There is no reasoning with hard core Socialists as long as they would be at the top of the food chain they really don't care about anyone else - this stuff about elderly, government employees, benefits is a smokescreen for avarice towards those that have worked really hard to make something of their life.

What lessons have they learned - their arrogance hasn't gone away and how they defend themselves from criticism - in that they have learnt nothing

As someone in the higher rate tax band & someone who has worked really hard since they left school at 15, over 40 years ago, currently successfully managing a £500m capital build programme, I am qualified to comment. The trouble with fascist, Daily Mail readers like yourself, is that you are only comfortable with stereotypes.

And you want to make sure that people at the bottom stay at the bottom just so you can enjoy the money you earn. Just remember its highly unlikely you got to where you are without standing on the back of some of the people you want to keep at the bottom. If there is no money for education due to people not paying their share then its tantamount to pulling up the drawbridge to the castle once you are safe inside.

And to second that - I grew up on a council estate in the Thatcher years, and going to uni wasn't even a consideration; I've worked since I left school and I now earn many times the national average, employ over 2000 people, and am in receipt of dividends from a company I part own.

So with another lefty stereotype busted - I say again - I am quite happy to pay more tax to support society as a whole, and strongly believe that it's time the inequality created and perpetuated by the right wing establishment was deconstructed in favour of collectivism, and actually giving a $h1t about everyone in society. Idealist? I'll take that.

ATEOTD I don't see Labour winning the election. However if they give the Tories a bloody nose and make them sit up and think about what they are doing rather than railroading through any policies they want, then to me, that is a small victory considering where Labour where at the beginning of the year.

I'm talking specifically about how they prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies.

TBH a lot of people moaning about paying tax on here just come over as selfish.

TBH people moaning about tax saying higher earners should pay more just come over as lazy.

We only benefit if the tax collected is not wasted - efficient use of tax revenues is a good thing a glut of bloated public services is not.

What happened in the NHS when Labour increased funding through NI increases - staff got substantial pay increases and drug companies saw an opportunity to increase prices - that is what will happen again if Corbyn has his way.

And would they still think higher earners paying more tax was so great if they were higher earners themselves? I'm sure some will lie and say they'd still be happy with it. Just jealously with most that they don't have as much money as others.

Not at all - I came from a back to back house in Listerhills in Bradford so I have no objection to anyone working hard and enjoying the fruit of their labour - is it unreasonable that someone sacrifices early in their career, works hard/smart and gets outputs in line with their inputs?

It is also very likely that a number of people have benefited from working in teams I have managed and businesses that I have run.

This government is spending huge sums of money on education 86bn an increase of 1bn on the previous year. It has been pointed out that attainment appears to increasing - which seems to indicate it is about better practises rather than throwing money willy nilly?

Again this is my issue - just throwing money at a problem - Corbyn/Labour mantra isn't a long term strategy. Where is the manifesto is their anything about driving efficiences improving procesess etc? Then they would bite the hand that feeds the unions!!

Why? There is many a hard working poor person and many an idle rich person. Equating the 2 is more striver vs skiver nonsense

Why don't the government just decide how much we all need and let us have some pocket money - that is what you are driving towards IMO

Well, that is the main difference between the Tories and most of the other parties.

The default position of THe Conservatives is to allow people to keep all that they earn, without any regard for those that are unfortunate enough not to be in a position to do so.

Of course there are people who abuse the system, just as there are at the top of the pile wh abuse the system (some of whom defraud HMRC out of huge amounts.

Having moved away from trusting a doctors word that someone is unable to work, we now have another hoop for benefit claimants to jump through, just to prove that they are unfit for work.

Is the "fit for work assessment" really necessary ?