UK Politics Thread

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by MGR1

Looks like you received bad advice.

I'm not so sure Mike. I weighed up all the options with the wifes cousin (chartered accountant) before deciding on the following:

ER/VR (Early Retirement/Voluntary Redundancy) Age 52

Five weeks pay per years service = two years salary as a tax free lump sum.
Full release of pension (gold plated, inflation proof) added to a further tax free lump sum equal to three times annual pension amount.

I spoke to the DWP on the phone and they advised a payment of £800 for each of the three years = £2400 to make up the £20 per week shortfall in the state pension but despite the fact I've now been in receipt of my pension for ten years (come March) the wife was adamant I shouldn't pay on the grounds of "You mightn't live three years past your 66th"

On principle I'll probably stick the DWP advisory amount into my recently born grandaughters building society account.

[ikalugin]

Originally Posted by MGR1

I only do ten more hours than you, but I do have to highlight that the SNP have altered the tax bandings here in Scotland so I actually pay slightly less tax than someone in England does on the same wage.

Scottish income tax bands: 2019-2020

Over £12,500-£14,549 Starter Rate 19%

Over £14,549-£24,944 Scottish Basic Rate 20%

Over £24,944-£43,430 Intermediate Rate 21%

Over £43,430-£150,000 Higher Rate 41%

England, Wales Northern Ireland tax bands: 2019-2020

Over £12,501-£50,000 Basic Rate 20%

Over £50,001-£150,000 Higher Rate 40%

Applies throughout the UK:

Up to £12,500 Personal Allowance 0%

Over £150,000 Additional Rate 45%

National Insurance contributions are reserved to Westminster and are thus the same UK wide.

Mike.

I wonder if this pushes the high earners to seek ways to avoid paying their taxes like loopholes and such.


We have decided to just use the same rate for all income brackets.

[Jimbuna]

Alastair Campbell has said he no longer wants to be a Labour member because Jeremy Corbyn is set to destroy the party and will never win an election against Boris Johnson.

Mr Campbell, the high-profile former communications chief for Tony Blair, said Mr Corbyn would likely suffer defeat in the next vote because the party has a strategy that looks "designed to lose."
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknew...id=mailsignout

Having met the gentleman on several occasions and knowing he is not a one to compromise his beliefs the above does not surprise me at all.

[Jimbuna]

Boris Johnson has urged political parties in Northern Ireland to step up their efforts to restore power-sharing, during talks in Belfast.

The PM held a series of meetings with the five main Stormont parties, in which Brexit was also discussed.

On Tuesday night, Mr Johnson held a private meeting with senior DUP figures.

He relies on the party for support in key votes in Parliament.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-49172693

IIRC it is about two and a half years now since there was a working government in Northern Ireland and there work is being carried out by civil servants.

This needs sorting asap

[Jimbuna]

Brexit: Dublin dismisses backstop pressure talk as 'codswallop'

There is a weary sense of "here we go again" among Irish government officials dealing with Brexit about briefings coming from London that Dublin is under pressure from other EU members about the backstop to avoid a no-deal Brexit.

The backstop is the insurance policy in the withdrawal agreement between the United Kingdom and European Union, designed to ensure that there is no hard border on the island of Ireland.

Both sides say they hope it never has to come into effect and that it will become redundant because of a wider trade deal.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-49165897

This clearly shows what an utter shambles the position regarding a backstop is.

I doubt there will be any agreement at all, especially from the EU side because they have a copy of the 'surrender document' Theresa May foolishly signed so why should they?

Only possible outcome will be leave without a deal or rescind Article 50.

[STEED]

Am I the only one that can see bojo is on the election grab votes. All I see bojo here bojo there bojo throwing money around every where. I am not buying his glitz and glamour guff and view him as a possible threat of a mad man.

[Jimbuna]

He is higher in the polls than Farage and Steptoe so I'm wondering if he'll copy May and call an election.

[STEED]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

He is higher in the polls than Farage and Steptoe so I'm wondering if he'll copy May and call an election.

Just wait for reality to pop the dream bubble when it all goes wrong for bojo.

[mapuc]

Some thoughts

Boris have said UK leave EU deal or no deal on 31th Oct.

The other members in this UK-club have other ideas about this exit from EU.

If Boris does pull UK out of EU without a deal
(The joker is the Parliament)

would this mean the end of UK as we know it ?


Markus

[STEED]

Originally Posted by mapuc

Some thoughts

Boris have said UK leave EU deal or no deal on 31th Oct.

The other members in this UK-club have other ideas about this exit from EU.

If Boris does pull UK out of EU without a deal
(The joker is the Parliament)

would this mean the end of UK as we know it ?


Markus

YES...it will be the downfall of the UK from gutter to sewer. On the upside all politicians will be put up against the wall and on the down side they will be hit by custard pies.

[Catfish]

^

.. or by milk shakes

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by mapuc

would this mean the end of UK as we know it ?

Only if Scotland or Wales or Northern Ireland decide to indeed separate.



The scots had a referendum and said no to separation while saying yes to EU memberhsip some tie later. Their poltical elader want to initiate a swecond referendum on UK membership, hoping to break away after that. Whether that referndum comes any time soon, is unclear. whether they now would split with the UK, also is unclear.


Northern Ireland's leadership party DUP said they want no solid border (regarding free goods transit) with the Republic of Ireland that is EU territory, but they also said they will so far not break away from the UK or block Johnson's acceptance of a no deal brexit. They would not like a hard brexit, but whether they really would leave the UK if they do not get concessions on the inner-Irish border, is unclear to me.


Wales I do not know. For whatever a reason over here we hear nothing on Wales, never. Must be England's Bielefeld.


So a splitting of the UK is a risk that should be taken into account and taken for real, but so far I do not see it becoming reality. The wrst Johnson could do is start mocking about it and by this spilling fuel into the ember.


Johnson has acchieved one thing. So far, during the reign of May neither Berlin nor Paris took the chance of a hard Brexit serious and a realistic scenario. They both assumed that frustrating the English long enough and having their agent May seated in the Londown office, they would not need to seriously consider that scenario. Now they are in full alarm mode, and it dawns on them that a hard Brexit may become reality. Paris reacts with aggrieved stubborness, Berlin indirecty signaled they are thinking beyond Brexit already and want to secure good ties to London after a Brexit. Unclear whether the Germans will go so far as to embrace a giving up of the Bckstop, but the French and Germans certainly are set to confront each other behind the curtain. They will try to keep the public unaware of it, however, and I assume the French will win the bout.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by mapuc

Some thoughts

Boris have said UK leave EU deal or no deal on 31th Oct.

The other members in this UK-club have other ideas about this exit from EU.

If Boris does pull UK out of EU without a deal
(The joker is the Parliament)

would this mean the end of UK as we know it ?


Markus

That is the million dollar question but at the very least it would add wight to those who would like to see a break up of the Union.

[Jimbuna]

The government has announced an extra £2.1bn of funding to prepare for a no-deal Brexit - doubling the amount of money it has set aside this year.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-49183324

This annoys me when you take into consideration the growing number of people who are homeless as well as those visiting food banks.

[STEED]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

This annoys me when you take into consideration the growing number of people who are homeless as well as those visiting food banks.

MONEY MONEY MONEY WE'RE ALL ROLLING IN MONEY IN THE RICH UK.

Back in the real world you are spot on jim the numbers of homeless around here has gone up. Don't tell the day dreamers that their all in love with Bojo.