Over 20 million working people will be better off next year after Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government delivered the biggest ever increase in the income tax personal allowance in the Budget.
The massive £3.5bn tax cut for working people delivers:
The biggest ever single uplift in the tax threshold
A personal allowance of £9,205 in April 2013
21 million working people getting an extra £220 tax cut
Brings the total tax cut for basic rate tax payers to £550
Brings the total number of people lifted out of tax to 2 million.
Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg used his speech to the Party's Spring conference in NewcastleGateshead to call for the forthcoming budget to be a "budget for fairness" and pledged that it would help working familes.
The Deputy Prime Minister pledged that by 2015 Britain would have seen an end to control orders, the first gay marriages and the first elections to the House of Lords.
Fairer taxes, promoting green jobs, protecting your civil liberties - these are just some of the achievements of the Liberal Democrats in government.
We're building a freer, greener and more liberal country - and stopping some of the worst excesses of the Conservatives. Find out more in this infographic.
Felicity Hannah Yahoo! Finance's money-saving columnist published Can you survive on the minimum wage? In December, I recently read the article and found some interesting facts which I think I'll be thinking about when I'm looking at cutting my budgets.
Felicity Hannah says "If you're working a 35-hour week on the new minimum wage, you'll earn just over £11,000 a year - or £212 a week" however what she does not mention is that £212.80 will be the Gross Wage, £14 of which will be paid as Tax and the National Insurance Contributions on that salary would be £9 therefore the Take-home pay would only be £190. If someone on the Minimum Wage had to repay a Student Loan they wont be contributing to that at this stage as they were under the threshold however they could have a Pension to contribute to.
Last month I sent the letter below to my local MP.
Dear Shabana Mahmood MP,
The recent EU Summit was a shock as much as it was a blow. The Prime Minister's decision to veto a Treaty to reform the Eurozone came as a surprise and its consequences were felt at home as well as across the EU. The effects of the Prime Minister's decision have indeed been negative both for the EU as a whole and UK's position within it.
http://www.bahiyyah-abayas.co.uk/ is the new name for all your Islamic clothing and more. Our stylish designs include Abayas and Jilbabs for ladies along with Jubbas for children and men. We also stock a wide range of Broaches, Pins, Rings and much more. Please visit our website regularly as our range is always being updated with new styles and ranges of Islamic clothing and other items.
The Big Brum Cook Book features a range of inspired menus from many of the city's hottest culinary talents.
Birmingham boasts some of the UK's most passionate chefs this book creates a lasting legacy of their work and contribution to the city's culinary scene.
Within the pages of this book, 29 of the city's finest restaurants reveal their signature dishes designed to tempt the taste buds. From spicy curry dishes to seafood specialties and mouth watering desserts, there is something to suit every taste and inspire the chef within. The Big Brum Cook Book costs £10
Back in September I made a submission to the Joint Committee of the Draft House of Lords Reform Bill using the form on Unlock Democracy's website. I have copied my submission below.
A smaller chamber of 300 members would be great to start with but it would be good if the size of the reformed second chamber was limited to half size of the House of Commons so any future reduction in the size of the House of Commons would lead to a reduction in the size of the reformed second chamber.
In his keynote speech to the Liberal Democrat Conference, Party Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has outlined his goals for the Government and the country over the coming years. He reiterated his commitment to liberal values on the environment and human rights and his determination to ensure a fair chance for every child, saying "every child can do good things, great things, if only we give them the opportunities they deserve."
I am writing to ask that you support the campaign to scrap the Strasbourg sessions of the European Parliament.
Thankfully the number of wasteful trips to Strasbourg have been cut from next year by merging two sessions into one week, now politicians in all countries need to back the 'One Seat Campaign' to ensure this circus, farce and shambles ends all together.
I hope that you will work with other politicians to put pressure on the French government to stop resisting moves to hold all the Parliament's sittings in Brussels. Due to the foolish, irresponsible and juvenile resistance of the French government a huge second Parliamentary complex has been built which does no favours to the EU reputation as a bureaucratic gravy train.
