Derek Greabe

@mark_the_god @jph1962 @redrumlisa @lugaricano @mattyglesias The USS is a private pension scheme and is in surplus, hence it recently reduced employer and employee contributions. You would have the government close that?

@DerekGreabe @jph1962 @redrumlisa @lugaricano @mattyglesias Because like the private companies before us, we can no longer afford them

The UK triple lock is the singlest stupidest policy in the entire Western world, and the most damaging to the future of a country. Of course, it is also untouchable and almost undiscussed in the UK press. @mattyglesias does a big favour to the UK public here.

@GaynorHaliday @redrumlisa @lugaricano @mattyglesias You need 35 qualifying years to get the full state pension. You could qualify by being disabled and unable to work for 35 years. Or a carer, or in receipt of child benefit. Don't take my word for it. Check!

@GaynorHaliday @redrumlisa @lugaricano @mattyglesias You are not paying in to anything. You are qualifying to receive a state benefit by paying NI contributions. The same as for job seekers allowance.

@joeyredeye @redrumlisa @lugaricano @mattyglesias No, you can pay contributions to cover years in the last six when you did not qualify. You can't top it up above the maximum.

@DerekGreabe @redrumlisa @lugaricano @mattyglesias Quite the opposite sir. People do pay into it. You can top up your contributions (ie 'pay in') if you feel the need and can afford it.

@redrumlisa @lugaricano @mattyglesias It's a contributory benefit. You could be unemployed for 35 years and still get it. It isn't a pot that is invested. You qualify each year for it by working or being exempt. When you are asked if you want to make up extra years you pay a tiny amount. You aren't buying a pension.

@redrumlisa @lugaricano @mattyglesias You didn't 'pay into' it. It is a benefit. Triple lock was a good way of raising pensioner income over time but makes no sense as an ad infinitum policy.

@fergustp @jph1962 @redrumlisa @lugaricano @mattyglesias USS is a private pension scheme. Why is it 'too generous'?

@jph1962 @redrumlisa @lugaricano @mattyglesias It’s average salary now for most but still massively too generous

@mark_the_god @jph1962 @redrumlisa @lugaricano @mattyglesias Why?

@jph1962 @redrumlisa @lugaricano @mattyglesias It would be one of my first acts as Chancellor Freeze existing schemes and put in new defined contribution schemes Exactly what happened in the private sector

@yimbyalliance What counts as walking distance?

NEW: Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has just announced the BIGGEST EVER reforms to national policy to deliver more homes! Here are the five biggest: 🧵

@DrWhoBritish @rcolvile Resigned, didn't he?

This is utterly extraordinary. Even more than the Budget statement itself leaking. Can’t remember anything like it.

@Citymapper I was at T5 Heathrow earlier, going to Woodford. Next Liz Shenfield train was not for 60mins yet no route suggested taking first Heathrow express to T2 and picking up Liz Abbey Wood train, which is hugely quicker. Any clue why? CM doesn't recognise the T5 T2 route.

@Loundshay @GoodwinMJ Economically illiteracy. Simple.

@GoodwinMJ It's quite simple really. If you stick a load on your credit card and the minimum payment becomes enormous you need to earn more.

Insane. Since April alone, the UK has “spent” £50 BILLION just servicing the country’s credit card, just paying off the interest. Not on the NHS, not on schools, not on defence, not on police, just debt interest!

@MattGubba @thisgirlisonf12 The point of it is to stop incentivising business from stopping expanding as they bump up against the 80k threshold. 00s of small businesses don't grow for this reason. Setting the thrhold low removes that.

@thisgirlisonf12 Yes, £37k full-time, £31k across all workers. They want to put as many barriers in place as possible to stop people reacing beyond average income.

A £30K VAT THRESHOLD IS LIKELY ON THE WAY This number is NOT random... The average UK income is circa £31k UK Labour does not want your business to progress beyond that point Do you get it yet?

@marksandspencer the drink fridges in the Wanstead branch are invariably warm. What is going on?

@SimonMagus @SlipdeGarcon Paying for our own care if we can? We do already to a large extent and it is not fair. You need to socialise the risk of dementia and chronic illness, not leave it to a lottery.

@SlipdeGarcon I have a list. 1. Triple lock 2. Public sector pensions 3. *Disability* benefits 4. Reforming SEND support 5. Paying for our own care where we can 6. Public transport subsidy (starting with free buses for my generation)

Anyone who thinks there is any solution to Britain's fiscal problems that doesn't involve spending cuts, big spending cuts, probably can't count. And let's remember a central truth, you can't tax your way to prosperity.

@Trader_sarcasm @robprogressive Replace stamp duty, is the idea. Makes it easier to move whether for work or downsizing.

IF this is true, a huge amount of elderly who live in the south and rely on state pensions are going to lose their homes. It’s just an affordable tax for many who have worked hard all their life to own their home but are cash poor. Deferring payment until after death is not an argument here, it’s just plain wrong.

Labour want to TAX you every single year just for owning your home If your home is worth more than £500,000, Labour want you to pay 0.54% EVERY year. Here’s what that looks like: ↳ £550,000 = £2,970 a year ↳ £600,000 = £3,240 a year ↳ £700,000 = £3,780 a year ↳ £800,000 = £4,320 a year ↳ £1,000,000 = £5,400 a year Just for OWNING your home You’ve already paid stamp duty, income tax, council tax… now forced to pay this new property tax This is a SCAM by the government

@robprogressive It's just the same as in the USA and many other countries. It's also a tax that almost every economist favours as efficient. Economists favour property taxes because they are stable, hard to avoid, encourage productive use of the property and fund local services.

@theseoblogger @TrisOsborneMP @sebastiansalek What are they?

The long view on crime in a London shows a steep decline over last 45 years. As @sebastiansalek highlighted today the high visibility of snatch theft and shoplifting has created a disconnect between a perception of reality and reality. Need to do more on these crime types.

@theseoblogger @TrisOsborneMP @sebastiansalek Yes, to an interviewer.