Budget 2015

[Thunder Bolt]

You cannot simply take a 5 year period of Labour rule to '79, without having recourse to Ted Heath's own government prior to that. You couldn't argue the the state of the country inherited in '79 was any worse than that left in '74.

I most certainly can argue that the state of the country was far worse than in 74. Denis Healey was the worst Chancellor I've know in my 66 years of life. The economy was in such a state, he was bringing out a new budget every three months to try and bring it under control, and failing miserably.
In 74 the miners rejected a 13% pay offer from Edward Heath, so he called an election. Inflation was already rising, which the Labour government didn't cause, but chose to borrow from the IMF to control it.
Who could forget the Winter of Discontent?

 

[Bozza]

You'd have thought they wouldn't have needed the Libs last time given the nonsense they took over!

Given what a terrible job the Tories, in the main, have done over the last 5 years, you'd have thought Labour would be home and dry already, right?

(And, as I've said before, I don't vote Tory - I just despise some of the intellectual snobbery from some of those on the left sneering at those on the right)

 

[somerset]

Oh Gideon, sir, thank you so much for sharing some of the crumbs from your table with us poor peasants. I will save the penny you have cut from the price of my weekly pint until I have enough to buy a new cap that I can doff when you are driven by in your chauffeured limousine, and of course, if I ever have anything left from my zero hours contract on the minimum wage I will put it into one of your wonderful new flexible ISAs.

Stop bleating, perhaps you shouldn't have fooked around at school, and instead got yourself an education and a career......it is a choice we all have.........if you are on minimum wage, you probably didn't make the right choice.

 

[somerset]

Given what a terrible job the Tories, in the main, have done over the last 5 years, you'd have thought Labour would be home and dry already, right?

(And, as I've said before, I don't vote Tory - I just despise some of the intellectual snobbery from some of those on the left sneering at those on the right)

A-fookin-men to that

 

[Bold Seagull]

Given what a terrible job the Tories, in the main, have done over the last 5 years, you'd have thought Labour would be home and dry already, right?

(And, as I've said before, I don't vote Tory - I just despise some of the intellectual snobbery from some of those on the left sneering at those on the right)

No not at all. In fact neither party shines in any particular way - hence the comment to Mr Giraffe.

In fact the electorate seemed to realise the financial collapse wasn't all Labour's fault in 2010, hence no landslide for the Tories, and similarly now recognise the country is stable, the economy is seemingly doing well even if it all seems a little unfair. So again, we head to an election with the left leaning right, and the right leaning left, and it is all going to be very close.

I'm not sure where my vote will go this time. Heart or head? Pragmatism or idealism? There seems to be sneering from both sides though? Or is Giraffe just having a laugh?

 

[Bozza]

No not at all. In fact neither party shines in any particular way - hence the comment to Mr Giraffe.

In fact the electorate seemed to realise the financial collapse wasn't all Labour's fault in 2010, hence no landslide for the Tories, and similarly now recognise the country is stable, the economy is seemingly doing well even if it all seems a little unfair. So again, we head to an election with the left leaning right, and the right leaning left, and it is all going to be very close.

I'm not sure where my vote will go this time. Heart or head? Pragmatism or idealism? There seems to be sneering from both sides though? Or is Giraffe just having a laugh?

I wasn't talking about you, although I can see how it could be taken as such. There are many on here, on both sides, who have a complete blind-spot when it comes to their opposites and can seemingly never acknowledge positives achieved by their political opponents. It's playground stuff.

 

[Bold Seagull]

I wasn't talking about you, although I can see how it could be taken as such. There are many on here, on both sides, who have a complete blind-spot when it comes to their opposites and can seemingly never acknowledge positives achieved by their political opponents. It's playground stuff.

Thankfully I didn't think you meant me, although knowing my professional background you'll know I'm either a totalitarian fascist or Marxist socialist - there is no middle ground!

 

[Kevlar]

Labour fiscal management...

"I'm afraid there is no more money"

Appalling, both by letting happen and by writing the note

governments spend money into existence by keyboard taps at the central bank
as long as they maintain monetary sovereignty (unlike in the eurozone)
they can no more run out of money than u can run out any other unit of measurement.

 

[Kevlar]

whilst I support the notion of government spending to support first time buyers
via favourable saving schemes unless the fundamental problem of rent and
house price inflation is addressed there may be a lot of unused first time buyers' ISA's
The thing about inflation is it reveals conflict.
Conflict for resources via conflict for money tokens.
we cannot benefit tenants and would be first time buyers without disadvantaging
landlords and property speculators.
the powers the government have to support one section over another is
to tax spend and regulate.
in the housing market it is difficult to tax without the costs being passed on
but targeted taxes at unused land and occupied property would help.
I would target spending at building sufficient dedicated student accommodation
for all to relief pressure on other housing
but regulation would be key for me
rent controls
nominal fee license required to rent any property
limit the amount of licenses
eg no license for ex council property.
If we wish to favour owner occupation as a society
we need strong governance.
Otherwise owner occupancy we dwindle to pre ww2 levels

 

[Kevlar]

sorry for typos
I favour more tax on unused land and UNoccupied property to encourage its use

 

[Westdene Seagull]

nominal fee license required to rent any property
limit the amount of licenses

Licences don't work ( you only need to see how easy it is to circumvent B&H's licence rules ) and by limiting the number of licences you would limit supply thus pushing up rents.

 

[wellquickwoody]

Anyone who watched today and understood will realise what a total trouncing the election should be.

The Tories have rescued this country once again from the nonsense of a labour rule. They should win with a landslide if all the voters use their brain.

Unfortunately that won't happen though. We have to factor in students, perennial benefit claimants, greens and socialists, none of whom understand that you have to spend within your means. Although I still think the Tories will win the most parliamentary seats.

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

the steward contracts issued by the Albion are zero hour ones !

I wonder how many people will be protesting at the Amex to have this slavery put to a stop?

Seriously though, zero hour contracts work well for many many people. They become a problem in areas of low income/high unemployment where the employers hold all of the cards (As SOG mentioned above). But the concept isn't wrong IMO. Just the application in certain areas.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Unfortunately that won't happen though. We have to factor in students, perennial benefit claimants, greens and socialists, none of whom understand that you have to spend within your means. Although I still think the Tories will win the most parliamentary seats.

Don't forget the hedge fund managers, bankers, trust fund managers, currency speculators, stock brokers... all of whom understand you have to spend within your means!

 

[LamieRobertson]

More than will vote for the Bullingdon bullies

Lol...less chance of getting into power imho ..i've never known u to be so serious.

 

[glasfryn]

yep
everything really is on the up
including foodbanks

 

[Titanic]

It is more like a million contracts, around 3%. Vince Cable has already proposed rule changes for these contracts, so certainly not just a 'red ed' agenda item. Suits the employment figures not to dwell on it right now though leading up to an election I guess, but then that would be a Devious Dave agenda?

But there are two sets of figures from the ONS , the latest widely banded about 697k which represents 2.3% of the workforce and the one which rarely gets mentioned from August 2014 when during the summer 1.8M workers were on zero hours contracts.

It deserves full attention as it is being exploited and affects the least well off.

Sorry mate, your talking absolute b*llocks, I work in local authority, many of the workers collecting your refuse and sweeping streets throughout Sussex are agency employees, on minimum wage with zero hours contracts. They turn up for work each morning around sic o clock not knowing if they are working that day or not, often getting only one or two days employment a week.

Many of these guys have family commitments and live in poverty.

Zero hours contracts are an abomination, credit the Labor parties pledge to abolish them.

...Oh, here's a bit of info for everyone, the steward contracts issued by the Albion are zero hour ones !

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23573442

"Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), based on a survey of workers, found 583,000 people were on zero-hours contracts. That represents about 2% of the UK workforce." (April 2014)

 

[Bold Seagull]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23573442

"Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), based on a survey of workers, found 583,000 people were on zero-hours contracts. That represents about 2% of the UK workforce." (April 2014)

I knew you wouldn't be able to accept what so many people were telling you! Didn't even read your own article fully...

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23573442

"Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), based on a survey of workers, found 583,000 people were on zero-hours contracts. That represents about 2% of the UK workforce." (April 2014)

Thanks for finding these figures. It's utterly shocking that in 2015 the UK has over half a million workers tied into these bonded slavery deals.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I wonder how many people will be protesting at the Amex to have this slavery put to a stop?

Seriously though, zero hour contracts work well for many many people. They become a problem in areas of low income/high unemployment where the employers hold all of the cards (As SOG mentioned above). But the concept isn't wrong IMO. Just the application in certain areas.

What do you mean by them working well for some people? Who? Corporations who can exploit the work force? I really don't buy the idea they work well for employees. I'm sure they'd rather have the guarantee of work.

The Albion know how many games they have as a minimum each season so fix the minimum hours in the contract.