Quote Originally Posted by Dedworth View Post
The shysters are long overdue for a sorting out
Yes, but NOT only the shysters Deds, for to long now people have been working for £6-00+ per hour on minimum wage, and having there income topped up by Tax Credits, this encouraged many Employers to regard the minimum wage to be the actual rate for the job, which in turn meant Tax payers in effect subsidised these low paid jobs, whilst the bosses made fortunes, now these companies will have to pay a decent wage, which in turn will mean Tax Credits will be greatly reduced. I applaud the Government for this stance.
However what i disagree with, is the limit on Housing Benefit, in so far as it only limits the amount people are allowed to have towards their rent, again a sensible move, however it needed to be tied in with a National Rental scheme whereby Landlords have a maximum applied which they can charge Housing Benefit Claimants for 1,2,3 Bedroom properties, this in my opinion would have averted unscrupulous Landlords overcharging for Rents, and also done something similar for Estate Agents charging exhorbitant Registration,Deposits, Search Fees etc etc.
I can see where Osborne is coming from, people need to work, indeed have to work; there still remains the question of getting the (Shysters) CAN work, WONT work people back in the mainstream of employment, Job Seekers Allowance is what it is for those people seeking work, if they refuse work there allowance should NOT only be cut (sanctioned) at present, but this should be tied in with doing Community work (20 hours per week) which should enable them to get used to getting out of bed early and off there Backsides to do something useful.
I was dissapointed not to see Pensions mentioned here, as i was under the impression the Government was due to announce this year a flat rate (NOT Means Tested Pension) Pension of around £150 for everyone, but nothing was announced.

All in all not a bad Budget, heading in the right direction, and thats from a none Tory UK citizen.