Labour Party UK: No welfare for you!

[4years]

*bursts into song*

"The people's flag is palest pink
It's not the colour you might think
White collar workers stand and cheer
The Labour government is here
We'll change the country bit by bit
So nobody will notice it
And just to show that we're sincere
We'll sing The Red Flag once a year

The cloth cap and the wollen scarf
Are images outdated
For we're the party's avant garde
And we are educated
So raise the rolled umbrella high
The college scarf, the old school tie
And just to show that we're sincere
We'll sing The Red Flag once a year

New Labour's flag is palest pink
It's not as red as you might think
And Tony's added shades of blue
He does not care for me and you
The people's flag is palest pink
Best drop it now before we stink
I rather like the Tory Blue
And Cam'ron's policies - I'll have them too

Now ditch we all that old red flower
Anything to cling to power
The working class can kiss my ass
It's gold I worship, first and last."

[Nierr]

Making it so that if you work, you dont lose ALL your benefits, but are instead weened off them.

3 really fucking good ideas that the labour party could campaign on.

The problem with that is that it hasn't worked. The cost of living crisis isn't just Labour buzz - there actually is one. The economy may be recovering but more people than ever live below minimum living standards - 18 million - or 1 in 3.

Much more needs to be done, but this government just isn't interested in doing it.

[Herrebrugh]

*bursts into song*

"The people's flag is palest pink
It's not the colour you might think
White collar workers stand and cheer
The Labour government is here
We'll change the country bit by bit
So nobody will notice it
And just to show that we're sincere
We'll sing The Red Flag once a year

The cloth cap and the wollen scarf
Are images outdated
For we're the party's avant garde
And we are educated
So raise the rolled umbrella high
The college scarf, the old school tie
And just to show that we're sincere
We'll sing The Red Flag once a year

New Labour's flag is palest pink
It's not as red as you might think
And Tony's added shades of blue
He does not care for me and you
The people's flag is palest pink
Best drop it now before we stink
I rather like the Tory Blue
And Cam'ron's policies - I'll have them too

Now ditch we all that old red flower
Anything to cling to power
The working class can kiss my ass
It's gold I worship, first and last."

Bravo

Now all we need is a Dutch version for the PvdA.

[Britanno]

The problem with that is that it hasn't worked. The cost of living crisis isn't just Labour buzz - there actually is one. The economy may be recovering but more people than ever live below minimum living standards - 18 million - or 1 in 3.

Much more needs to be done, but this government just isn't interested in doing it.

I find it hard to see a way to raise living standards without a strong economy. The short term living standards sacrifice was made so that the economy can get going. Once it does, living standards will come back up again.

[Caverna]

Making it so that if you work, you dont lose ALL your benefits, but are instead weened off them.

3 really fucking good ideas that the labour party could campaign on.

The problem with that is that it hasn't worked. The cost of living crisis isn't just Labour buzz - there actually is one. The economy may be recovering but more people than ever live below minimum living standards - 18 million - or 1 in 3.

Much more needs to be done, but this government just isn't interested in doing it.

Maybe you can say what could be done if you're such an expert?

[Estado Paulista]

*bursts into song*

"The people's flag is palest pink
It's not the colour you might think
White collar workers stand and cheer
The Labour government is here
We'll change the country bit by bit
So nobody will notice it
And just to show that we're sincere
We'll sing The Red Flag once a year

The cloth cap and the wollen scarf
Are images outdated
For we're the party's avant garde
And we are educated
So raise the rolled umbrella high
The college scarf, the old school tie
And just to show that we're sincere
We'll sing The Red Flag once a year

New Labour's flag is palest pink
It's not as red as you might think
And Tony's added shades of blue
He does not care for me and you
The people's flag is palest pink
Best drop it now before we stink
I rather like the Tory Blue
And Cam'ron's policies - I'll have them too

Now ditch we all that old red flower
Anything to cling to power
The working class can kiss my ass
It's gold I worship, first and last."

Glorious.

[Nierr]

The problem with that is that it hasn't worked. The cost of living crisis isn't just Labour buzz - there actually is one. The economy may be recovering but more people than ever live below minimum living standards - 18 million - or 1 in 3.

Much more needs to be done, but this government just isn't interested in doing it.

I find it hard to see a way to raise living standards without a strong economy. The short term living standards sacrifice was made so that the economy can get going. Once it does, living standards will come back up again.

Except in the 80s, where the economy was doing just as bad, this figure was just 14%.

[Multifarity]

The problem with that is that it hasn't worked. The cost of living crisis isn't just Labour buzz - there actually is one. The economy may be recovering but more people than ever live below minimum living standards - 18 million - or 1 in 3.

Much more needs to be done, but this government just isn't interested in doing it.

I find it hard to see a way to raise living standards without a strong economy. The short term living standards sacrifice was made so that the economy can get going. Once it does, living standards will come back up again.

You don't get an economy going by reducing demand and damaging confidence.

Economies recover in spite of austerity.

[Greater-London]

Maybe you can say what could be done if you're such an expert?

No expert but perhaps...

- Raise the minimum wage
- A cut in VAT
- Raise the threshold in which you start paying income tax to a years salary on the minimum wage
- Abolish NI contribution's and raise the top rate of income tax to make up the loses

[Valaran]

The problem with that is that it hasn't worked. The cost of living crisis isn't just Labour buzz - there actually is one. The economy may be recovering but more people than ever live below minimum living standards - 18 million - or 1 in 3.

Much more needs to be done, but this government just isn't interested in doing it.

I find it hard to see a way to raise living standards without a strong economy. The short term living standards sacrifice was made so that the economy can get going. Once it does, living standards will come back up again.

Actually I agree with that, and the Tories have done well in that regard (despite what others say). Now they need to start transforming the recovery into higher wages.

[Great Nepal]

Why is there such opposition here? Letting people at age of 18 claim benefits because they don't have education/ skills for job market (which AS level or equivalent essentially is) is condemning those people to lifelong dependency in welfare. If they are unemployed, they most certainly can take on a course, either academic or otherwise, to ensure they have required qualifications.

[Geilinor]

I find it hard to see a way to raise living standards without a strong economy. The short term living standards sacrifice was made so that the economy can get going. Once it does, living standards will come back up again.

Actually I agree with that, and the Tories have done well in that regard (despite what others say). Now they need to start transforming the recovery into higher wages.

That 1 in 3 figure has been rising since the '80s. Even when the economy was good for most of the past 20 years, the figure rose.

[Caverna]

Maybe you can say what could be done if you're such an expert?

No expert but perhaps...

- Raise the minimum wage
- A cut in VAT
- Raise the threshold in which you start paying income tax to a years salary on the minimum wage
- Abolish NI contribution's and raise the top rate of income tax to make up the loses

Income tax for top is almost 50%. There is no room to raise.

I think UK huge debt is one of the problems. Currently UK must pay 1 billion pounds interests per week and this sum is rising.

[Greater-London]

Why is there such opposition here? Letting people at age of 18 claim benefits because they don't have education/ skills for job market (which AS level or equivalent essentially is) is condemning those people to lifelong dependency in welfare. If they are unemployed, they most certainly can take on a course, either academic or otherwise, to ensure they have required qualifications.

It's actually quite a good idea from the Labour party. Especially now that the school leaving age has risen to 18; everyone in that age bracket will have left education before 18 and thus will REALLY struggle in the future.

I also disagree that this will alienate core Labour voters, they aren't demonizing people on welfare this will GENUINELY benefit them in the long run and a way of getting them into the job market.

[Trotskylvania]

My friend thinks Milibands policy advisors hate his fucking guts because he stole the election and want him gone as leader, hence why they keep handing him these insane policies, so they can generate enough hatred and discontent to shove him before the election and get the person we actually voted for, the other Miliband.

...
It's a possibility.

Jesus Christ, it's The Thick of It series 4 in RL

[Greater-London]

Income tax for top is almost 50%. There is no room to raise.

I think UK huge debt is one of the problems. Currently UK must pay 1 billion pounds interests per week and this sum is rising.

Well its 45% so not really almost 50%. There is room for a raise you just have a SuperTax for the mega rich thats 50%. You can then avoid clobbering the middle classes who are sitting in the current highest rate of tax.

The debt is huge, however that doesn't mean that you can't raise taxes. In fact a tax rise in order for us to do away with national insurance contributions would mean that those on lower incomes would have more money to spend creating growth. Also less to pay for employers which would encourage them to hire new staff and expand their businesses. This means in the long term the debt would be going down.

[Multifarity]

*bursts into song*

"The people's flag is palest pink
It's not the colour you might think
White collar workers stand and cheer
The Labour government is here
We'll change the country bit by bit
So nobody will notice it
And just to show that we're sincere
We'll sing The Red Flag once a year

The cloth cap and the wollen scarf
Are images outdated
For we're the party's avant garde
And we are educated
So raise the rolled umbrella high
The college scarf, the old school tie
And just to show that we're sincere
We'll sing The Red Flag once a year

New Labour's flag is palest pink
It's not as red as you might think
And Tony's added shades of blue
He does not care for me and you
The people's flag is palest pink
Best drop it now before we stink
I rather like the Tory Blue
And Cam'ron's policies - I'll have them too

Now ditch we all that old red flower
Anything to cling to power
The working class can kiss my ass
It's gold I worship, first and last."

"He's telling us to hug a hoodie! He's ring-fenced education, healthcare and police spending! He applauded Tony Blair when he left Parliament for the last time, David Cameron is a compromising, leftist disgrace, what's happened to The Conservative Party! What's happened to the right in Britain?!"

-Tory in 2008

[Geilinor]

Why is there such opposition here? Letting people at age of 18 claim benefits because they don't have education/ skills for job market (which AS level or equivalent essentially is) is condemning those people to lifelong dependency in welfare. If they are unemployed, they most certainly can take on a course, either academic or otherwise, to ensure they have required qualifications.

It's actually quite a good idea from the Labour party. Especially now that the school leaving age has risen to 18; everyone in that age bracket will have left education before 18 and thus will REALLY struggle in the future.

I also disagree that this will alienate core Labour voters, they aren't demonizing people on welfare this will GENUINELY benefit them in the long run and a way of getting them into the job market.

But how will this actually get those people the same education as those who graduated in the years to follow?

[Caverna]

Income tax for top is almost 50%. There is no room to raise.

I think UK huge debt is one of the problems. Currently UK must pay 1 billion pounds interests per week and this sum is rising.

Well its 45% so not really almost 50%. There is room for a raise you just have a SuperTax for the mega rich thats 50%. You can then avoid clobbering the middle classes who are sitting in the current highest rate of tax.

The debt is huge, however that doesn't mean that you can't raise taxes. In fact a tax rise in order for us to do away with national insurance contributions would mean that those on lower incomes would have more money to spend creating growth. Also less to pay for employers which would encourage them to hire new staff and expand their businesses. This means in the long term the debt would be going down.

Well if debt or budget deficit isn't reduced then all this added tax will eventually be useless. You can't always increase tax to fix problems. It will just buy some time but won't matter in the long run.

[Great Franconia and Verana]

That's why I would vote for the Conservatives in 2015, Labour is in a tailspin just trying anything to get seats. The Tories are actually making sense and have really out maneuvered Labour for the Centrist voters and issues

[Greater-London]

But how will this actually get those people the same education as those who graduated in the years to follow?

Because they will have to take A levels or equivalent qualifications, which from now all school leavers will have. If your unemployed, in this age group and and haven't continued on with at least some form of education/training post GCSE then the system has failed you.

You may be unaware of how in a few years time you'll be far less qualified than anyone else your competing with or not have the confidence in yourself to go back to college and get some skills. As such you may actually need to be forced to do it, regardless it will help in the long run.

[Valaran]

That's why I would vote for the Conservatives in 2015, Labour is in a tailspin just trying anything to get seats. The Tories are actually making sense and have really out maneuvered Labour for the Centrist voters and issues

I might also vote Tory but there sure aren't moving towards the center. Instead, many are pandering to the Ukip voters, which is deeply troubling. The party is also divided over several key issues, namely Europe and foreign policy. The conservatives have a more clear vision for Britain but it isn't exactly the best one.

[Greater-London]

Well if debt or budget deficit isn't reduced then all this added tax will eventually be useless. You can't always increase tax to fix problems. It will just buy some time but won't matter in the long run.

Well not really, not if higher rates of taxes means that your books become balanced. I'm also not suggesting a tax raise to fix our problems what I suggest is that you can solve the cost of living crisis by changing where the tax burden falls. You cut taxes on low and middle income earners and THEN pay for that by raising taxes on the very rich. You could also cut public expenditure in some areas at the same time.

[Geilinor]

But how will this actually get those people the same education as those who graduated in the years to follow?

Because they will have to take A levels or equivalent qualifications, which from now all school leavers will have. If your unemployed, in this age group and and haven't continued on with at least some form of education/training post GCSE then the system has failed you.

So why not change the failed system?

[The Matthew Islands]

Y'know its funny, this kind of policy is actually likely to probably win him a load of votes from the working class.