General Election

[andsome]

The whole point about the UK tax system is that money is taxed on more than one occasion. I paid my share of income tax and national insurance tax all my working life. The government wants people to save toward their retirement, yet Brown removed the tax privileges enjoyed by Pension funds. I would ask those who have accused me of moaning, "would you like to live on an income which is so low, that you do not qualify to pay income tax?" If as I suspect the answer is NO, why should I not complain about the actions of a Chancellor of the Exchequer, who taxes pension funds?

[CurlyWhirly]

If as I suspect the answer is NO, why should I not complain about the actions of a Chancellor of the Exchequer, who taxes pension funds?

I agree with you there andsome.

I have been a Labour voter all my life and I was gobsmacked when as soon as they got elected, they raided the Pension Funds from which hard working people like yourself have paid into for many years.

This doesn't mean that I am going to vote Tory though, as my mother is elderly and she is one of the fortunate people who have benefitted under this Government with winter heating allowance, free bus pass, etc.

It is certainly true that whatever Government is elected, there will always be winners and losers.

[The Grump]

would you like to live on an income which is so low, that you do not qualify to pay income tax?

I think that covers the majority of the elderly in the UK.

[dadyassa]

The whole point about the UK tax system is that money is taxed on more than one occasion.  I paid my share of income tax and national insurance tax all my working life.  The government wants people to save toward their retirement,  yet Brown removed the tax privileges enjoyed by Pension funds.  I would ask those who have accused me of moaning,  "would you like to live on an income which is so low, that you do not qualify to pay income tax?"  If as I suspect the answer is NO, why should I not complain about the actions of a Chancellor of the Exchequer, who taxes pension funds?

I know you paid enough in tax and insurance, but if you had been self employed like me, you would have paid an extra 8% tax on any profits made, which of course included my wages as this is classed as profit. Oh yeah and no sick benefits unlike employed people. I could waffle on but..... :D

[pwp]

The choices in the poll are very conservative.

What about those who want to vote for Greens, Independant, Veritas or BNP for example?

the poll is which party will win.

wouldn't think any of them will could have left the lib dems out as well. :D

[Hurdy]

I was only asking really because we have a mindset in the UK that only the three main parties exist when it comes to GE time.

It will be interesting to see how the smaller parties get on.

I've become aware, in my day to day experiences, over the last six months or so how people have become increasingly vocal over their hatred and distrust towards Blair and New Labour and also towards the influx of the new Europeans.

If people won't/can't vote for new Labour and won't/can't vote Tory - will there be an upsurge in the support of the more radical parties?

Obviously, not enough to win but possibly a barometer of public opinion.

[lester1]

Look at the NHS

What NHS :angry: :angry:

I Hope that the conservatives will win this time round

On a personal level I have nothing but praise for the NHS, Two very elderly in laws and a wife currently being treated for a major illness. All have received excellent treatment and have been cared for to a high standard.

Wonder how the in laws would have done in a Tory NHS scenario. :angry:

[andsome]

would you like to live on an income which is so low, that you do not qualify to pay income tax?

I think that covers the majority of the elderly in the UK.

That is precisely why I went without extras that I could have enjoyed while I was working. I did NOT want to be in that position. When I started paying into pension funds, it was well worth doing so, as the income of those funds was not taxed, as an incentive to save, so that there would be no need to be on the poverty line at retirement. Brown damned soon changed all that, and now the government wonder why so many people are making no extra provision for retirement. The motto today is what is the use of saving, let's spend it, and I can fully understand why.

[expertec]

I can only relate to my Mother-in-law, now 80 years old, she feels she is better off to the sum of some £1,200 per year in pension, benefits, and winter fuel payments.

And how much worse off by Council Tax rises?

[andsome]

I can only relate to my Mother-in-law, now 80 years old, she feels she is better off to the sum of some £1,200 per year in pension, benefits, and winter fuel payments.

And how much worse off by Council Tax rises?

Yet another sore point. The government has greatly increased the financial burden of local councils.

[r4may]

On a personal level I have nothing but praise for the NHS, Two very elderly in laws and a wife currently being treated for a major illness. All have received excellent treatment and have been cared for to a high standard

Wonder how the in laws would have done in a Tory NHS scenario.

On a personal level My in laws had to pay a fortune in Care Fees, because they saved all their live and ended up having to pay it all on these fees plus having to sell their house once their savings ran out

Both paid Full NI contributions all their lives, they were allowed just £15.00 a week pocket money allowance.

They couldn't have been any worse off in a Tory scenario.

[Tankus]

out of protest ....Im going to vote for" he who walks the night " ........ but its uninspiring ............

[Robbers Dog]

As I live in a Tory constituency with a small majority over the Liberals, I think I will vote Lib/Dem instead of any other candidate.

Who can forget the 18 years of the the last Tory government, millions unemployed, negative equity, 15% inflation, the run down of the NHS, and that greatest vote winner of all time "THE POLL TAX".

[andsome]

As I live in a Tory constituency with a small majority over the Liberals, I think I will vote Lib/Dem instead of any other candidate.

Who can forget the 18 years of the the last Tory government, millions unemployed, negative equity, 15% inflation, the run down of the NHS, and that greatest vote winner of all time "THE POLL TAX".

So you want to be TOTALLY ruled from Brussels then? Make NO mistake, given the chance, everything would be handed over lock, stock and barrel.

[Robbers Dog]

So you want to be TOTALLY ruled from Brussels then? Make NO mistake, given the chance, everything would be handed over lock, stock and barrel.

Your usual UKIP nonsense.

[andsome]

So you want to be TOTALLY ruled from Brussels then? Make NO mistake, given the chance, everything would be handed over lock, stock and barrel.

Your usual UKIP nonsense.

This not nonsense and is nothing to do with UKIP. I would prefer to be out of Europe altogether, but will have to make do with the Tory line on Europe which is more pro British than Labour's line. If you do not think that the Lib Dems want to hand over everything to Europe, you are living in cloud cuckoo land. They want to be at the very heart of Europe, complete with doing away with our currency. You go ahead and vote for them, but I am convinced that the majority of the electorate can see what would happen if that bunch got into power.

[Robbers Dog]

I will vote Lib/Dem, not because I agree with their policies, but just to keep the Tories out.

[CurlyWhirly]

This not nonsense and is nothing to do with UKIP.  I would prefer to be out of Europe altogether, but will have to make do with the Tory line on Europe which is more pro British than Labour's line.  If you do not think that the Lib Dems want to hand over everything to Europe, you are living in cloud cuckoo land.  They want to be at the very heart of Europe, complete with doing away with our currency.  You go ahead and vote for them, but I am convinced that the majority of the electorate can see what would happen if that bunch got into power.

Again, I have to agree with you andsome, already too much power has been given to Brussels and it would be even worse if the Liberal Democrats got in.

I won't publish in the forum what I think of the Euro, nothing but toy money which would cost billions of pounds to implement with vending machines, etc. having to be refurbished in order to accept the new coinage.

I think politicians are two-faced, as look at Neil Kinnock as he was at one time (I think) a Euro-sceptic and he is now part of the Euro 'gravy train' :o

There was an article last year, where a Euro audit discovered that were several billions of pounds missing, just where that went is anybody's guess but it is all taxpayers money :angry:

The word 'incompetent' springs to mind here.

[Besty]

Hopefuly the conservatives but most likely the sheep will follow labour baa

[pwp]

you probably wont remember Besty, but after 18 years of tory misrule.

when they sold the family silver.

ie gas electric water and telecoms

this is why there is sod all left but taxes to pay for schools the health service

and the elderly.

i'll stick with labour and keep my fleece thank you very much.

Baaa

[andsome]

I will vote Lib/Dem, not because I agree with their policies, but just to keep the Tories out.

This seems a c**k eyed reason to vote for a party

[expertec]

you probably wont remember Besty, but after 18 years of tory misrule.

when they sold the family silver.

ie gas electric water and telecoms

this is why there is sod all left but taxes to pay for schools the health service

and the elderly.

i'll stick with labour and keep my fleece thank you very much.

Baaa

Load of :censored:.... the poor performance of the nationalised industries was a heavy drain on public finances.

[andsome]

you probably wont remember Besty, but after 18 years of tory misrule.

when they sold the family silver.

ie gas electric water and telecoms

this is why there is sod all left but taxes to pay for schools the health service

and the elderly.

i'll stick with labour and keep my fleece thank you very much.

Baaa

Load of :censored:.... the poor performance of the nationalised industries was a heavy drain on public finances.

Couldn't agree more.

[The Grump]

I will vote Lib/Dem, not because I agree with their policies, but just to keep the Tories out.

This seems a c**k eyed reason to vote for a party

Seems like a good idea to me. Anything that will keep the Tories out gets my vote.

the poor performance of the nationalised industries was a heavy drain on public finances.

More c**p. What about BP, BT, gas, electric, and water.

[romanab]

Labour for me, I would hate to see the Tories get back in and gut the health and education services like before :(