Cost of motoring

[Tonyunn]

Am I the only one shouting at the TV when the gov. says they want to bring down the cost of motoring, take the tax off petrol now there is a cash cow if ever there was one.
Tinkering around the edges does nothing really all spin and bollocks

[D-Rider]

Trouble is, if they take the money off fuel, what do we want them to tax more to make up the shortfall?
Yes there is scope for taxing companies that avoid tax and also moving more of the burden to those most able to pay who are paid ridiculous amounts but that's not going to happen given that they've just reduced the top tax rate.
No, if they save us a penny on fuel, they'll sting us somewhere else.
Fuel tax is painful but in reality, reducing it is not actually going to help us overall without a more progressive tax system.

[zoidberg]

the most frustrating thing about the tax system in the Uk as the people that can afford to pay it don't.

whereas the rest of us are stung with ridiculous amounts of deductions at the end of the month

[Obiwan Kenobi]

A massive proportion of fuel prices in the UK is tax, around 60%, with the retailer making only a few pence per litre sold.

We have one of the highest fuel prices per litre in the world.

The Govt need a certain amount of tax income to pay for their spending on wars and scroungers.

The motorist/biker is a soft target: when did you last say "Fcuk me, fuel prices are up again, I will leave the bike/car at home and get the bus, or have a few days off work..."?

Doesn't happen.

"'In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."
Benjamin Franklin.

[BikerGran]

Largely because the bus services have been so reduced that you can't get where you need to go - there's a small town near us where, unless you get a job in the town, you're not going to work at all without your own transport - even to get to our town 10 miles away takes a ridiculous amount of time as the buses go all around the countryside, and don't run very frequently anyway.

[blinkey501]

I used the bus on Saturday to go to town. It cost £2.85. I thought that was good value.
I was so impressed I went to witherspoons

[Willopotomas]

Well, they keep banning things and putting more tax on so called luxury's, so people are either unable to continue a pursuit because they're no longer allowed, or just too damn expensive. I'm not a smoker, but the smoking ban in pubs etc had quite an adverse effect on all of us. People now either don't smoke because it's too much hassle, or don't drink because the local pub has gone to the wall. Two huge revenue makers for the government. You could argue the NHS bill will drop because of this, but I doubt that very much.

Oh, and don't forget we've got the EU to pay for.. That'll be around £53million a DAY, 365 days a year. Those who say we get more back in rebates and what the EU does in the UK are living in la-la land. If we are infact getting value for money, then please feel free to correct me.

Anyway.. I digress. The biggest burden on the UK economy at the moment is immigration, welfare scroungers and of course, the EU.

[BikerGran]

If it wasn't for the Eu membership, we'd have a lot more control over the things that are causing ordinary people so many problems - like immigration and so-called human rights (so called because they only seem to apply to said scroungers, and criminals, etc)

[fatboy]

Where do you begin ? Zoidberg, good point, Will, very good point.
HMRC seem content to let major earners spirit thier accounts to the Channel Islands or beyond to avoid paying tax,so the average guy gets screwed to make up the shortfall.
This current government seems happily protected by the fact that they have individual wealth,blinding them to see that people are really struggling with with the costs even the most basic living standard

[D-Rider]

Oh, and don't forget we've got the EU to pay for.. ....... If we are infact getting value for money, then please feel free to correct me.

Please regard yourself corrected

Anyway.. I digress. The biggest burden on the UK economy at the moment is immigration, welfare scroungers and of course, the EU.

Bollox (IMHO)

[zoidberg]

Oh, and don't forget we've got the EU to pay for.. ....... If we are infact getting value for money, then please feel free to correct me.

Please regard yourself corrected

Anyway.. I digress. The biggest burden on the UK economy at the moment is immigration, welfare scroungers and of course, the EU.

Bollox (IMHO)

Care to elaborate D-R.

I just don't pay attention to the goings on as much as I should.

I laments term explanation will help.

[D-Rider]

The EU is far from perfect but really no less so than our own government - as individuals we get only a small voice in both but are nevertheless represented in both not dissimilarly to constituents in other parts of the country or other parts of Europe.
One of the key purposes of the EU was to bind us all together to stop (or at least reduce the risk) of Europe continually tearing itself apart with wars. Of course it's not the only factor that has kept a peace for somewhat longer than in the times before but most would agree it has played a significant role.
In terms of economic benefit, it has kept trade firmly open with huge benefits to UK.
I do have issues with the European Commission but I'm not one to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

As far as immigration being a drain, well the facts don't support it. The overwhelming majority of those coming to this country come to fill skilled jobs for which we have a skills shortage or menial jobs that need to be done but we can't find people to do.

Depends what is meant by benefit scroungers. Those who live on benefits because jobs aren't available - well I don't consider them to be scroungers - or those who claim benefits fraudulently - well, I don't condone that but it is not a major economic problem - certainly much less than tax evasion.

[zoidberg]

Ah I see and tbh totally agree.

We have as I understand it lost out on a few subsidies from Europe over the last few years but nothing to plug the drain of these 'wars' we get dragged into.

That's another story and we are now way off thread.


It has gotten more expensive for motoring, I pay over £800 a year in road tax before my vehicles leave the drive/garage.

That's without fuelling the buggers.

But I never have complained about putting fuel in any bike. When it's empty I fill it, the pleasure outweighs the cost to me.

If I was buying a bike and worrying about running costs I'd have a scooter not a Falco which seems to almost brainwash you into spending money on shiny bits.

[Willopotomas]

Immigration. The costs of which seem to change depending on who's report you read. If immigration worked the way it's supposed to (cheap or skilled labour otherwise absent in our nation) then we'd be sitting pretty. The extra boost to the economy would be welcomed, and everyone would be happy. The problems start when there isn't any work for the migrants to do, and thanks to the ECHR, it makes it very difficult to send them home. There's then of course are the illegal immigrants who shouldn't be here at all, but again, because of the ECHR we're not allowed to kick them out either.. So they all get a nice fat hand out. Don't forget that it's not just the initial visible benefits they get (house, income support etc) that we're aware of. They also play a heavy burden on the NHS and schools when they end up breeding to stay here.. And let's face it, as soon as they knock a couple of sprogs out, it's pretty much a done deal.

Welfare scroungers. The feckless who have never lifted a finger in their lives, and have no intention to either. The ones who will bitch and moan about not having a big enough house for their brood of 10+ kids, but won't get off their arse's to do anything about it. No better than illegal immigrants IMO. There are genuine cases where people who want to go out to work are unable to. Now you can argue that if they really want to, they will find a way, but knowing a chap in this situation, it really isn't as simple as that. On the other hand, I know people who will use every trick/con/scam in the book to stay out of work and have their lives paid for without stopping to think where the money comes from.. Just as long as it keeps coming.

The EU. Having a quick look at some figures (unconfirmed, but I'm confident in them)

The net cost of the EU budget to Britain in 2011 was £10.8 billion* and rising. But the actual cost - direct and indirect - is much more than that.

Last time it was calculated, in 2008, the European Union was costing us £65 billion gross every year. That's about £1,000 each every year for every man, woman and child in the UK. It increases every year, so it will be a lot more now.

* Source: Office for National Statistics "Pink Book"

The site in question goes on to split it all up in to more detail.

http://www.democracymovementsurrey.co.u ... costs.html

[robbier6]

willo for PM.
the Eu is only there to line the pockets of the hoy-poloy. have you seen how much an MEP gets and how little they do for it.
My old boss, his brother was an MEP a few years back and he was getting, i won't say earning, over £100k basic salary. It's jobs for the boys, and IMHO not what but who you know...in essence we would be in a better position if we told europe to go forth and multiply . nobody in europe likes us (french, german spanish, italians etc) they need our money more than we need them.....become self sufficient it wouldnt be difficult. but as i say too many people in positions of power are getting their offshore accounts filled with backhanders.
Oh and scrap RFL it's only use is to keep employment high in swansea