Wow. Brilliant insight. Thank you for sharing your experiences. It's interesting that the increment system didn't work in your favour. It was the opposite for me. I worked up the increments from £14k to £18k in a college, for example (biggest rise I'd ever had!). I left in 2011, so didn't spot a public pay freeze at that time, but I got a rise in 2010 at the university, so that's odd.

It's shocking that you started on £25k and left on £25k 10 years later!

I was always put on the bottom on the scale - to my annoyance at the time - but worked my way up to the top, which I suppose gave me something to aim for.

It does look like your take home pay didn't go far. I guess take home excludes travel costs, otherwise you were over-taxed or something. I was overtaxed when I wasn't even earning enough to pay tax... but that's another story.

Restoring 60% band would definitely have my approval, and closing loopholes etc. Nuclear deterrent is a big topic - wouldn't want to be left vulnerable like Ukraine. But yes, I can see there are many areas we could look at for saving costs.

Oh I know! Throw backs to the British Empire get on my nerves too. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. You have really interesting insights to share.