[Politics] Tory meltdown finally arrived [was: incoming]...

[TomandJerry]

Every trick in the book

"The Conservative party has hired an overseas voter registration coordinator to mobilise thousands of supporters who live abroad to vote in target seats the party needs to win at the next general election to stay in office.

The job description from party headquarters, seen by the Guardian but no longer online, said the role would focus on boosting the turnout of Tory expat voters in crucial electoral contests.


It suggests the operation would coordinate UK-based proxy voters to increase Tory support in the so-called 80:20 contests. These are 80 seats, including many of those in the red wall, that the party needs to retain and 20 it wants to win."

 

[The Clamp]

It’s the will of the people…

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[MJsGhost]

It’s the will of the people…

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Don't think so small

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[Trufflehound]

Every trick in the book

"The Conservative party has hired an overseas voter registration coordinator to mobilise thousands of supporters who live abroad to vote in target seats the party needs to win at the next general election to stay in office.

The job description from party headquarters, seen by the Guardian but no longer online, said the role would focus on boosting the turnout of Tory expat voters in crucial electoral contests.


It suggests the operation would coordinate UK-based proxy voters to increase Tory support in the so-called 80:20 contests. These are 80 seats, including many of those in the red wall, that the party needs to retain and 20 it wants to win."

I think that's mainly wishful thinking/straw clutching on the part of the Tories, and the article makes it out to be worse than it actually is. I'm one of the 2.2 million (or 3 million, depending on your source) UK citizens who've lived long-term overseas but got our right to vote in the UK back again last week. I know quite a few other people in the same boat and not one of them would dream of ever voting Tory again after the last 14 years.

I know my experience is just a tiny straw poll that may not be representative of the actual situation, but a far more important element is that they cannot, under the rules, parachute proxy voters into their target areas. I re-registered last week and my application had to go to the constituency of Hove - because that was where I was last registered before I left the UK. I was very specifically NOT allowed to cherry pick a marginal seat where my vote might make a difference. If you use a proxy (or postal) vote it has to be used in the constituency where you are registered

 

[Westdene Seagull]

The Child Benefit Tax is probably the most "unfair" Tax there is. Two families on the same household income of £60000 and if they both have three children, one family gets a £6 grand Tax bill, and the other pays no additional tax just because one family has one high earner and the other one has two middle income earners. The person on £60k is already paying more tax overall than the two on £30k in the other house together before the Child Benefit Tax.

Strangely, it was actually introduced by the Tories (Osborne) in the first place

It should be abolished, but the solution isn't to make the poor pay for it.

How is losing benefits a "tax bill" ? I can agree that the calculation is unfair but it certainly isn't a tax bill. The easiest way to deal with it would be to scrap Child Benefit and provide free nappies ( and associated things like wipes ) and free school uniforms along with free school meals for all. Then parents who earn a combined £60k income couldn't use the child benefit to go on holiday etc. Really - why does a household with a £60k income need child benefit ?

 

[Marty McFly]

Every trick in the book

"The Conservative party has hired an overseas voter registration coordinator to mobilise thousands of supporters who live abroad to vote in target seats the party needs to win at the next general election to stay in office.

The job description from party headquarters, seen by the Guardian but no longer online, said the role would focus on boosting the turnout of Tory expat voters in crucial electoral contests.


It suggests the operation would coordinate UK-based proxy voters to increase Tory support in the so-called 80:20 contests. These are 80 seats, including many of those in the red wall, that the party needs to retain and 20 it wants to win."

I've been given a vote back, but sure as hell won't be voting for that lot.

However, I'm not sure Peter Kyle's seat will be on their hit-list.

 

[SeagullsoverLondon]

How is losing benefits a "tax bill" ? I can agree that the calculation is unfair but it certainly isn't a tax bill. The easiest way to deal with it would be to scrap Child Benefit and provide free nappies ( and associated things like wipes ) and free school uniforms along with free school meals for all. Then parents who earn a combined £60k income couldn't use the child benefit to go on holiday etc. Really - why does a household with a £60k income need child benefit ?

Because if you do not claim the benefit, any person who stays at home loses out on their state NI contributions and will potentially end up with a reduced pension.
Therefore, families with higher earners are advised to take the benefit and then repay the tax.
This is the problem with an overally complex tax and benefits system.
My point remains that it is possibly the unfairest part of the whole tax and benefits system and needs to be reformed.
I would be happy with your suggestion to replace the whole thing completely, although I suspect that would raise a whole set of different issues.

 

[BLOCK F]

How is losing benefits a "tax bill" ? I can agree that the calculation is unfair but it certainly isn't a tax bill. The easiest way to deal with it would be to scrap Child Benefit and provide free nappies ( and associated things like wipes ) and free school uniforms along with free school meals for all. Then parents who earn a combined £60k income couldn't use the child benefit to go on holiday etc. Really - why does a household with a £60k income need child benefit ?

That would be a real vote loser for any party suggesting such a move and, no doubt, exceedingly bureaucratic to administer.

 

[Audax]

How is losing benefits a "tax bill" ? I can agree that the calculation is unfair but it certainly isn't a tax bill. The easiest way to deal with it would be to scrap Child Benefit and provide free nappies ( and associated things like wipes ) and free school uniforms along with free school meals for all. Then parents who earn a combined £60k income couldn't use the child benefit to go on holiday etc. Really - why does a household with a £60k income need child benefit ?

It is if you get to the end of the tax year and discover that the bonus you just received sends you into the taper zone unexpectedly (which starts at £50k, btw - £60k is the point at which all child benefit is lost). In that circumstance, the way the overpaid Child Benefit gets clawed back is via a tax bill. I know because I had it happen to me a few years back. They are not particularly helpful about it, either.

 

[Audax]

Therefore, families with higher earners are advised to take the benefit and then repay the tax.

My understanding is you can claim it, and then ask for it not to be paid and thus avoid having to pay back at year end (that's what we've done, on advice from staff in the relevant departments).

 

[SeagullsoverLondon]

My understanding is you can claim it, and then ask for it not to be paid and thus avoid having to pay back at year end (that's what we've done, on advice from staff in the relevant departments).

The tax advise I read said it would be better to stick the payments in an ISA, then pay back a year later when the tax return is due. Then at least you can earn a small amount from it. Not that I am organised enough to do that!

 

[Audax]

The tax advise I read said it would be better to stick the payments in an ISA, then pay back a year later when the tax return is due. Then at least you can earn a small amount from it. Not that I am organised enough to do that!

Well yes. Back when we stopped the payments interest rates weren't enough to pay for the effort. Maybe today they might be.

 

[Pevenseagull]

Ministers could be at risk of fuelling a fresh house-price bubble, according to industry experts who have warned about a potential “99% mortgages” scheme for first-time buyers that would appeal to young voters before the next election.

The scheme, which is reportedly being considered by the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, and the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, before the spring budget on 6 March, would only require borrowers to put down a 1% deposit towards their first home.

Surely it's down to the lenders, not the government?

 

[chickens]

Surely it's down to the lenders, not the government?

“We believe in free markets, until they stop doing what we want to prop up the housing market.”

 

[Stato]

After the Culture Secretary made an idiot of herself on SkyNews fumbling for evidence of BBC bias*, the brains trust at Tory HQ has got to work on examples of bias and come up with.....

.... Um, ten minutes of 'The News Quiz'. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2...ews-quiz-is-completely-biased-minister-claims

A comedy programme that's raison d'etre is to satirise those in positions of power.

Next from this government 'Why does MotD always show football?'



* - The 39% figure that she quoted was from an Ofcom report, not from last year as she said, but from June 2022. Reading the report's qualitative research on perceptions of due impartiality, shows that there are many possible drivers of this perception, but crucially that these suggestions of bias are not suggestions of bias against the government or of the Conservative party, but as you would expect, suggestions of bias on multivarious issues from all directions. This is being spun as 'bias against us', which if you read the comments from the complainants, you will understand is a complete and seemingly deliberate misrepresentation of the truth.

 

[Pevenseagull]

Jo Coburn just gave Ben Bradley an opportunity to make himself look like a complete arse and he grabbed the opportunity marvellously.

In summary Starmer made some comment about about Tories attacking institutions such as The National Trust. Bradley was asked for his thoughts and said that it was a ridiculous distraction of no importance. Coburn then pointed out that the whole issue was started when him some of his meathead friends signed a letter to the The Telegraph bemoaning 'Cultural Marxiam' in The National Trust.I

Small piece of entertainment.

 

[A1X]

 

[Bodian]

Bloody BBC at it again....!

 

[A1X]

It’s deckchair rearrangement time again!

 

[clapham_gull]

Our next mayor