Scottish election May 7th

[Serge Pizzorno]

20 hours ago, Australis said:

How do you pay higher taxes if the majority are on benefits.

 

And the few left working have to work harder and longer to pay for everyone else's benefits.

 

The happiness index only effects the people on benefits sitting getting money for doing SFA

 

How happy are the few who get up in the morning, go to work and seeing them all doing and contributing SFA all day everyday.

 

The old saying, the left want everything you have, except your job.

Do you know the definition of majority?

[Australis]

19 minutes ago, Serge Pizzorno said:

Do you know the definition of majority?

2014

55% v 45%  a majority.

 

A wonderful majority.

Referendum been promised every year since and none produced.

 

Are people lining their pockets for a few catchy, soundbites to their sheep.

🤔🤔🤔

 

My one wee no vote made me feel so good.

Salmond, Sturgeon, Yousaf and Swinney couldn't take on, cope with or handle my one wee no vote. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

 

[Serge Pizzorno]

7 minutes ago, Australis said:

2014

55% v 45%  a majority.

 

A wonderful majority.

Referendum been promised every year since and none produced.

 

Are people lining their pockets for a few catchy, soundbites to their sheep.

🤔🤔🤔

 

My one wee no vote made me feel so good.

Salmond, Sturgeon, Yousaf and Swinney couldn't take on, cope with or handle my one wee no vote. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

 

 

 

You said majority of the country are on benefits, not sure what your no vote (which I also voted for) has to do with this?

[Australis]

2 minutes ago, Serge Pizzorno said:

You said majority of the country are on benefits, not sure what your no vote (which I also voted for) has to do with this?

Means I know what a majority is.

And I know how to respect it.

That's what it means.

[Serge Pizzorno]

3 minutes ago, Australis said:

Means I know what a majority is.

And I know how to respect it.

That's what it means.

But you said the majority of the UK are on benefits - either your facts are wrong or you don't know the definition of majority. 

[Jamboross]

6 minutes ago, Serge Pizzorno said:

But you said the majority of the UK are on benefits - either your facts are wrong or you don't know the definition of majority. 

 

To be fair if you include state pensions and child benefit then a majority of the population are receiving money from the state and that will become harder to pay for as the number of pensioners increases and working age population shrinks in the coming decades. A much, much smaller percentage (less than 10%) are on ADP or out of work benefits though. 

 

There is so much hyperbole around benefits in the UK. Our spend as percentage of GDP is average amongst OECD countries and the benefits themselves are amongst the least generous, particularly for those without children. 

 

 

[Maroon Sailor]

14 minutes ago, Jamboross said:

 

To be fair if you include state pensions and child benefit then a majority of the population are receiving money from the state and that will become harder to pay for as the number of pensioners increases and working age population shrinks in the coming decades. A much, much smaller percentage (less than 10%) are on ADP or out of work benefits though. 

 

There is so much hyperbole around benefits in the UK. Our spend as percentage of GDP is average amongst OECD countries and the benefits themselves are amongst the least generous, particularly for those without children. 

 

 

 

I don't see the state pension as a benefit as in the way of a hand out.

 

It's contributory.

[Jamboross]

19 minutes ago, Maroon Sailor said:

 

I don't see the state pension as a benefit as in the way of a hand out.

 

It's contributory.

 

As are the current forms of JSA and ESA, both require NI contributions to have been made in the two years prior to claiming, which are benefits people very much stigmatise as being for the workshy etc. 

[Maroon Sailor]

8 minutes ago, Jamboross said:

 

As are the current forms of JSA and ESA, both require NI contributions to have been made in the two years prior to claiming, which are benefits people very much stigmatise as being for the workshy etc. 

 

You need 40 years NI contibutions for a full state pension. Probably gets you 200 quid a week after tax.

[XB52]

1 hour ago, Serge Pizzorno said:

But you said the majority of the UK are on benefits - either your facts are wrong or you don't know the definition of majority. 

Good luck getting sense out of him

[Gundermann]

4 hours ago, Australis said:

Means I know what a majority is.

And I know how to respect it.

That's what it means.

 

Very obviously not answering the question.

 

Is the majority of the population on benefits? If so, how many are pensioners? How many are also in work?

[Gundermann]

3 hours ago, Jamboross said:

 

To be fair if you include state pensions and child benefit then a majority of the population are receiving money from the state and that will become harder to pay for as the number of pensioners increases and working age population shrinks in the coming decades. A much, much smaller percentage (less than 10%) are on ADP or out of work benefits though. 

 

There is so much hyperbole around benefits in the UK. Our spend as percentage of GDP is average amongst OECD countries and the benefits themselves are amongst the least generous, particularly for those without children. 

 

 

 

We should also include many businesses then. Strange how businesses - some of them very rich multinationals who pay very little tax - get quite a bit in handouts, sweeteners and other gifts to 'entice' them to 'create wealth'.

[Cade]

Let's get one thing perfectly clear about NI and Pensions.

The Government does not take your NI contributions and put them in a special wee account with your name on it, to be paid out when you retire.

During your working life, your NI contributions are paid out to those already retired.

And when you retire, your pension is paid for by people in work paying their NI.

State pension is a benefit paid for by the working age population.

 

"I've paid in all my life" means feck all. That money was given to the older generations already, it's gone.

 

 

[PortyJambo]

2 hours ago, Maroon Sailor said:

 

You need 40 years NI contibutions for a full state pension. Probably gets you 200 quid a week after tax.

35 years NI contributions is required for the full state pension and, if that's the only pension you have, you'll be paying no tax on it*, so £241.30 a week. 

 

*for now of course, if they continue to freeze the tax band and increase the pension it'll fall into the lowest rate of income tax soon

[Maroon Sailor]

9 minutes ago, PortyJambo said:

35 years NI contributions is required for the full state pension and, if that's the only pension you have, you'll be paying no tax on it*, so £241.30 a week. 

 

*for now of course, if they continue to freeze the tax band and increase the pension it'll fall into the lowest rate of income tax soon

 

35 years is generally what you need. Depends on your contributions I think.

[Jamboross]

12 minutes ago, Cade said:

Let's get one thing perfectly clear about NI and Pensions.

The Government does not take your NI contributions and put them in a special wee account with your name on it, to be paid out when you retire.

During your working life, your NI contributions are paid out to those already retired.

And when you retire, your pension is paid for by people in work paying their NI.

State pension is a benefit paid for by the working age population.

 

"I've paid in all my life" means feck all. That money was given to the older generations already, it's gone.

 

 

 

Yup and there's an absolute shit storm coming down the line in the next 20-30 years with a declining working age population trying to pay for an increasing pension burden. 

 

We don't even have a particularly generous system. The state pension is very much mid table amongst European nations and our other benefits are amongst the least generous of all OECD countries, particularly for individuals or couples without children. 

 

I don't know how we continue to look after our older and more vulnerable people without increasing taxes and we certainly won't do it by cutting them. 

 

 

[Maroon Sailor]

22 minutes ago, Cade said:

Let's get one thing perfectly clear about NI and Pensions.

The Government does not take your NI contributions and put them in a special wee account with your name on it, to be paid out when you retire.

During your working life, your NI contributions are paid out to those already retired.

And when you retire, your pension is paid for by people in work paying their NI.

State pension is a benefit paid for by the working age population.

 

"I've paid in all my life" means feck all. That money was given to the older generations already, it's gone.

 

 

 

If you don't pay in means you'll get feck all.

 

Getting something for nothing is a benefit

[Dennis Denuto]

38 minutes ago, Maroon Sailor said:

 

If you don't pay in means you'll get feck all.

 

Getting something for nothing is a benefit

You still get very nearly the full amount because of pension credits, so pay NI, don't Pay NI it is the same benefit.

[Maroon Sailor]

3 minutes ago, Dennis Denuto said:

You still get very nearly the full amount because of pension credits, so pay NI, don't Pay NI it is the same benefit.

 

Well exactly

[lost in space]

And here was me thinking this thread was about the election...........

[JackLadd]

Swinney would have to try and steal credit from HRH for the whisky tarriff. His hard of thinking base need another wee fake news election bone.

[Maroon Sailor]

10 minutes ago, lost in space said:

And here was me thinking this thread was about the election...........

 

Yeah, taxing working people to death is nothing to do with elections.

 

Who would vote for that?

[Dennis Denuto]

50 minutes ago, Maroon Sailor said:

 

Yeah, taxing working people to death is nothing to do with elections.

 

Who would vote for that?

Who is getting taxed to death??

[Maroon Sailor]

1 minute ago, Dennis Denuto said:

Who is getting taxed to death??

 

Working people

 

Can't you read?

[New Town Loafer]

Not a fan of Reform or Offord, but the anti-wealth mentality of modern Scots is an absolute affront to our history and our naturally entrepreneurial spirit. 
 

Yet another side effect of left-wing rot in this place. We have fallen so far. 

[Cade]

Those at the top refuse to pay

Those at the bottom cannot pay

Those in the middle pick up the tab

 

It's really rather simple.

[John Findlay]

31 minutes ago, Cade said:

Those at the top refuse to pay

Those at the bottom cannot pay

Those in the middle pick up the tab

 

It's really rather simple.

Who are all those at the top, who refuse to pay?

Do you have full details of their tax returns?

[Dennis Denuto]

1 hour ago, Maroon Sailor said:

 

Working people

 

Can't you read?

I can read, can you show me the data or even explain who exactly is dying because of the tax they are paying?

 

In Scotland 55% of working people pay less tax than if they lived in England or Wales. 

[Maroon Sailor]

10 minutes ago, Dennis Denuto said:

I can read, can you show me the data or even explain who exactly is dying because of the tax they are paying?

 

In Scotland 55% of working people pay less tax than if they lived in England or Wales. 

 

Yeah o.k 🤣

 

 

[Boab]

1 hour ago, New Town Loafer said:

Not a fan of Reform or Offord, but the anti-wealth mentality of modern Scots is an absolute affront to our history and our naturally entrepreneurial spirit. 
 

Yet another side effect of left-wing rot in this place. We have fallen so far. 

Anti-wealth ?

Who wants less money ? 🤷‍♂️

Vote Reform and I suppose we’d find out !

 

[rudi must stay]

I avoided the pompous chat with the political folks this year and did a postal vote. Who I voted for is private ofcourse

[New Town Loafer]

1 hour ago, Boab said:

Anti-wealth ?

Who wants less money ? 🤷‍♂️

Vote Reform and I suppose we’d find out !

 

I didn’t suggest anyone wanted ‘less money’. Everyone wants more money, but not everyone is willing to work for it.

[Boab]

1 hour ago, New Town Loafer said:

I didn’t suggest anyone wanted ‘less money’. Everyone wants more money, but not everyone is willing to work for it.

Unemployment rate in Scotland is at 3.7% so I’m not following the argument.

[John Findlay]

Will my life change much after Thursday?

Regardless of who wins the Scottish election, my wife won't change much, if at all.

I will still go to work, get paid every Four weeks, out my pay, pay income tax, national insurance, pension contribution, and medical insurance.

Rent, gas, electricity and council tax.

Food, then have some disposable income, which I can choose to spend whichever way I want.

So, nope not alot of change, if any for me.

[Maroon Sailor]

4 hours ago, John Findlay said:

Will my life change much after Thursday?

Regardless of who wins the Scottish election, my wife won't change much, if at all.

I will still go to work, get paid every Four weeks, out my pay, pay income tax, national insurance, pension contribution, and medical insurance.

Rent, gas, electricity and council tax.

Food, then have some disposable income, which I can choose to spend whichever way I want.

So, nope not alot of change, if any for me.

 

Don't declare what your disposable income is. They'll end up wanting a bigger slice of tax. How dare you have money left over to do what you want with it.

 

 

Edited May 3 by Maroon Sailor

[JackLadd]

Some rumours the Calders knife man attacker migrant and fake 23 year old who tried to murder three Scottish people (stabbed two) in March has been released on bail. If true it tells you all you need to know. 

[The Maroon Jacket]

Which party do you vote for that is going to be tough on crime, make the streets safe and put the police back on the beat?

Sick of chav Scotland and the Balaclava culture that the SNPeee have created 

[Maroon Sailor]

5 hours ago, JackLadd said:

Some rumours the Calders knife man attacker migrant and fake 23 year old who tried to murder three Scottish people (stabbed two) in March has been released on bail. If true it tells you all you need to know. 

 

He Mustafa good lawyer

[The Mazy Run]

6 hours ago, JackLadd said:

Some rumours the Calders knife man attacker migrant and fake 23 year old who tried to murder three Scottish people (stabbed two) in March has been released on bail. If true it tells you all you need to know. 

Cant see that being true , you would hope not. 

 

But if it was it might be down to the snp and their "sentencing young people" guidelines which is based on brains not being mature until the exact day they hit 25 years old when in the eyes of the law they become a proper grown up adult, and until that community led rehab is favoured. 

[Chairman of the Bored]

7 hours ago, JackLadd said:

Some rumours the Calders knife man attacker migrant and fake 23 year old who tried to murder three Scottish people (stabbed two) in March has been released on bail. If true it tells you all you need to know. 

Wonder how many candles were on his birthday cake?

[Gundermann]

Detailed breakdown on each constituency. SNP/ Greens on 70 but Reform in 2nd place. 

https://www.moreincommon.org.uk/latest-insights/more-in-common-final-holyrood-mrp/

[lost in space]

21 hours ago, Gundermann said:

Detailed breakdown on each constituency. SNP/ Greens on 70 but Reform in 2nd place. 

https://www.moreincommon.org.uk/latest-insights/more-in-common-final-holyrood-mrp/

BUT, BUT Reform cant be in second place - Swinney assured us that "Scotland is a welcoming country for migrants"................................ 

 

[Diadora Van Basten]

3 hours ago, lost in space said:

BUT, BUT Reform cant be in second place - Swinney assured us that "Scotland is a welcoming country for migrants"................................ 

 

Reform saying they are going to build detention centres in Greens constituencies. 

[Gundermann]

5 hours ago, lost in space said:

BUT, BUT Reform cant be in second place - Swinney assured us that "Scotland is a welcoming country for migrants"................................ 

 

 

So, the 16 - 20% that votes Reform is greater than those voting against?

 

You're either fighting a hangover or just trolling now.

[Gundermann]

1 hour ago, Diadora Van Basten said:

Reform saying they are going to build detention centres in Greens constituencies. 

 

Punishing the electorate for not voting for you is the sign of a healthy democracy...

 

Equally, I might be on board with this if Reform-voting areas also get denied free-access to NHS services from day one. Moreso, if all local 'fighting-age' men get sent to the Ukraine to assit Papa Putin. Just to be consistent likes.

Edited May 5 by Gundermann

[Boab]

6 minutes ago, Gundermann said:

 

Punishing the electorate for not voting for you is the sign of a healthy democracy...

 

Equally, I might be on board with this if Reform-voting areas also get denied free-access to NHS services from day one. Moreso, if all local 'fighting-age' men get sent to the Ukraine to assit Papa Putin. Just to be consistent likes.

Don’t think anyone wants to lower themselves to their bitter level.

All that ridiculous idea has done is show them up for the w*****s they are.

[Gundermann]

1 minute ago, Boab said:

Don’t think anyone wants to lower themselves to their bitter level.

All that ridiculous idea has done is show them up for the w*****s they are.

 

Reform has shed yet another candidate this week. Several in the campaign. The party/ private company is run like a dicatorship with no dissent allowed. Who knew?

[Diadora Van Basten]

1 minute ago, Gundermann said:

 

Reform has shed yet another candidate this week. Several in the campaign. The party/ private company is run like a dicatorship with no dissent allowed. Who knew?

Farage didn’t do Laura Kuensberg as he knew he would be asked about the krypto donation he received and it might damage his reputation in the eyes of the sheep who vote for him who believe he is a man of the people rather than controlled opposition. 

[lost in space]

1 hour ago, Gundermann said:

 

So, the 16 - 20% that votes Reform is greater than those voting against?

 

You're either fighting a hangover or just trolling now.

Of course the majority of Scots don't want Reform, thankfully.

It did annoy me (I amnt usually annoyed by politicians) when Swinney, with the smuggest look I have ever seen, came out with his ridiculous "welcoming nation" quote. It was a clear insult aimed at the rest of the UK (we are not racist, like them, type quote).

Reform are growing in Scotland though - and Swinneys STUPID quote did not help.

 

My hangover has gone. Thanks for caring 😄.

[Mister T]

On 04/05/2026 at 06:36, Maroon Sailor said:

 

He Mustafa good lawyer