The giveaway Budget

[rov1200]

Were you satisfied? There is no need to say what political party you support.

[anotheoldgit]

I agree some pensioners are much more better off than others, and some form of means testing needs to be implimented.

But the only trouble with means testing is the fact that the poverty line is set far too low, meaning that many pensioners who might be in receipt of very small company pensions, so therefore are just above the line, are caught up in the poverty trap.

If the poverty line was slightly raised then many pensioners who are not well off by any stretch of the imagination, would be able to enjoy some of the benefits of being below this line, such as reduced price council tax, free Dental treatment, free specs etc.

As things are at present those pensioners below the poverty line are better off in real terms than those who are just above the line.

[Krypton27]

They didnt give anything away-they are just not going to steal as much!

[rov1200]

I think most of the budget is a storm in a teacup. Take the reduction in VAT. Not enough to make people spend say many. So the unspent tax goes back into government coffers, reputably �12 billion?

[lankeela]

I like the way they think we are all going to rush out and spend this windfall (which I am not getting by the way). It would still have only gone part way to making up what they took away a few months ago, so mine would be spent on heating, food and other payments that have gone up, and despite a pay rise in September I am still worse off than before the pay rise.