UK Government Thread

Oh yes.. I forgot about the free internet for everyone unicorn, hahah!

You don’t think having universal high speed internet is important in this day and age? Funny how immediately after 2019 we were suddenly in a world where working from home was required and the communications network was found to be wholly inadequate. Bang for buck the free internet policy would have been the most cost-effective investment to the country’s infrastructure that we’ve ever seen and would have provided a significant economic stimulus through higher productivity and innovation. Lets not bother with all that new-fangled technology though eh? Here in the UK we do everything the old way.

meftyFree Member
That our economy is now smaller by a considerable margin than it was (taking a year completely at random) than say 2016 for example
At the end of 2023 our economy was just under 8% bigger than it was in 2016.

Its how the economy (or GDP)  is distributed that is the issue,

it’s all very well saying that the economy is “x%” increased but if it goes into the hands of business’s or individuals that can obfuscate for tax purposes then it means sod all

You don’t think having universal high speed internet is important in this day and age?

Last reply this evening, I promise!

A) yes but B…

B) Who’s going to pay for all the ongoing infrastructure maintenence and the built in technical debt? raise income tax for everyone by a few percent, including those who already pay £25 per month for internet?

lol, re you really claiming that “technical debt” for high speed internet would raise taxes by a few percent. By that maths the technical debt of all state projects and infrastructure should increase tax by about 1000%

Anyway, has any one got a “loony far left” policy yet, we have had two attempts and 2 failures so far.

Anyway, has any one got a “loony far left” policy yet, we have had two attempts and 2 failures so far.

Abandoning austerity?

raise income tax for everyone by a few percent

Labour’s costings for the policy in 2019 were approx 20bn. That was to be spent over 10 years. Of course you wouldn’t have to raise such a paltry sum by raising taxes because you’d do what Rachel Reeves is about to do an ‘borrow’ it, but even if you did, some quick chatgpting suggest the rate of tax would have to increase by around 0.2% over 10 years.

including those who already pay £25 per month for internet?

You do realise it was ‘free’ broadband? As in end users wouldn’t have to pay it. For many £25 a month would be more than the extra income tax they would have to pay. It’s a no-brainer.

Yup. And geographically redistributive. The areas that need improved connectivity the most are those away from centres of wealth. A sound policy. It was good for business, good for the economy. But voters didn’t get it. Partly because it was being explained by politicans that didn’t get it! And it was part of the “new nationalisation every morning” policy rollout in 2019… sure, that energised voter turnout… but in both positive and negative ways for Labour.