[Cherie]

but no cut in Foreign Aid

Thanks Teresa!

[Kizzy]

[James]

General election 2017: No cut to UK aid spending, says May
3 hours ago


Theresa May has ruled out cuts to the UK foreign aid budget if she wins the election but doubts have been cast on other existing Conservative pledges.

The prime minister said the commitment to spending 0.7% of national income on aid "will remain" although it must be spent "in the most effective way".

It follows speculation she was ready to drop it from the Tory manifesto.

But she declined to guarantee existing spending on state pensions which ensures a minimum 2.5% annual increase.


Meanwhile, Chancellor Philip Hammond has hinted that a pledge in the 2015 Conservative manifesto not to raise income tax, VAT or National Insurance before 2020 could be abandoned.


The 0.7% aid commitment was adopted by David Cameron when he became prime minister in 2010 and later enshrined in law.

The UK has met the international target - which originates in United Nations aspirations from the 1970s - every year since 2013. There has been talk it might be among a number of high-profile policies championed by Mrs May's predecessor that she might drop to ease pressure on the public finances.

But asked about its future at an election campaign event in Berkshire, Mrs May said: "Let's be clear, the 0.7% commitment remains and will remain.

"What we need to do though is look at how that money is spent and make sure that we are able to spend that money in the most effective way."

Former chancellor George Osborne welcomed Mrs May's pledge, tweeting that it was the "morally right" thing to do and would maintain the UK's global "influence".

Leading aid organisations, including Unicef and Save The Children, expressed delight at the development, which comes 24 hours after Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates warned that ending the commitment would cost lives.

But the Taxpayers Alliance campaign group said it was disappointed that the "arbitrary and meaningless" target was not being dispensed with.


Foreign aid has been ringfenced from public spending cuts over the past seven years and has been one of the few areas to see a large increase in budgets.

In 2015, the last year for which figures are available, the UK spent £12.1bn on overseas development assistance. This was projected to rise to £13.3bn in 2016.
'Better off'

This has proved unpopular with some Tory MPs at a time of austerity in domestic public services and amid media reports about waste in certain aid projects.

The BBC's political correspondent Chris Mason said a senior Conservative source, familiar with the aid budget, refused to be drawn as to whether this amounted to an acceptance of how aid spending is currently defined, or could potentially include a broadening of what would count as aid spending in future.


Asked about another of the Conservatives' 2015 election manifesto commitments - the so-called "triple lock" on the state pension which guarantees an annual rise of at least 2.5% - Mrs May declined to confirm it would stay in force.

"What I would say to pensioners, is just look what the Conservatives in government have done," she said.

"Pensioners today, £1,250 a year better off as a result of action that has been taken. We were very clear about the need to support people in their old age and that's exactly what we've done".


The triple lock - which pegs the state pension to annual increases in prices or earnings, whichever is higher, or a minimum of 2.5% - was introduced by the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government in 2010.

A review carried out by the former CBI boss John Cridland earlier this year recommended it be ended. He warned that if it remained in place, an extra 1% of GDP - equivalent to £19.5bn in current prices - would probably have to be spent on pensions by 2036-37.

Labour, which has vowed to retain the lock and other pensioner benefits such as the winter fuel allowance if elected, said its opponents were "abandoning older people".

Speaking in Washington DC, Mr Hammond also cast doubt on David Cameron's 2015 pledge not to raise income tax, VAT or National Insurance before 2020.

He told the BBC that while no final decision had been taken, the government needed "flexibility" on taxes.

The BBC's economics editor Kamal Ahmed said it was the clearest hint yet that Mr Hammond - who was forced to backtrack on his proposed Budget rise in NI contributions for the self-employed - would like to see the promise significantly amended if not ditched altogether.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39670703

[Kizzy]

Risking the gray vote?....she must have this election rigged then as that would be political suicide.

[smudgie]

Double lock pensions would be much fairer.
In line with inflation or wages sounds good, when nurses are being offered 1% some pensioners will feel quite guilty automatically getting 2.5% year on year, especially as it tends to help out the better off pensioners on the new pension rather than the older pensioners on the old scheme.
Quite happy for the overseas aid not to be reduced this year, far too many countries in need at the minute with war and famine, however I would like to see it used better and perhaps reduced in more stable years.
As to the taxes, I will hold back until it is all officially announced.

[joeysteele]

It would seem they are expecting bad news for the economy hinting at these changes.
It's only 2 years ago recall,they promised no changes to these areas of policy for the next 5 years from 2015 at least.

Is this why she is really having an election, as she knows the bad news to come as to the economy after 7 years of Conservative led rule and endless austerity cuts.

[Tozzie]

Originally Posted by smudgie

Double lock pensions would be much fairer.
In line with inflation or wages sounds good, when nurses are being offered 1% some pensioners will feel quite guilty automatically getting 2.5% year on year, especially as it tends to help out the better off pensioners on the new pension rather than the older pensioners on the old scheme.
Quite happy for the overseas aid not to be reduced this year, far too many countries in need at the minute with war and famine, however I would like to see it used better and perhaps reduced in more stable years.
As to the taxes, I will hold back until it is all officially announced.

I feel the aid should be reduced and given back to our country like our NHS and to help the disabled and homeless.

[smudgie]

Originally Posted by Tozzie

I feel the aid should be reduced and given back to our country like our NHS and to help the disabled and homeless.

I would agree with this normally Tozzie, but I feel we need to try and help the refugees that are actually in Syria, or people suffering famine through war and famine, however I don't agree with sending it to India or any African dictators.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by smudgie

Double lock pensions would be much fairer.
In line with inflation or wages sounds good, when nurses are being offered 1% some pensioners will feel quite guilty automatically getting 2.5% year on year, especially as it tends to help out the better off pensioners on the new pension rather than the older pensioners on the old scheme.
Quite happy for the overseas aid not to be reduced this year, far too many countries in need at the minute with war and famine, however I would like to see it used better and perhaps reduced in more stable years.
As to the taxes, I will hold back until it is all officially announced.

oh please, what happened to the JAMs the just about managing Teresa was so concerned about 9 months ago, and as for holding off for an official announcement I think we got it at the last budget with the NI increases they tried to put through for self employed until it was pointed out it was an election pledge not to raise NI .... and you want the nurses to get an extra 1.5 per cent only for it to be clawed back through VAT, NI and tax rises...okay

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Tozzie

I feel the aid should be reduced and given back to our country like our NHS and to help the disabled and homeless.

I wholeheartedly agree.
Absolutely right.

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by Tozzie

I feel the aid should be reduced and given back to our country like our NHS and to help the disabled and homeless.

I agree Tozzie, charity begins at home - we need the money ourselves.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Risking the gray vote?....she must have this election rigged then as that would be political suicide.

she is looking at the polls...Cameron got a majority because his policies appealed, can't see foreign aid being held while rising taxes at home being a vote winner personally

[smudgie]

Originally Posted by Cherie

oh please, what happened to the JAMs the just about managing Teresa was so concerned about 9 months ago, and as for holding off for an official announcement I think we got it at the last budget with the NI increases they tried to put through for self employed until it was pointed out it was an election pledge not to raise NI .... and you want the nurses to get an extra 1.5 per cent only for it to be clawed back through VAT, NI and tax rises...okay

I don't want any tax rises, full stop.
I would like the nurses to get the same pay rise as the pensioners...but reality tells me we can't afford it

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by smudgie

I don't want any tax rises, full stop.
I would like the nurses to get the same pay rise as the pensioners...but reality tells me we can't afford it

we can't afford much can we, we can't afford decent social care for our elderly, we can't afford to fund our disabled, yet we are all taxed to the hilt and about to be taxed more, its nothing more than a national scandal that energy bills are vat rated, heating is hardly a luxury! , but we still afford the same percentage of foreign aid, makes no sense to me, direct the aid where it is needed most, let the charities who rake in further millions make up the rest.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Cherie

she is looking at the polls...Cameron got a majority because his policies appealed, can't see foreign aid being held while rising taxes at home being a vote winner personally

One would hope it would lose her votes but if taking shockingly near £30 a week off sick and disabled people in the ESA (wrag) group, still gets this rotten Govt.support, then that may be doubtful.

[smudgie]

Originally Posted by Cherie

we can't afford much can we, we can't afford decent social care for our elderly, we can't afford to fund our disabled, yet we are all taxed to the hilt and about to be taxed more, its nothing more than a national scandal that energy bills are vat rated, heating is hardly a luxury! , but we still afford the same percentage of foreign aid, makes no sense to me, direct the aid where it is needed most, let the charities who rake in further millions make up the rest.

I agree with the public shouldn't be paying VAT on fuel, it is not a luxury, the ruddy energy companies should pay it all. ( after all it is them that are making the profits at our cost) .

[joeysteele]

The simple fact they are not now clearly ruling these changes out, in my view is a testing the water exercise to explore the best way to word,plan ad cloud any thinking to backtrack on the policies.
If they had no thinking as to changing the triple lock or possible tax rises,a simple 'no changes at all' would have sufficed.

The fact they have muddled these issues should speak volumes,I myself for one suppose certainly,as to a hidden agenda.

[waterhog]

I am drawing up plans as we speak to add V.A.T to every poem I write - delboy told me - this time tomoz - I am going to have no hair

[jaxie]

To be fair this is only hearsay ATM. There is no real evidence that it's going to happen.

It's funny because you often see people say they'd happily pay more tax to fund the NHS but when it comes down to it people often get really upset when there is a sniff of raised taxes. I think it would be fairer to raise taxes a touch than rob the disabled or elderly personally. And I'm sure those bleeding hearts on the forum who were shouting recently about our foreign aid being vital will be delighted to pay some more tax to cover it. Won't you?

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by jaxie

To be fair this is only hearsay ATM. There is no real evidence that it's going to happen.

It's funny because you often see people say they'd happily pay more tax to fund the NHS but when it comes down to it people often get really upset when there is a sniff of raised taxes. I think it would be fairer to raise taxes a touch than rob the disabled or elderly personally. And I'm sure those bleeding hearts on the forum who were shouting recently about our foreign aid being vital will be delighted to pay some more tax to cover it. Won't you?

There has already been hike in council tax though, 5.5 per cent (3 per cent to pay for social care) in my Borough in addition to an extra 50 quid to pick up green waste, and what about all the money we are going to save in two years time when we no longer pay into the EU? Where will that money go?

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Cherie

There has already been hike in council tax though, 5.5 per cent (3 per cent to pay for social care) in my Borough in addition to an extra 50 quid to pick up green waste, and what about all the money we are going to save in two years time when we no longer pay into the EU? Where will that money go?

Doesn't sound to me like there will be much or any money left from the Brexit, there will,unless this govt.stops doing so,still need the current funds to regions from the EU,still getting those funds once the UK is out.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

Doesn't sound to me like there will be much or any money left from the Brexit, there will,unless this govt.stops doing so,still need the current funds to regions from the EU,still getting those funds once the UK is out.

we will be paying back the bill to leave for years, as well as paying subsidies to that is if they continue to pay them of course...

they government have already reneged on their no tax rises by reducing funding to councils, and now schools where parents will be asked to fund books and items they never previously funded, a nice back door stealth tax

[arista]

another scare story

[Withano]

Tories can probably announce the first annual purge for Feb 2018 and people will still be like 'yh but at least theyre going through with brexit, and i dont think corbyn is much of a leader anyway'.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by arista

another scare story

It doesn't need to be any story at all.
All she has to say is she is keeping the promise of 2015 as to the triple lock on pensions.
All Hammond and May need to say is they are sticking to their 2015 promise of no tax rises too.

It is the 'fact' they will not without hesitation give those guarantees, that has fuelled the story and suspicions.