A ‘poll tax’ to pay for all our futures

Boris Johnson has been warned that increasing National Insurance to fund social care will be like a ‘new poll tax’. (Metro, Tue). Reading the responses to the proposed NI contributions, I’m seeing the same old tired arguments that the government should somehow magically find the money. However, the necessary funding goes beyond collaring a couple of welfare dodgers.

How to fund the NHS in order to support our ageing population is an issue that should have been addressed ten or 20 years ago by Labour or the Conservatives. But that it’s even being addressed now is truly a surprise, given it’s status as an automatic vote loser.

However, we’ve had endless coverage about the disastrous consequences of the NI tax hike and virtually nothing about finding a solution. Maybe this is a good time to start.

Richard Palmer, Bath

This issue is totally bizarre. Of course tax needs to be increased to pay the huge debt for keeping the economy more or less alive during the pandemic.

It wasn’t chancellor Rishi Sunak’s (right) personal money that was used to pay furlough for millions of people. It was our money – or our debt – and this has to be paid back.

Pensioners have been paying taxes and NI their whole lives. It doesn’t make sense to make them sacrifice their well-earned retirement funds to pay for themselves. They’ve already paid for themselves!

And younger people should give a thought to the fact that in the not too distant future, they will be able to benefit from the next generation paying tax to benefit them in their retirement years. That’s how it works.

Andrea, London

Pensions are the biggest expense and the government is right to suspend the pensions triple lock but it needs to go further. The state pension should be paid only to those who don’t have a private pension over a certain amount.

In the short term, if people over 65 are still working, why shouldn’t they continue to contribute? But the elderly vote, so Boris won’t risk upsetting them.

Aidan, Dartford

What 66-year-old gets £50,000 a year? I’m 65, worked for 50 years, paid my NI contributions and am told l’m getting a £9,300 pension.

A 29-year-old, for example, getting £29,500 a year can’t afford to pay £200 extra tax? Shame on them.

They don’t leave school until they are 19 and have not paid meaningfully into anything. It’s about time they were taught the value of money instead of waiting for mum and dad’s money.