A friend of mine said that he felt completely in middle ground... he was on a decent wage, so he wasn't going to be affected by minimum wage, he wasn't going to be affected by higher tax bands... but he doesn't like the idea of labour which was "bigger shoulders should carry greater loads"... he said "if I work harder and achieve more, why shouldn't I be able to help out my family/kids, why should I have to carry other people who don't want to work hard..?"

This is my position financially too, and I also held a very similar view in the past. I've kind of changed my mind though, trying to think what I'd want to do with my money if I earned a lot more. We all know that earning more than a certain amount (the living wage?) doesn't make you happier. So what's the point in spending so much money on material things? Obviously spending it to give your kids a better future is a great idea, and so is spending it to have better or longer holidays. But beyond that, what does all the extra money get you except for more stuff?

I'm being a bit of a hypocrite though, buying a new car last year and spending hundreds of £s on mods, plus other stuff I don't need haha.

The cost of tuition fees never actually went up, it has been 9k for a long time.

Labour was just subsidising them, which means every UK taxpayer had to share the burden of picking up the other 6k per student per year.

I understand that it's subsidised, and back when I went to uni from 2006-2010 it was subsidised a lot more - I only paid around £3k per year. The thing is the higher fees are putting people off, especially students from younger families who's potential will then go to waste (I'm assuming this, don't know if there's any data to back it up). It's that whole "social mobility" argument again.

I agree about students wasting their time though, and I think it should be a bit more stict i.e. find which students aren't bothered about learning and kick them off the course.

Or for the record:

Tuition fees.. I know of a hungarian woman that came to the UK to work, she purposely works below the 10k threshold so as not to pay tax. She decided she wanted a nice red BMW, but how could she afford it? Hmmm, expensive.. guess what? Apply for a student loan, get one, buy red beemer and drop out of uni... no intentions of EVER paying back the money taken, no intention of ever staying at uni.... She did that a while ago apparently... so I can only say well done everyone, you bought her a car!

That sounds almost criminal lol, that car should be taken from her.

All the evidence seems to suggest that the tuition fees have made no difference to numbers attending.

So happy Farage didn't win his seat though :D

All the evidence seems to suggest that the tuition fees have made no difference to numbers attending.

So happy Farage didn't win his seat though :D

Yes Farage losing is the best news of the day I think :). I'll have to do some research into tuition fees and attendance, if what you say is true I might eat my words haha.

I actually like Farage.

Farage resigns!

Sent via the 'Clacks'

GNU STP

the biggest thing I fear right now under the blue reigime? - Privatised NHS.

I will be frank, my health is shocking. I spend more time in hospitals or doctors than I spend playing with the kids to be fair. If they were to privatise it, I would be dead in a matter of days. Theres no dang way I could afford to pay for my NHS treatment out of my own pocket, and would your tax go down to reimburse you for the loss of NHS? would it chuff as like!

I stand by what I think, the country WILL regret the blue army getting sole control. I will be the one who said it first on record, and I will definitely be there to say "told you so" lol

As for Farage, I like him, hes a genuine guy, he sticks his head up above the parapet and talks about what needs to be talked about. I actually like UKIP and the vast majority of what they stand for, but at the end of the day sadly they are a representative clown party in some places. special cases who threaten to shoot people between the eyes? "mandatory abortions for any child with down syndrome" and such likes, just take whatever faith people develop and throw it on the fire.

thats why I voted green, at the end of the day there policies where alike, and I knew they didnt really stand a full chance of winning, but they did give it a good run, and in some places their votes came pretty close, but sadly the reds scared everyone to the blues side. Farage had it right on his "oh cack" interview after he lost. The fear of an SNP Labour government, meant that everyone started supporting the team they thought would win, just to get them out the way. Sad thing is, if they voted for a team they actually supported with similar policies (in my case such as greens) it would have resulted in a coalition government again, where two parties could reign each other in.

Lib Dem's did reign in a lot of what was threatened by the barmy blue army, and sadly the result is that now, they have whatever right to do what they like, how they like, and the only way you can stop them is with a guy fawkes mk2.

Clegg too.

2 down, 1 to go.

I believe the Labour announcement is expected around noon.

Phil87...

Again, I'm happy you have your opinion... but like you said, you are driving a nice car there... I'm in a 2007 focus estate (which I really like... but naturally I'd like something newer!)... so if someone was to drop a lump of cash in my lap, I would be a lot happier...

Money does not directly = happiness... I agree... but a lack of money certainly does influence unhappiness...

Currently I have a stack of bills totalling about £3-4k.... with another £5k and £2k bill coming along... granted it's a business bill rather than a personal bill, but to me right now, £ = happiness... With money my partner and I have less stress, therefore we are less snappy at each other, which in turn means we're happier as individuals, which in turn makes us happy to be around each other, which means we're a happy couple...

More material "things" do not = happiness, that I would agree... however, I love boating, would love to one day buy a boat..

EDIT: I too like Farage, the guy had the spuds to stand up and speak out and actually make a big wave.

Everyone typically wrote off UKIP when it first came about... it's road the tide of time and now it has 3.8 million votes!!! That is the 3rd most voted for party...

The only sad thing is that they're not recognised. I actually wish Farage had won in Thanet, I think having him in Parliament would have been brilliant. It would have been a bye bye to the ol' farts club and he would have shook up a lot of things!

The good thing is that the Lib Dems past 5yr involvement has already shaped the tories manifesto and altered (albiet slightly) their heading. There are certain things in the tory literature which are Lib dem influenced.

It is not going to be as bad a Tory majorities of old imo.

I hope your right Alex!

I think the top 1% should contribute more in tax. the main reason I say this, is because at the end of the day, they earn so much, that a bit more tax to support the country that saw them in fame and fortune, is really not that bad a deal! However, the excessive levies they apply such as the 50p tax, I am not so fond of.

I always thought tax should be bracketed a bit more fairly, to bottom and top earners. But then again I think a reform should be done on all taxes.

The average person I worked out - pays at least 14 taxes! thats a minimum!!! the 50p tax was insane, as it was just more tax on someone who already pays a lot more tax than everyone else. If your business is successful you should pay a "little" more but by no means should it be the way they wanted and have done it in the past.

I don't think the NHS will go that far dude, it would cost more than it would save to implement it. plus if they don't cut NI payments to suit there will be rebellion, I personally would rather take insurance out and go private if it saved me £100+PM on payments but people in your situation wouldn't get it that cheap if at all, and in that case you should be fully protected under the state if it ever came to that.

I would hope so lol.

Miliband's quit too!

Labour & Lib Dems unelectable for the foreseeable future, leaderless losers. :)

Bit unsure on this system though, SNP get 50% of the votes yet 95% of the seats??? same for UKIP getting much more % wise than a measly 2 seats, hardly political finesse.

Proportional representation of the total number of votes would be a very different story:

Conservatives: 240

Labour: 198

UKIP: 82

Lib Dems: 51

SNP: 31

Greens: 25

(Which is why only Lib Dems, UKIP and Greens want it).

We won! Yay! :D :D :D

More material "things" do not = happiness, that I would agree... however, I love boating, would love to one day buy a boat..

I'm with you there, we used to go on boating holidays when I was younger, and my parents bought a small boat just over 10 years ago but it got too expensive to maintain so they had to get rid of it. If I start earning more money in the future I might change my tune a bit lol, I know I wouldn't be happy to see half my money being taken away in taxes.

Regarding the taxation issue that's been mentioned a few times:

I DO actually believe that higher earners should be taxed more. However, the problem is that 'mid-tier' earners are taxed far too harshly, as it stands. For people earning a penny over £42,385, you will be bumped up to the 40p tax rate, which is too high. If my figures are correct, you will be paying roughly £13,000 in income tax (not even accounting for the numerous other forms of tax). This is roughly 1/3 of your wage!

Also remember the fact that wages have barely increased, and cost of living has gone up. The next tax band (45p) starts at a whopping £150,000. There is a disparity.

Yes, tax higher earners more, but the current tax bands are not 'balanced', or fair in my opinion. The fact that skilled British workers (doctors, engineers, surgeons, etc.) have been leaving the country in flocks (for Australia, the USA etc.) says it all really. We really need people like this, we shouldn't be scaring them away.

I remember reading about a study into tax and it was something like: "If a 2% tax (made percentage up on this as I forgot) was applied to everyone then the country would actually be far wealthier because the 'poor' wouldn't find it excessive and therefore dodge it with cash in hand. The middle wouldn't find it excessive and wouldn't grumble so much. The rich wouldn't find it excessive and therefore send their money overseas where it can't be taxed"

The simple fact is, I am not rich enough to pay an accountant to send my money overseas (not that I have any), however if I was earnings say £50k+ I think I would look into whether it was worth avoiding tax (avoidance is not illegal)... If I was earning 150k+ then I definitely would...

However 2% of 150,000 is 3k... You'd pay more in accountant and set up fees to dodge tax than you would in just paying the damn thing, and you wouldn't begrudge anyone for it.... Dyson already left the uk because of taxes, wages etc.. Raise taxes and more will leave..

Now, whilst there is one naughty word used a couple of times I think this video is worth sharing....

https://youtu.be/0YBumQHPAeU

I think everyone is different and no one will please all..

I can't help but thinking; aside from healthcare etc which you James have a big interest in, Labour is very short term....

From where I was I thought Conservatives were talking about raising minimum wage as well increasing the allowance before tax..

Now, whilst there is one naughty word used a couple of times I think this video is worth sharing....

https://youtu.be/0YBumQHPAeU

Seen that before, really funny and some skilful editing :)

Now you need to give yourself a warning for posting something with bad language :P

I didn't post it I just pointed a link to it and added the warning it had one naughty word. However I will go sit in the corner without tea?

Regarding the taxation issue that's been mentioned a few times:

I DO actually believe that higher earners should be taxed more. However, the problem is that 'mid-tier' earners are taxed far too harshly, as it stands. For people earning a penny over £42,385, you will be bumped up to the 40p tax rate, which is too high. If my figures are correct, you will be paying roughly £13,000 in income tax (not even accounting for the numerous other forms of tax). This is roughly 1/3 of your wage!

Also remember the fact that wages have barely increased, and cost of living has gone up. The next tax band (45p) starts at a whopping £150,000. There is a disparity.

Yes, tax higher earners more, but the current tax bands are not 'balanced', or fair in my opinion. The fact that skilled British workers (doctors, engineers, surgeons, etc.) have been leaving the country in flocks (for Australia, the USA etc.) says it all really. We really need people like this, we shouldn't be scaring them away.

You would only be taxed 40% on the money over £42385, so if you earned £42385.01 your tax would be about £6.5k