Here comes the tax rises

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

If you're allocating scarce funding around, it makes sense to spend it on the NHS rather than on tax breaks.

It makes more sense to spend whats already allocated [to the NHS] more wisely.
There seems a lot of evidence large sums are wasted, just throwing more at it doesnt fix that.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Paul

It makes more sense to spend whats already allocated [to the NHS] more wisely.
There seems a lot of evidence large sums are wasted, just throwing more at it doesnt fix that.

It makes sense to do both, which is what is happening.

[GrimUpNorth]

I've just had a quick look at my old school website (QEGS Wakefield) and can't see anything about the 20%, also I've not seen any increase in the begging emails over the usual volume.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

It makes sense to do both, which is what is happening.

I would freeze all increased spending on the NHS. It clearly no longer works and is too unwieldy as an organisation to manage.

It needs a complete overhaul and a new operating model.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Mr K

Cobblers. If they can afford private school, 20% more means little. There are spaces but might not be in the school they want. Welcome to everyone else's world. Kids deserve an equal chance that shouldn't depend on their parent's wealth.

The answer is to improves state schools, so folks don't feel the need to go private. That will require funding, the 20% extra is justified.

See JRM, the multi millionaire, is whinging about Eton increasing fees by 20% for his darlings ( and claiming he's 'middle class').
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/jo...20pc-vat-fees/

It is cobblers for most, seem to remember an article that said between 3% & 7% of pupils would have to drop into state schools costing around £400 million but the money coming in would amount to £3 billion so seems like a no trainer to me, also these are business, their charitable status is an ancient anachronism that the schools themselves long since grew out of.

---------- Post added at 12:26 ---------- Previous post was at 12:25 ----------

Originally Posted by Hugh

Very few (if any) of the Private Schools in Leeds have put 20% on from January - GSAL (the Grammar School At Leeds) are absorbing the cost this year (it’s a big school, with nearly 2,400 pupils), and Richmond House School (225 pupils), just down the road from us in Far Headingley, are putting them up by 8%.

That's what a business would do...

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Pierre

I would freeze all increased spending on the NHS. It clearly no longer works and is too unwieldy as an organisation to manage.

It needs a complete overhaul and a new operating model.

That's not practical as waiting lists are at an all-time high and staff retention is a major problem.

Reforming the NHS has been on every government's to-do list since it was formed and Starmer's is no different here. Changing the funding to a French-style health insurance scheme is sometimes mooted as the way to go but that's not currently an electable policy.

I don't see much benefit from the French model. Many of these systems are just consequences of how each nation moved to a universal healthcare model. It's good if you were American looking for an alternative system but I am not convinced what it would change for us would be worth overhauling our system.

The main differences are that most of the cost is underwritten by the state at the point of use but there are charges for minor medical treatments which can be claimed back from the state and/or supplementary healthcare insurance that you get automatically from work or you pay for.

The most positive difference is that things like dental care are included in that supplementary (it's NOT private) insurance. So that works out cheaper. The main drawback is some things are not free at the point of use which I do not think you could sell to the public. The reimbursement system is automatic if you have your healthcare card.

But all of these amount to you paying more for healthcare. France spends more per person on healthcare, people on average pay overall for healthcare. They spend a lot more. https://www.health.org.uk/news-and-c...he-past-decade

Either way, you'll be paying this with taxes, with 'additional' insurance or reduced payroll because your employer pays it.

[1andrew1]

Originally posted by Matey80 in the Financial Times:

Before judging someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes.

While also wearing their suit and spectacles, if you're Sir Keir Starmer.

Made me chuckle.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Originally posted by Matey80 in the Financial Times:


Made me chuckle.

Et tu andrew

[Russ]

Being a politician Starmer clearly has things he’d rather have swept under the rug.

But let’s not insult anyone’s intelligence by pretending he’s anywhere near bullshitting Boris’ level of corruption.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Russ

Being a politician Starmer clearly has things he’d rather have swept under the rug.

But let’s not insult anyone’s intelligence by pretending he’s anywhere near bullshitting Boris’ level of corruption.

What £ figure to you is an acceptable level of “gifts, freebies, corruption and cronyism” ?

[Russ]

Just read my post back to myself, I can’t see where I’ve said anything is acceptable.

I’m just going along the lines of what the Tory fanboys used to say when Boris and co would be caught with their pants down - “well all politicians are corrupt, they’re all at it”. Good for the goose and the gander and all that, right?

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Russ

Being a politician Starmer clearly has things he’d rather have swept under the rug.

But let’s not insult anyone’s intelligence by pretending he’s anywhere near bullshitting Boris’ level of corruption.

Indeed.

[Escapee]

It's not who has taken the most that is going to be Labour's downfall, it's the moral high ground they took while pointing the finger at the party in power that's going to do it for them.

At the rate that these donations have been exposed over the past few weeks, I feel it's not unlikely that a finisher could be just around the corner.

Thes "donations" have not been "exposed", they were freely available on the HoC Register of Members Interests, unlike Johnson’s redecoration and Caribbean holiday (until he was caught)…