Budget date set for 24th March
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8559268.stm

What are we going to get I wonder? A serious attempt to reign in spending, increase the tax take and reduce the debt or the usual pre-election option to delay the really bad news until after we've had our say at the polls?..

Re: Budget date set for 24th March
 

The usual suspects will be taxed even more I suspect, no real giveaways, perhaps freezes in benefits... I don't think they'll be able to buy many votes, but could try to screw us all prior to a change in government.

Re: Budget date set for 24th March
 

We have a winner.

Re: Budget date set for 24th March
 

Tax Breaks for Computer Workers!

Re: Budget date set for 24th March
 

My guess is the PM will call a election for may 6th a week or so after budget day

Re: Budget date set for 24th March
 

Obviously we won't see anything too unpleasant as it wouldn't be politically wise. The thing I'm interested in is if there'll be some attempts at bribing us.

Re: Budget date set for 24th March
 

It'll be appalling if there are but I wouldn't be surprised if they put their political welfare before the country's financial welfare..

Re: Budget date set for 24th March
 

Wouldn't be the first time a government has done that, and certainly wouldn't be the first time this one has.

Re: Budget date set for 24th March
 

I had a massive argument yesterday on gaydar with a guy who was touting for votes as he works for the conservatives and claimed "Margret Thatcher and Thatcherism was the best thing that ever happened in the UK". What planet was he living on!!

I reckon they will raise taxes, and there is speculation VAT will rise to 20% and heavier taxes on food.

Re: Budget date set for 24th March
 

Neither of us are old enough to really remember it from first hand experience but I've no doubt you'll have had drummed into you how evil Thatcher killed the mining industry and destroyed Wales. Mining wasn't paying its' way anymore, it was cheaper to import the stuff.

Regrettably a lot of the nastier things she did had to be done else we'd be even worse of a socialist state with even higher taxes, even more public sector employees striking and an even more bloated public sector draining the private sector dry and getting the country into financial strife.

Prior to her policies growth was tepid and inflation was ridiculous and fuelled by QE-like Labour printing of money and ridiculous wage increases being handed out.

The tax take from the rich actually went up under Thatcher for the simple reason more top rate tax people paid more tax - there's a curve for tax rate versus tax take and when the rate goes too high the take goes down due to tax avoidance.

The nasty party were nasty for a reason - the 'nicer' Labour party have constantly written cheques they can't cover and it ends up with the nasty party having to get nasty simply to pay the Labour overdraft.

Labour Harold Wilson 1974-1976
Labour Jim Callaghan 1976-1979

Conservative Margaret Thatcher 1979-1983
Conservative Margaret Thatcher 1983-1987

Inflation:

1987 4.2%
1986 3.4%
1985 6.1%
1984 5.0%
1983 4.6%
1982 8.6%
1981 11.9%
1980 18.0%
1979 13.4%
1978 8.3%
1977 15.8%
1976 16.5%
1975 24.2%
1974 16.0%

Re: Budget date set for 24th March
 

I predict they'll make this budget one of the worse on record, because they seriously don't want to be voted back in. I also think that the Conservatives don't want to be handed the reins either.

Re: Budget date set for 24th March
 

I agree, Labour have dropped the country into a pile of do do that even by their own spin they cant climb out of and then leaving the mess to be wiped up by the next gov if at all they can. Were sunk as a country would the last one to leave switch the lights off pls.

Re: Budget date set for 24th March
 

I think you need to go out and buy a new calendar, mine has a whole month of April in it ;)

Re: Budget date set for 24th March
 

I had to read it twice - I think he meant that the election will be called for 6th May, and Parliament dissolved a week or so after the budget :)

Re: Budget date set for 24th March
 

With the explosion of postal voting, any election campaign is effectively over when the forms arrive and then Labour Party MP's and officials 'help' you to fill the form out.:rolleyes: