Reply to: Treasury blueprint to raise taxes

[OwlHoot]

Exactly. Since everyone is working from home, we don’t need HS2.

The government needs to see how this working from home boom works out, so they don’t waste money on public transport. ..

You're right of course, but common sense doesn't come into it. HS2 was/is part of a grand EU scheme for a beefed up Europe-wide rail network, and despite Brexit the Government seems determined to press ahead for some unfathomable desire to ingratiate themselves with the EU (and in part maybe for the expected kickbacks, as elsergiovolador pointed out above).

[Hobosapien]

Wasn't so long ago some were saying it would be more worthwhile spending a fraction of the HS2 budget (whatever it was estimated to be at the time) on upgrading the UK's internet connectivity to get 'everyone' onto super fast broadband via fibre (to the premises ideally) or 5g where that made more sense in rural areas.

Now many are seeing the benefits of WFH even if that won't continue to be full time when some normality returns, that type of infrastructure spending now seems a no brainer.

They can use the rail network to move freight instead of all those trucks.

[NotAllThere]

Exactly. Since everyone is working from home, we don’t need HS2. The government needs to see how this working from home boom works out, so they don’t waste money on public transport.

Especially as a good public transport infrastructure makes disease spread more easily.

[courtg9000]

Over 30 years

Hold the land they have purchased for HS2 for 5 years and give it to and my mates to sell. Tidy ROI there.

[AtW]

Cancelling HS2 would save £100 billion for a start.

Over 30 years

[caffeine man]

Cancelling HS2 would save £100 billion for a start.

Come on Boris, you know it makes sense (cancelling it I mean, not HS2 itself! ).

Exactly. Since everyone is working from home, we don’t need HS2. The government needs to see how this working from home boom works out, so they don’t waste money on public transport.


Sent from my iPhone using Contractor UK Forum

[CheeseSlice]

Oh and never mind HS2.. The Crossrail grand opening is going to be a blast.

[CheeseSlice]

Can't we just burn the Quantitative Easing paperwork and pretend none of this ever happened?

[elsergiovolador]

Cancelling HS2 would save £100 billion for a start.

Come on Boris, you know it makes sense (cancelling it I mean, not HS2 itself! ).

How is he going to tell friends that there will be no more bids for HS2 contracts? Party is nothing without its donors.

[OwlHoot]

Cancelling HS2 would save £100 billion for a start.

Come on Boris, you know it makes sense (cancelling it I mean, not HS2 itself! ).

[Hobosapien]

They'll privatise the NHS by way of a new coronavirus national insurance.

Then clawback all the furlough money by retrospective tax changes targetting those that 'took furlough when it wasn't necessary'.

Tax rises in a global recession? Only fools and horses work.

[elsergiovolador]

It seems like a good time to tax drug sales. It is a shame that self employed dealers enjoy tax free profits when everyone else has to pay huge sums to the taxman.

[AtW]

“ Treasury officials have advised the Chancellor not to wait too long to introduce any tax rises. Suggestions include announcing a medium-term plan for the public finances in the summer, alongside any further economic rescue packages related to the coronavirus crisis.

This would "enhance credibility and boost investor confidence", the Treasury has argued, adding: "There may also be advantages to using current political capital."”

Revealed: The increased taxes – and some new ones – on the menu to counter GBP337bn budget deficit

[AtW]

I'm pretty cynical about the current NHS love in. I would say the gov is doing a very good job of programming the general population, readying them for tax hikes that can be passed under the guise of "save our NHS", with near impunity. Kids will be writing in chalk "increase our taxes! save our NHS!" in a neighbourhood near you.

“Prepare for next pandemic” - not where most of money will go to, obviously

Increase in Nhs spending (which was promised already) will require lots of dosh

[TheGreenBastard]

I'm pretty cynical about the current NHS love in. I would say the gov is doing a very good job of programming the general population, readying them for tax hikes that can be passed under the guise of "save our NHS", with near impunity. Kids will be writing in chalk "increase our taxes! save our NHS!" in a neighbourhood near you.