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Originally Posted by Ignitionnet
How rude of them to want to keep more of their money in their pockets.
I would be happy to suggest how it could be paid for.
Tax credits need tightening up so that people with well above average incomes aren't getting them.
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Reform of the welfare state, get shot of Jobseeker's Allowance and replace with Employment Insurance based on contributions and previous income which after a set period wanes to zero. EI to be funded as a flat % of income in a similar manner to an insurance premium.
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If compulsory, good plan. If not, it will be unaffordable for people on low income, who have a higher risk of unemployment.
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Minimum income guarantee, dependent upon circumstances such as dependants and cost of living. Some of this income where children are involved must be provided via an electronic card which can only be used to purchase food.
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Is that the sound of marching boots I hear?
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Housing benefit replaced with a scheme with a flat maximum payout - no-one living on welfare should be having the state pay a landlord thousands a month to live in a large Central London home, if they were there previously their Employment Insurance will cover up to 75% of their income and allow them to pay the rent / mortgage assuming their own insurance doesn't cover it.
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Yes, sounds good.
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The welfare state must never supply a better income than a person could previously reasonably expect given previous earning levels - if no earnings this would be minimum wage.
That should save a few quid straight off as well as divesting power closer to those who they are working for and encouraging individual responsibility. The fact is that smaller nations tend to be more efficient and have more wealth, the exception to this being the USA which is run in many ways like a series of smaller nations.
Of course this would be incredibly unpopular for many reasons. 
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Interestingly, when I was last paying tax into a system as outlined above (Compulsory Health and Employment insurance) I was paying 50% tax (inc. health/employment insurance) on earnings over ~£20k (10 years ago with a strong pound). The top tax bracket was 60%, basic rate was ~35% IIRC*. I can see why this would be unpopular in the UK.
*I should add that interest on mortgages was tax-deductable, which is a major tax break for the wealthy.