Where will they get the money ?

[muddy]

Where will the Government get the money for defence ?

The Tories will among other things cut benefits  ( eg restoring the two child cap  ) - that alone will save approx 3 billion .

They say they will try and reduce the national debt too ( else it will pass on to our grandchildren )

How will Labour get it while they are doling out money to foreign aid , keeping illegal immigrants ? ( Somewhere around £10 billion)

Now there is talk of Labour getting together with the Tories to solve our economy .

Hope this doesn't affect us pensioners .

[klondike]

As probably 90% of pensioners will surely vote Reform anyway we are an easy target.

Bus pass maybe although in truth that costs nothing because if pensioners didn't use the buses (and with no free pass it would surely be less) then the subsidy would have to go up to replace what they get for the pass or the cut in services would lose votes.

I think it was Brown that robbed pensions by removing some tax concessions but they could doubtless find something else. Maybe they'd "look after" employer contributions.

They could reduce the amount that can go in the pot tax free or stop the tax free amount that can be taken out.

They may have little idea on useful policies to make things better but are very ingenious when it comes to new taxes.

[Alex]

The latest figure I could see for foreign aid was £15.3 billion in 2023, with Ukraine, Ethiopia, and Afghanistan being the highest beneficiaries.   How much does a new frigate cost I wonder, or a new submarine ?

[klondike]

Well at the start of the contract perhaps £200,000 but by the time it's delivered probably £200,000,000 judging by how most government contracts work out.

[klondike]

Of course if Ukraine had had no help our NATO commitments would be costing us more by now. Or maybe they'd just issue everybody with Russian phrase books and recipes for cabbage and potatoes.

[Ashy]

As a country we are treading a stupid path. We no longer have the means of creating the wealth that let us rule half the world: no coal, no iron, no steel, we don't build ships or (many) motor cars, or buses or trucks, they are nearly all foreign made, or trains, or consumer goods. The country is run like a Kurdish barber's shop with a Ferrari outside, it's all borrowed. Most of the actual money comes from the City of London from insurance and trading - not wealth creation.

[klondike]

It was Maggie that moved us from manufacturing economy to a service economy.

[Ashy]

It was Maggie that moved us from manufacturing economy to a service economy.

Yes and that was a stupid thing to do. 

[klondike]

There was a reason. Unions.

[JBR]

There was a reason. Unions.

I agree.  Of course, we have fewer unions now, simply because we have fewer workers.

I have always said that Reform will turn the country around.  However, it appears that many, if not most of our young people seem to be becoming distinctly left-wing, looking at current activities.  I put it down to the now soft approach to misbehaviour in both schools and in courts.

I have also read many posted comments in various places suggesting that Farage is not the answer.  Well, time will tell, and if our next government turn out to be as competent as our present one, it will be our young people who will have to live with it!  😉