General Chat

Brown 'plans £150 winter give-away'
Last Updated: Sunday, 10 August 2008, 13:20 GMT- Search: Gordon Brown

Measure is being mooted as part of an autumn fightback by the PMMillions of families could be in line for a windfall of about £150 this winter as Gordon Brown seeks to reinvigorate his troubled premiership, it emerged.
Ministers are understood to be considering the one-off payment to all households in receipt of child benefit as part of a major economic package planned for the autumn.
The move, which officials stressed had not yet been given final approval, would help more than seven million families hit by soaring fuel bills.
It is one of a series of measures being mooted as part of an autumn fightback by the Prime Minister.


Another is a temporary suspension of stamp duty, designed to give the declining housing market a boost.
The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR) indicated that further help with fuel bills was being considered, but insisted no decisions had been taken.
The fuel payment plan - as reported - would go to everybody with children, rather than being targeted at the neediest, signalling Mr Brown's desire to appeal to Middle England.
It was apparently overheard by a commuter travelling in the same train carriage as a top Whitehall mandarin last month. Sir Brian Bender, permanent secretary at DBERR, was said to have discussed the plans in front of fellow passengers on a GNER train between Leeds and London.
It follows the £120 tax cut awarded to 22 million people earlier this year as the credit crunch took hold. That was announced in response to the 10p tax row, which seriously damaged Labour's standing.
But the £2.7 billion U-turn benefited all basic rate taxpayers, rather than just the four million affected by the abolition of the 10p band.

How many more ideas to try and bribe us?

This obviously leaves the elderly, disabled and those in most poverty without children disadvantaged.

I'll be winging an email to my MP.

Sue x

What about something for the elderly, disabled, poor and those of us who graft 60 hours a week to help fill the Governments coffers without sod all in return...Jeez I cant even get a NHS dentist

what about those who have kids who really dont need it ....

True Kemp...I remember when Child Benefit was introduced Buckingham Palace confirming Queen claiming for little Edward! (and my brother £85,000 a year salary plus bonus and he gets it and whinges he deserves it)

I really despair and if it is 'buying votes' which it looks like I am also appalled at the tactics.

Sue x

Colin.....
Do you really remember Child benefit being introduced?
I thought you were younger than me...I thought it was out before we were born...
anybody know what year it was???
cmd x

I very much doubt it will come in but I'm one of the category that qualifies and DEFINATELY needs all the help I can get.... so I won't be moaning if it does come to pass ..........selfish?.........You bet I am lol !!! xx

**Mind you if it is a bribe it won't work for me........I've never voted Labour and I doubt I ever will lol xx

Colin must be old, family allowance started in 1945 & was only paid for the second & subsequent children

CMD I remember the Queen being in the newspaper in the 1960's and my mum having a right moan because she was raising a family in a back to back with no hot running water and a bathroom well that was for posh folk

early sixties maybe?

*smacks Muffy*...lol

What about us old crocks?

We are going to move in you with for the winter...be warned :-))

I am obviously wrong but wonder why Mum only got child benefit for me born 1961 and not for my brothers who are older than me

Thanks Claire...
he must have his 'dolly -head' on the little tinker....

COLIN......you big nit!! you said the other day you are only 47.....
titter titter.......
cmd x

*winks* at Sue.

You can come and warm yourself here by the fire flower lol. xx

Muffy

lol but what is OH gonna do?

Sue x

We'll wave out the window to him and lend him a few blankets pmsl ......

Nah only kidding.......... You can both come lol xx

He will be relieved, he can child mind whilst we get on with our thing ;-)

xx

CMD...parden...Big nit?? 1961 and 47 = 2008 in my book