Bus fare cap to be raised to £3

[Justin Passing]

Oh dear. I'm keen to support buses, especially "clean" ones, though I can't use them. They are a Good Thing. Cheap good public transpot is at the core of civilised life.

I think Starmer is a decent guy, but come on, we've had
the early anouncement of cutting fuel allowance to "poor pensioners" ,
Taking money for personal benefits, and being late in recording it
capitulation in pay for train drivers who earn double what a nurse does, just because ...
A rise in employers' tax - a tax on jobs, is coming
Supporting people to go and help one party in the US election
While havng a foreign sec who was openly rude about the other side
A fifty percent rise in a bloody bus fare

Naïve or what?

 

[big-all]

Oh dear. I'm keen to support buses, especially "clean" ones, though I can't use them. They are a Good Thing. Cheap good public transpot is at the coie of civilised life.

I think Starmer is a decent guy, but come on, we've had
the early anouncement of cutting fuel allowance to "poor pensioners" ,
Taking money for personal benefits, and being late in recording it
capitulation in pay for train drivers who earn double what a nurse does, just because ...
A rise in employers' tax - a tax on jobs, is coming
Supporting people to go and help one party in the US election
While havng a foreign sec who was openly rude about the other side
A fifty percent rise in a bloody bus fare

Naïve or what?

to be fair reduction off help in weeks to come is best announced as soon as possible to let you get prepared
in general with next years expected 4.1% increase over the last 2[about 19.6 10.2x8.5% then 4.1=24.47% increase next year ] so 12400 now[up to 2 years ago ] is 24.4 greater at 15420 so a3000 increase over 3 years at 57 a week asked to return £5.77 [winter fuel 300][10%]a week to the kitty doesnt seem as bad as the youngsters and middle age paying our/my pension whilst having little or no extra money to pay student debt or afford a mortgage

 

[Justin Passing]

Not quite following your sums, but, it's enough for people to moan about.
it's not the amout of money, wich got everyone p'd off as much as the "optics" of how he did it it's the "optics"of what he does.
Withe the WFP he could have phased it in, or combined it with something else, or made the form simpler and told you where to get help filling it in, etc etc...

 

[ajohn]

it's not the amout of money, wich got everyone p'd off as much as the "optics" of how he did it it's the "optics"of what he does.

Why don't you understand what is going on? I'll use a version of an old saying. They are often apt. The clothes have to be cut to suit the material that is available.

So we get a spending review which will involve choices and a budget that includes taxation changes. Aim better performance in what they see as key areas. It can't be all.

Behind this they have to cope with a declining work force size which will escalates welfare costs. They have to plan ahead. The Tory had in one area up to 2028. Fact is that they may have found that they needed to extend that. LOL In some ways I wish they had won.

The main fiscal aspect is that the tax take must run the country. No borrowing for that. This is what outfits such as the IMF and investors with serious amounts of money want to see. In some respects it may take some period of time to see that this is really happening. The IMF has mentioned this area previously. Must sort the social side out. Their view does not relate to the level of service offered only the affordability aspects. So the public want to see some improvements The only route to that is more taxation along with spending reviews.

Pundits seem to be expecting some sort of whale of a budget. I wonder.

New nos info - 2m people not working. Long COVID related. Money already laid out to try and find ways people on long term sick can at least do some work.

Filly and his hip replacement. There is an intent for this sort of thing, Specialist units that only do one type of work. Some may beef on how this might be achieved but practicalities have to be considered.

LOL Quick edit - Starmer does not care about the optics - tough decisions have to be made.

 

[Munroast]

I walked into town again today to get a breakfast at 'Spoons. Got the bus back in the afternoon. Top deck was heaving with non-doms. Could hardly get a seat.

be no good taxing soap - I don't think the non doms use much of that

 

[ReganAndCarter]

be no good taxing soap - I don't think the non doms use much of that

They probably won't be the only soap dodgers travelling on the number 1.

 

[big-all]

Not quite following your sums, but, it's enough for people to moan about.
it's not the amout of money, wich got everyone p'd off as much as the "optics" of how he did it it's the "optics"of what he does.
Withe the WFP he could have phased it in, or combined it with something else, or made the form simpler and told you where to get help filling it in, etc etc...

Yes sorry if its hard to read
Over the last 2 years added to next year's 4.1% will be as near as doesn't matter be 25% with compound year to year
start with £100 first year add 10.2%= 110.20p plus last years 8.5=119.56 then add on next year's 4.1%=£124.46 so 24.46% greater at the start off year 3

Clear as mud ehhh

 

[mattylad]

I used a bus last week for a 6 mile journey - it was £2 max which made me think that buses are good value. At £3 maybe not

I think your forgetting that the cap scheme was supposed to finish in December, which would make it so the bus companies can increase the fares to over £3+.
So they have extended the cap scheme albiet increased the level a bit to cater for increased costs that the bus companies have.

 

[Justin Passing]

Why don't you understand what is going on? I'll use a version of an old saying. They are often apt. The clothes have to be cut to suit the material that is available.

Oh of course I understand why he's trimming, that's clear enough.

But it does also matter whether a politician takes the country with him. A major consideration is whether you're leaving an exposed bit of flesh for the opposition's arrows to go for. He's PM, part of the job is getting the optics under control. He needs an Alastair Campbell. Blair was good enough already.

Boris was an embarrasing buffoon. I didn't think Starmer would be one too.

One more time - he settled a payment to train drivers - not a terribly difficult job - which sees them getting well over double what a nurse, (degree qualified as a start) gets for similar hours over 5 days, some £80k+.
Then he's after an equivalent of a few quid a week from those (poor, hard done- by, eat or freeze yada yada) pensioners.

 

[securespark]

I've got a free bus pass.

Me too.

 

[ajohn]

The min wage increases make £3 bus fairs a lot easier. View seems to be pensioners should be ok. This group needs more help.

 

[opps]

Subsidised by the rest of the UK.

I am not sure that is correct, I am not saying it isn't, I am not sure. The following link outlines the amount that the last government gave to TfL but it was in investment in infrastructure projects rather than subsidies to run the services.

Ministers and TfL agree £250 million government funding to upgrade London’s transport system

Funding brings much-needed capital  investment and will support jobs across the country.

www.gov.uk

In the above link, they, the tories say that the tubes and buses are operationally self funding.

 

[aveatry]

I thought Londoners paid for the buses through ulez

 

[opps]

I thought Londoners paid for the buses through ulez

I don't drive, I never supported the expansion of ULEZ, but to be honest, it impacted far fewer tradesmen (whom I know) than I expected. Each of them were offered grants to replace their vans. Granted, some, even with the grants, were not cash rich enough to take up the offer.

 

[Mottie]

Me too.

#Me too too!