Where does your tax get spent?, Here's the breakdown from the Chancellor Options

[gel]

Where's all your tax pounds gone?

I see George Wallpaper Osborne is going to be sending this pie chart out with
future tax coding notices.

Good idea?

[motormad]

I think there's been some fiddling with EU budget contributions

The Welfare section is far too big IMO and the National Debt Interest section again makes for worrying reading.

[Simon Kirby]

Stuff UKIP, look at what all the sick old people are costing us. If only there was an answer...

[JeffG]

I think there's been some fiddling with EU budget contributions

Why do you think that? Are they deliberately lying, then?

I think the colour wheel makes it easier to see what proportion is spent on what. Good idea.

[Biker1]

The thing I find most worrying looking at the chart is that National Debt Interest is the 5th largest expenditure!!!
And they say we are a rich country? Maybe if we didn't have to pay that.
What a waste.

[gel]

Worryingly little on defence IMHO; needs boosting and relate only to UK Defence (including Rock of Gibraltar of course etc) and no overseas conflicts such as Afghan conflict, Ukraine.

[user23]

Worryingly little on defence IMHO; needs boosting and relate only to UK Defence (including Rock of Gibraltar of course etc) and no overseas conflicts such as Afghan conflict, Ukraine.

Defence from whom and by what means of attack?

[Biker1]

Defence from whom and by what means of attack?

Who knows and who knows I suppose!
The World can change very rapidly.

[user23]

Who knows and who knows I suppose!
The World can change very rapidly.

Defence from everyone by every method of attack?

Sounds expensive.

[On the edge]

Worryingly little on defence IMHO; needs boosting and relate only to UK Defence (including Rock of Gibraltar of course etc) and no overseas conflicts such as Afghan conflict, Ukraine.

Actually, now we don't have an Empire and in reality aren't a real World power, why do we need an armed force at all? Surely, as members of EU and UN, we could let them provide what forces are necessary to keep World peace. All we would do is then pay our share; probably far less.

[gel]

Actually, now we don't have an Empire and in reality aren't a real World power, why do we need an armed force at all? Surely, as members of EU and UN, we could let them provide what forces are necessary to keep World peace. All we would do is then pay our share; probably far less.

Would you really commit your safety to either of that lot!

EU don't have a structure + getting all the members to ever agree on anything unrealistic IMHO.
Only a few members have credible forces eg Germany, France and us.

UN on past experience ineffective, as seen round the globe and will be committed as now to more conflicts than they have resources to handle.

[newres]

Worryingly little on defence IMHO; needs boosting and relate only to UK Defence (including Rock of Gibraltar of course etc) and no overseas conflicts such as Afghan conflict, Ukraine.

It seems to me that our need for defence grows in response to our spend on "defence". For example, the more we interfere in the middle east, the more the threat grows of attacks on us. Perhaps I am just being obtuse and miss the point.

[On the edge]

Would you really commit your safety to either of that lot!

EU don't have a structure + getting all the members to ever agree on anything unrealistic IMHO.
Only a few members have credible forces eg Germany, France and us.

UN on past experience ineffective, as seen round the globe and will be committed as now to more conflicts than they have resources to handle.

Well, actually, I would.

I also have a strong view that we should keep our noses out of other nations affairs and just leave it to the Americans, if that's what they want to do. They wanted us to get rid of the Empire. Nordic nations seem to have no big issue without armed forces.

[On the edge]

It seems to me that our need for defence grows in response to our spend on "defence". For example, the more we interfere in the middle east, the more the threat grows of attacks on us. Perhaps I am just being obtuse and miss the point.

Quite so! I'm in total agreement. Frankly the amount wasted in defence procurement would bring a blush to the cheeks of WBC

[Andy Capp]

Well, actually, I would. I also have a strong view that we should keep our noses out of other nations affairs and just leave it to the Americans, if that's what they want to do. They wanted us to get rid of the Empire. Nordic nations seem to have no big issue without armed forces.

Probably because nobody wants to go there. Brrr!!! And alcohol is too expensive!

[Simon Kirby]

We're not a world power any more, and shouldn't want to be. Let's at least get rid of out nuclear weapons and research capability, and if that leaves some tax sloshing about needing to be spent then let's spend it on science and engineering research and development and kick start some actual manufacturing industry so we're not a nation of telephone sanitizers.

[On the edge]

Certainly agree with that. Then perhaps in energy terms we could avoid having foreign design / build for our nuclear capability. Contrary to popular belief, 'weapons engineers' are more than capable at turning their skills to peaceful use. The chap that set up the first CEB nuclear department and indeed the CEGB chairman Christopher Hinton came from the defence labs round here.

[Biker1]

Defence from everyone by every method of attack?

Sounds expensive.

Yes it is.

[Ron]

Stuff UKIP, look at what all the sick old people are costing us. If only there was an answer...

So why are sick and old synonymous?

[Simon Kirby]

So why are sick and old synonymous?

They're not synonyms, though the ageing process creates a natural correlation between age and disease.

My comment was highlighting the large proportion of tax that is spent on the state pension (the old) and the health service (the sick) and juxtaposing UKIP's silence on that spending with their constant blaring about the UK's contribution to the EU which is a relatively tiny proportion of tax-spending. It's notable that UKIP particularly attracts the older voter, with 71% of their support coming from the over-50's, and only 15% under 40 years of age. I might also mention that 80% of Polish migrants are under 35 years of age which makes them relatively healthy and undemanding on our health service, and almost all of them are in work and paying tax - tax that pays for the health service and state pension. Just saying.

But it was also an opportunity for a gratuitous picture of Jenny Aguter.