Do Britons deserve extra time off?

[JP_]

Unemployment is supposed to be at a record low so therefor there should be less people claiming benefits and more people paying taxes

The problem with that, is that it's been government policy for some time to push more people into university, which makes the unemployment figures look good. But all these students are accumulated debts, and some will never pay them off. And, after Brexit, many of the new unis / old polytechnics may suffer, as international student fees (which are even higher than UK fees) will plummet.

Also, many people working on minimum wage and zero hours contracts, which again, makes unemployment figures look good.

Child poverty is higher than its been in decades. That tells us that unemployment figures are now meaningless. One day we'll have 0% unemployment, but millions living in poverty.

"Government statistics show 4.1 million children now living in relative poverty compared with four million the previous year, accounting for more than 30 per cent of children" (link)

Worth a read: http://uk.businessinsider.com/unemp...ing-the-lie-used-to-create-the-numbers-2017-7

 

[transam]

people are also living longer


consequence of encouraging people to stop smoking, eat a balanced diet , drink in moderation , exercise ect ect

 

[JP_]

yeah, living longer, but costing the NHS more due to ill health.

 

[vinty]

According to this article, benefits overpayments (includes errors as well as fraud) is about £3 billion, whereas the tax shortfall is around £34 billion, with around £14bn in uncollected income tax, national insurance and capital gains tax and £13.1bn in uncollected VAT.

So, even if the figures are way out, tax evasion by hard working Brits is about 10 times greater than the benefits overpayments.

And, of course, the amount of benefit fraud / overpayments to immigrants is going to be a fraction of that £3 billion.

But, cracking down on tax evasion will seriously hurt the pockets of those politicians that also sit on the boards of multinational corporations, so it will never happen. It's much more convenient to blame immigrants for all these cuts.

Things are getting serious when even the super rich are complaining about tax cuts for the rich, check out Warren Buffet one of the worlds richest men, because of Trump slashing Corporation Tax in America he is $30 billion better off without getting out of bed any earlier in the morning or any corresponding increase in productivity of any of his companies.

 

[JP_]

that is shocking, isn't? Social and economic inequality in America makes the UK look like a utopia

 

[vinty]

that is shocking, isn't? Social and economic inequality in America makes the UK look like a utopia

Buffet is just one of many oligarchs in America who have benefitted, even he said that he didn't need the money and the rich should pay more taxes rather than less which was why he supported Clinton in the election.

 

[Notch7]

UK look like a utopia

Ellal thinks the UK is a utopia, he cant stop praising how great it is.

 

[^woody^]

Unemployment is supposed to be at a record low so therefor there should be less people claiming benefits and more people paying taxes which in turn should mean more revenue for the government to pay for better social services, yet this isn't happening, is it because of mass uncontrolled immigration the Tories and Labour have created a low wage business economy which means millions don't earn enough to pay any worthwhile amount of taxes to boost GDP which is required to pay for better services.

Maybe

If someone from some eastern European country wants to work for what they would get back home, or some migrant wants to ponce a job for a pittance, then that drives down wages for all. But they have the advantage of getting a bonus in the form of social security benefits to top up their income. So even these "workers" are actually a nett drain on the country as they cost more to keep than they generate in taxes.

 

[^woody^]

According to this article, benefits overpayments (includes errors as well as fraud) is about £3 billion, whereas the tax shortfall is around £34 billion, with around £14bn in uncollected income tax, national insurance and capital gains tax and £13.1bn in uncollected VAT.

So, even if the figures are way out, tax evasion by hard working Brits is about 10 times greater than the benefits overpayments.

And, of course, the amount of benefit fraud / overpayments to immigrants is going to be a fraction of that £3 billion.

But, cracking down on tax evasion will seriously hurt the pockets of those politicians that also sit on the boards of multinational corporations, so it will never happen. It's much more convenient to blame immigrants for all these cuts.

Tax evasion is not a drain on finances.

The country pays out for benefits (ie it is a cost) but does not pay out for tax evasion.
The two things are completely different, and make completely different financial outcomes.

 

[^woody^]

Obviously, the one that costs us more.

So the answer to your list of questions is "Tax Evasion"

How much have you stashed in Panama, or the Virgin Islands?

Tax evasion is not a drain on finances.

The country pays out for benefits (ie it is a cost) but does not pay out for tax evasion.
The two things are completely different, and make completely different financial outcomes.

 

[EFLImpudence]

If someone from some eastern European country wants to work for what they would get back home, or some migrant wants to ponce a job for a pittance, then that drives down wages for all.

But they have the advantage of getting a bonus in the form of social security benefits to top up their income.

No, that is a bonus for the employers.

Tax evasion is not a drain on finances.

34 billion less tax than should be received is not a drain???

 

[^woody^]

34 billion less tax than should be received is not a drain???

Of course its not a drain if you never had it in the first place.

If some Somali* bloke does not give you a fiver tomorrow then you have not lost anything. But if you give a fiver to a Somali bloke tomorrow, you are £5 down.

*other nationalities are available

 

[big-all]

According to this article, benefits overpayments (includes errors as well as fraud) is about £3 billion,

whilst £3billion is quite a lot with the benefits bill being perhaps £225 billion its a little over 1.3%
[i dont know the exact levels but 4 years ago it was between 203-215bn]

 

[noseall]

Tax evasion is not a drain on finances.

Yes it is if I make up the shortfall.

Tax evasion is not a drain on finances.

Yes it is if I make up the shortfall.

 

[^woody^]

Yes it is if I make up the shortfall.

Yes it is if I make up the shortfall.

There is no shortfall. What you are paying is going towards someone knocking out kids in a free house living a free lifestyle drinking and eating free stuff while watching free Sky on a free 50" LCD in between driving around with no licence in a new uninsured car, and taking two or three free holidays a year or venturing back home to bring the relatives back.