[Livia]

I’d cut foreign aid to the bone, keeping a fund that could be used to send the Red Cross or Medecins Sans Frontiers (for example) to places that have suffered badly from war or natural disasters. The money saved would be spent at home, helping the poorest in society and raising the state pension. If people want to send money abroad that should be their personal decision, not one the government makes, especially when we have so many worthy causes in this country, shaking tin cups and buckets for pennies so they can keep going.

I’d like to see the UK produce stuff again… not sure how I’d do this but I’d like to see, for instance, the shipyards reopened and viable along with other industries.

I'd make all schools secular and make available separate funding for study of people's own religions if they want it. But they'd have to do it in their own time.

I’d reinstate grants for further and higher education for everyone. No student loans, no means testing. I’d also like to encourage more people who would currently be funnelled into uni to consider vocational education.

More money for the NHS generally and particularly more funding for elderly care, mental health and help with drug and alcohol addiction.

If someone’s on benefits looking for work, and if after two years they’re not working or in some kind of education, they’d be given a job to do to earn their benefits.

I'd scrap the bedroom tax. It's ridiculous and unfair.

I’d make homelessness a priority. It’s shameful that one of the richest countries in the world has people living and sleeping rough.

Life imprisonment would mean just that: your whole life.

If I had to raise tax to pay for all this, then I would.

On a whimsical note, I’d like to see England swap the cross of St George for the white dragon.

[Ninastar]

loving some of these idea guys

[Livia]

I look forward to seeing some of them implemented, Rt Hon Ninastar.

[Ninastar]

Oh Livia, don't make me blush...

[Kizzy]

I want my own flag like hers...

I'd secure jobs in public service and first responder jobs in iron so they are not messed with as well as pensions.
I would control private care homes and services to ensure they are accountable.
I would stick with europe to maintain food safety and employment/ workers rights.
Make MPs take a wage with no expenses, and no employing family members.
Clamp down on profiteering via lobbying, hedge funds and tax avoidance.
scrap 0hr contracts
Create new 'garden cities'
scrap VAT on food
bring back tax for all 3 tax brackets with 50p being the highest
Bring tuition fees back down
introduce a living wage
Have rent caps for private rental properties.... that's all ,for now

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Bring tuition fees back down
introduce a living wage
Have rent caps for private rental properties.... that's all ,for now

[Vicky.]

I would scrap these ridiculous work programs that cost billions. With the money saved, anyone who had been out of work for 2 years would be given a fulltime (paid) job that lasts at least 6 months, to show them the financial benefits of working...not just the downside which is what unpaid placements do. To encourage companies to sign up to do this I would give them tax breaks or financial incentives...possibly the state pays half of the wage or something.

Also scrap ATOS. I trust the word of a qualified doctor above the word of a 'trained' monkey tbh. If a few fakers slip through the net, then so be it. You can never get rid of 100% of fraud anyway, so I wouldn't worry myself too much about 1/100 people faking really. They would get found out eventually.

Another for cutting foreign aid to the bare minimum. I feel we have plenty of problems in our own country.

Introduce a living wage. That way we can get rid of tax credits, and stop having to pay housing benefit to employed people. The huge majority of businesses can afford to pay this..they just don't want to, the smaller businesses with smaller profit margins (family run shops and such) would get state help.

Close ALL tax loopholes. It is ****ing ridiculous that the normal working person pays so much in tax when large companies pay next to nothing.

Allow JSA claimants to take part in college courses, and anything that would better their chances of securing employment. I find it stupid that they cannot do this already because it would mean they dont have enough time to jobsearch, yet a work placement for 40 hours per week in poundland or some other profit making company is fine. I would also allow JSA claimants to volunteer off their own backs, for as long as they wish to..at the moment they are limited to (I think) 16 hours per week...but again, if a 40 hours per week unpaid placement is fine, then volunteering for the same time should be too.

Build a hell of a lot more social housing. It will be expensive short term but long term it will save more.

Prison sentences only for violent crimes. Things such as shoplifting and that would get community service instead. Murder sentence to be raised to an absolute minimum of 50 years. Same for offenses against children.

I have more but cant think right now

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I would scrap these ridiculous work programs that cost billions. With the money saved, anyone who had been out of work for 2 years would be given a fulltime (paid) job that lasts at least 6 months, to show them the financial benefits of working...not just the downside which is what unpaid placements do. To encourage companies to sign up to do this I would give them tax breaks or financial incentives...possibly the state pays half of the wage or something.

Also scrap ATOS. I trust the word of a qualified doctor above the word of a 'trained' monkey tbh. If a few fakers slip through the net, then so be it. You can never get rid of 100% of fraud anyway, so I wouldn't worry myself too much about 1/100 people faking really. They would get found out eventually.

Another for cutting foreign aid to the bare minimum. I feel we have plenty of problems in our own country.

Introduce a living wage. That way we can get rid of tax credits, and stop having to pay housing benefit to employed people. The huge majority of businesses can afford to pay this..they just don't want to, the smaller businesses with smaller profit margins (family run shops and such) would get state help.

Close ALL tax loopholes. It is ****ing ridiculous that the normal working person pays so much in tax when large companies pay next to nothing.

Allow JSA claimants to take part in college courses, and anything that would better their chances of securing employment. I find it stupid that they cannot do this already because it would mean they dont have enough time to jobsearch, yet a work placement for 40 hours per week in poundland or some other profit making company is fine. I would also allow JSA claimants to volunteer off their own backs, for as long as they wish to..at the moment they are limited to (I think) 16 hours per week...but again, if a 40 hours per week unpaid placement is fine, then volunteering for the same time should be too.

Build a hell of a lot more social housing. It will be expensive short term but long term it will save more.

Prison sentences only for violent crimes. Things such as shoplifting and that would get community service instead. Murder sentence to be raised to an absolute minimum of 50 years. Same for offenses against children.

I have more but cant think right now

how could I forget?..... great point

[Niall]

I'd introduce sweeping educational reform, modelling the new system after the one they have in Finland. That'd mean throwing out the culture of tests and grades and instead opting for actually making sure the child learns. It'd also mean teaching would be a profession treated with far higher respect, in conjunction with requiring teachers to have a PHD level education (something that would be fully subsidised by the state of course). I'd also make sure all higher education is free of charge, and I'd introduce a complete ban on private schooling - everyone deserves a level playing field.

All forms of public transport would be something I'd immediately nationalise. From what I've seen, private companies are completely incompetent at running trains and busses when compared with other state run providers around the world. I mean it stands to reason to have a system where money paid in through fairs goes back into for extra investment in said system really. I'd do the same for utility companies too, bringing them back under state control for the same reasons.

The market would be something I'd regulate very stringently. I don't have anything concrete in my head about how I'd go about that, but as a general rule the market would always be under very close scrutiny from new and more empowered regulators.

I'd force more green policies down too, introducing generous subsidies for companies manufacturing wind turbines etc, in addition to awarding much more generous grants for solar panels on housing. I'd try to weane the country off fossil fuels by gradually introducing more and more renewable power stations when and wherever possible. And I'd force all car manufacturers to offer one affordable electric car in the near future in addition to heavily beefing up the electric car charging point network across the country.

Moreover I'd cut defence spending and pump more money into generating an industry for green technology in Britain. Financial services has proven to be a cesspit that promises only ruin, so I think investing in a back bone of green tech will only serve the nation well in the long run in terms of employment and economic stability.

Another thing I'd do is create a devolved parliament for England, and separate out Westminster as a parliament for the UK on the whole. I've always thought it's bizarre how three out if the four constituent nations got a devolved assembly and one didn't.

[smeagol]

first plan would be to trial and imprison all political leaders for war crimes. treason and breaking human rights laws within our own country. bring back hanging for the guilty

totally reform the schooling system. we spend years in school and learn nothing. it needs to be reduced and more vital skills applied.

a simple 24 hr deport policy adapted. more affordable housing.

[Ninastar]

Id make doctors surgeries open on the weekends and open from early till late every day... i find it crazy that you cant go to the doctor on a weekend, when most of the working population work mon - friday...

another thing to do with hours would be no more short sunday hours... like shops would actually be open normal times on sundays. I hate it, i think its totally pointless. not only would more jobs be available, but people would be able to go shopping at normal times on sundays. especially if they work on sundays too...

[Kizzy]

I would get rid of free schools, they are places of learning not businesses.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

I would get rid of free schools, they are places of learning not businesses.

[Kizzy]

What's so shocking about this? they are causing so many issues at the moment with schools not following the curriculum and soon they will be staffed with unqualified teachers.. Nip that in the bud!