Cameron the clueless

[Medwayseagull]

Issues a press briefing last night saying his speech will include a call for everyone to pay off their credit card debt - gets a backlash from people saying how the hell are we going to do that when tens of thousands are losing their jobs and suffering pay cuts - then decides to drop it from his speech. So much for being a conviction politician.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

I would like to pay more of my CC off but with trains allowed to increase their prices above the rate of inflation looks like it's going to the train companies instead. Sorry Mr Cameron.

 

[Beach Hut]

What difference would paying of credit cards actually make, is this based on the theory you would then spend a load again

 

[Simster]

How hard is it to think through any contentious ideas before going public with them?

Too hard for the Tories it would seem.

 

[Gwylan]

Not only was it a crass thing to say (coming from someone who's never had to worry about any money coming in) but it's economically foolish too. We need people spending to get the economy moving again - paying off debts is the last thing the economy needs right now.

 

[Gritt23]

I thought we needed to borrow and SPEND, which is why interest rates are so low to discourage savings.

 

[beorhthelm]

What difference would paying of credit cards actually make, is this based on the theory you would then spend a load again

one can only imagine. actually i think it might have been a purpose to compare household finances to national finances: you cant spend more until you're old debts are reduced or cleared. or maybe im giving too much credit to a slightly bizarre suggestion.

 

[Giraffe]

Actually it does have some reason behind it. Part of the problem in the economy at the moment is that banks are not lending sufficiently to business to enable growth. They are not doing this because they are desperately trying to get their houses in order and improve their balance sheets so they can themselves borrow more in future. Therefore if a large chunk of debt was paid back through credit cards then theoretically this would help. However it would be very daft to say this at the moment given so many people are struggling anyway with no hope of paying off credit card debt. That said a large proportion of them would be labour or libdem voters so maybe he didn't care?

 

[TotallyFreaked]

Think the Tories and "you don't know what your doing" spring to mind

 

[Albion Dan]

I would like to pay more of my CC off but with trains allowed to increase their prices above the rate of inflation looks like it's going to the train companies instead. Sorry Mr Cameron.

I think you will find the Tories have FORCED the train companies to put regulated prices up over inflation and are taking the additional money as an effective tax!

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Issues a press briefing last night saying his speech will include a call for everyone to pay off their credit card debt - gets a backlash from people saying how the hell are we going to do that when tens of thousands are losing their jobs and suffering pay cuts - then decides to drop it from his speech. So much for being a conviction politician.

I don't think he's dropped it, just changed the wording very slightly according to the BBC site.

 

[Pavilionaire]

You couldn't make this up.

After years of excessive borrowing and consequent economic disaster a Prime Minister finally suggests that we might think about paying some personal debt off and gets pilloried for it.

He's absolutely right. And the banks, all the more richer for receiving the repayments, might have more liquidity to then lend more to business which, in turn, helps growth.

 

[Durlston]

Paddy Power were offering odds on what things David Cameron will say in his speech. These were some of the memorable ones.

1/10 Libya, the riots in August.
1/6 High unemployment figures.
1/3 "We're all in this together".
Evs Ed Milliband's speech, Samantha Cameron.
16/1 Game on.
20/1 Aston Villa.

 

[Kumquat]

Actually it does have some reason behind it. Part of the problem in the economy at the moment is that banks are not lending sufficiently to business to enable growth. They are not doing this because they are desperately trying to get their houses in order and improve their balance sheets so they can themselves borrow more in future. Therefore if a large chunk of debt was paid back through credit cards then theoretically this would help. However it would be very daft to say this at the moment given so many people are struggling anyway with no hope of paying off credit card debt. That said a large proportion of them would be labour or libdem voters so maybe he didn't care?

Exactly. You can see why it makes sense but if he wan't loaded it wouldn't have crossed his mind to even think, let alone say this. One more reason why the last thing we need in charge of this country is a guy with no understanding of how people live. They have been trying to backtrack all day.

I've been lucky enough to be able to pay off almost all my debts over the last 5 years thanks to a decent job and they were substantial, and the advice to pay stuff off is prudent, but to be told to be prudent by a politician who not only does not understand what being in debt is but who also along with the Labour Government, the banks and every other free market wanker promoted loans in the nineties and 2000s is sickening. And he does it in that voice.

What a conference Dave, having to apologise to women for being a chauvinist pig and to backtrack on being patronising to the poor. Maybe he can do something about those scum companies masquerading as helping the poor with loans while charging them 3000% interest. The same places that have facilities for children to play while their single mother gets indebted up to the f***ing eyeballs. God he makes me angry.

 

[Meade's Ball]

I have about £360 of my graduate loan to pay back now. £80 a month for the last 10 years or so thanks to me liking the idea of borrowing 5 gees mostly with the thoughts of Glastonbury soon approaching and me needing cash for it. When i mentioned this to the bank manager at the time he grinned and said if i ever needed an extra £50 in my account *wink wink* at some time in a month to phone him. That was the good old days when banks were willing to directly fund your cocaine habit.

Anyway, Cameron has to today give some f***ing hope to the nation. He won't give any to me as i think he's a ****, but those who've been on the receiving end of the repetitive news of being in crisis and that the world is about to end unless we stop giving to charities and making children cleverer for free need some news of possibility.

I might watch it. I have the build-up on now, but i might swear more than a doctor would recommend my flu to be healed by.

 

[Albion Dan]

And a big special thankyou for allowing companies to now fire people up to 2 years into a job without any justification whatsoever. Thats really going to help people feel more secure isnt? What a scum party the Tories really are.

 

[BLOCK F]

Blimey,some people 'fly off the handle' so very easily...................He is only suggesting everyone tries and gets their own 'houses in order' so to speak!
In future,all those who have been used to easy credit and spend,spend spend are going to have to get used to living within their means.No bad thing.
I do have sympathy for those who have to use credit cards as a necessity,but an awful lot of bods have gorged themselves on credit buying things that they don't really need,maxed out the credit card and wonder why they are in the shit!

 

[BLOCK F]

And a big special thankyou for allowing companies to now fire people up to 2 years into a job without any justification whatsoever. Thats really going to help people feel more secure isnt? What a scum party the Tories really are.

Oh dear!Think about it Dan!

 

[Simster]

I completely agree with this bit:

I do have sympathy for those who have to use credit cards as a necessity,but an awful lot of bods have gorged themselves on credit buying things that they don't really need,maxed out the credit card and wonder why they are in the shit!

And I completely agree with this bit too:

He is only suggesting everyone tries and gets their own 'houses in order' so to speak!

That is indeed all he is doing. As opposed to coming up with a PLAN to sort the economy out.

 

[Biscuit]

I pay £200 a month on travel to work and back and this is going up, again. It has already gone up twice. It's getting to a point where I can't afford to live in Central London (thanks for the social cleansing Mr C) and I can't afford to live on the outskirts and commute in.

I work as a freelancer and work is very feast and famine. Not everyone who uses a train earns 35k plus and there are many, many people who earn even less than me - they can't afford to keep paying it. Eventually they'll just stay at home and who can blame them? The price rises of the rail disgust me. I can't help but think had the Tories not sold off the family silver under Thatcher my electricity bill wouldn't have jumped from £44pm to £66pm to £84pm and I'd be able to afford to get the train to work.