“Poverty causing ‘misery’ in UK, and ministers are in denial, says UN official”

Nov 20, 2018 | In the news

Tags: Austerity, Poverty, Social care
An independent (financial adviser’s) view

We’re very happy to use the UN when we want an excuse to go to war or impose sanctions on someone we don’t like. When they point out a few home truths about the state of our country, we’re not so keen. Here’s someone with no axe to grind (a Colonial Commoner from Oz, for goodness sake) telling us that we have’ staggering levels of child poverty’. The government, surprise surprise, rejects the report ‘pointing to rising income levels’. All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others. And we wonder why they voted for Brexit?

Read more here

and here

 

“Reeves backs down on plans to cut ISA limit”

“Reeves backs down on plans to cut ISA limit”

May 21, 2025 |

So it looks as though Cash ISAs are safe for the moment (FTM – is that a thing?) Rachel has apparently ‘bowed to pressure’ from the banks and building societies and decided not to reduce the allowance to £4,000 for cash and to keep the £20,000 parity with Stocks and Shares ISAs. Bowed also to common sense, I’d say.

“Two thirds of adults are worried about care costs in later life”

“Two thirds of adults are worried about care costs in later life”

May 20, 2025 |

A dichotomy/dilemma here. Two thirds of adults are probably right to be worried about the cost of care, which is huge and getting more so. Many of those currently worrying will have had first-hand experience with their own parents, which will have focused their minds on their own possible future.

“Why most won’t need to worry about IHT on pensions”

“Why most won’t need to worry about IHT on pensions”

May 15, 2025 |

Many a government has made the point that only a minority will be affected by this or that tax change or tinker. It is, however, both perception and aspiration which are important, and they are what makes IHT the ‘most hated’ of all taxes – along with all the others, of course.

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