Starmer's vision quest

[BoldonLad]

Re: Funding Increased Defence Spending
Further cutting spending beyond that already looking likely would be a disaster (in many ways). But to increase defence spending we need more money.

Struck me back at the last budget how many fund raising opportunities to raise money that were "missed" eg taxing online gambling operations (expected £1bn), raise CGT to same level as income tax (it's currently somewhat lower; expected £14bn), reduce hydrocarbon subsidies (helping address climate change), tax private jet use, lower the inheritance tax thresholds. Even just treat "carried interest" as liable for income tax rather than CGT - is there anybody that thinks it shouldn't be income taxed?, that would give £½bn.

My impression lots of places to raise tax from but many were surprised they didn't take these opportunities last budget (rather than hit business with the obvious concequential impact of confidence and growth).

Ian

Some of those (particularly carried interest) were part of the “broad shoulders” claims, but, it would appear a few free suits, spectacles and even event tickets muddied the waters.

 

[BoldonLad]

It's nuts that a frozen pizza costs less than a couple of apples. I wasn't in favour initially but I've come round to the fat tax thing.

Not disagreeing with the "healthy eating" thing, but..... 50p vs £1.10, and, the Pizza then has to be cooked 🙂

 

[HMS_Dave]

A fat tax will only raise the cost of food, in a time when food bank use is only going up. There is perhaps a case for it to be increased on fast food outlets as there are so many of them but I'd wager the likes of McDonalds and KFC have the pockets of a number of MPs.

 

[AuroraSaab]

Not disagreeing with the "healthy eating" thing, but..... 50p vs £1.10, and, the Pizza then has to be cooked 🙂

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Let me introduce you to Heron Frozen Foods ....

You can't feed 3 small kids with a bag of apples though, whereas you can with a pizza. It's modern methods of mass production obviously that makes crappy food so cheap as opposed to growing stuff, but I can't remember a time when the good stuff (meat, fruit, veg) was so expensive compared to things like frozen meals and donuts. I'd be interested to see a price comparison over the years.

 

[BoldonLad]

Let me introduce you to Heron Frozen Foods ....

You can't feed 3 small kids with a bag of apples though, whereas you can with a pizza. It's modern methods of mass production obviously that makes crappy food so cheap as opposed to growing stuff, but I can't remember a time when the good stuff (meat, fruit, veg) was so expensive compared to things like frozen meals and donuts. I'd be interested to see a price comparison over the years.

I am well aware of Herons, thank you.

It was you who gave the example of Apples vs Pizza, not me.

I have given up now, due to caring duties, but, I did for several years do voluntary work which involved shopping on a budget, although I was fortunate enough not to HAVE to do this, I am familiar with "the problem", which, like many "problems" is slightly more complex than it may first appear.

 

[AuroraSaab]

I love Heron. Those big cheap unbranded bags of catering food are often great quality. My point is that poor quality food is often cheap and as such people will choose pizza instead of pork chops, though obviously there are other factors involved in food choices too, as you say.

 

[BoldonLad]

I love Heron. Those big cheap unbranded bags of catering food are often great quality. My point is that poor quality food is often cheap and as such people will choose pizza instead of pork chops, though obviously there are other factors involved in food choices too, as you say.

I think I just heard the sound of goal posts scraping along the ground, or, was it thunder?

 

[AuroraSaab]

What goal posts? No change here. Crap food is cheap, good food is expensive, and the price gulf between them seems wider than it used to be. That's literally the observation I made (and have made previously on here). I do love Heron though. Gone up a bit since B and M bought them out, mind. 3 Magnums for 99p this morning. 3 bottles of Liptons Iced Tea for a quid - that's cheaper than the bottled water they sell.

 

[Mr Celine]

Re inheritance tax. It should be abolished completely. If you are hard working build something of your life, it should be a right to pass the entirety onto the next generation.

You already have that right whilst you're alive and what use are rights when you're dead?