough for the job.