Once again, Nigel is a pro surrounded by nasty idiots. The question of why Nigel is surrounded by nasty idiots is left as an exercise for the reader.
His comments could have been worded better, but they're absolutely spot on. This country is being brought to a halt by single issues not being addressed and weighed in the balance with other issues, but being given overriding importance and addressed with knee jerk legislation with legal teeth, piling another straw on the camel's back. Example: Covid, when the whole country went into the service of people not dying of covid. See also bat tunnels. See also equality legislation that means administrators must be paid the same as binmen. To be convulsed by knee jerk reactions to single issues is no way to run a country - it runs the country into the ground, and long term will cause more misery and suffering than it avoids.
"Many, many more people die on the roads driving cars, but we're not making cars illegal, so why are we stopping houses being built?" is a completely idiotic comment only makeable by someone who has practically no understanding of social issues.
It's reminiscent of Prince Philip saying after the Dunblane massacre words to the effect of "You wanna ban handguns, then why don't you ban cricket bats". Absolutely beneath contempt. Not "spot on" at all, or a question of suboptimal word choice. Everybody knows resources are limited. The country is not being brought to a halt by lack of recognition of that fact.
It's your knee that's jerking here. Next you'll be blaming trendy vicars or social workers.
This kind of thing makes me think there may be sense in laying Reform at their current price. They may find that the pond of Stupid Sociopathic Knuckledragger in which they fish isn't as deep as they believe.
I don’t know why you need to be so unpleasant. He’s not making an unreasonable point.
we take measures to minimise the amount of people who die on the roads. Airbags, crash protection, design of the BIW. We accept some risk and do not go too the nth degree.
The argument is on housebuilding we have gone too far. That’s worthy of debate as it may be choking off supply.
As an illustration of the idiocy of my Lib Dem party’s populist announcement today, current unleaded prices here are just over 150p per litre, while in France they are hitting 200p (230c). We have it relatively easy here already.
And I’ve got to drive 600km through France this weekend… wish I’d opted for a full EV rather than my thirsty PHEV.
Afternoon all. This weeks Find Out Now has Reform back up a little like MiC
Ref 26 (+2) Green 20 (=) Con 18 (=) Lab 15 (-1) LD 10 (-2) SNP 3 (=) Others 7 (=)
1-2 April, changes from 26-27 March
LibDems down again.
Stand in the middle of the road long enough, you get run over. The LD strategy of keeping their head down and trying to retain its existing coalition is not facially wrong, but the charismatic outliers like Farage and Polanski are eating their lunch.
Plus, taking about lunches: Lab at 15??? We live in strange time.
Just discovered, as I put liberon mahogany black bison wax on my William IV writing table, that Chopin wrote the 2nd movement of his first piano concerto when he was NINETEEN
Biggest shock to mortgage market since Truss mini-budget
The Iran war has triggered the sharpest shock to the UK mortgage market since the 2022 mini-budget delivered by Liz Truss, analysis by Moneyfacts has revealed.
Mortgage rates have soared in recent weeks, with the average two-year fixed deal jumping 100 basis points (bps) from 4.84% to 5.84% in March.
Typical five-year fixes have jumped from 4.96% to 5.75%.
Rates have not risen this sharply since autumn 2022.
Yes, full blown ongoing regional war in the Middle East with global energy and food supplies under mortal threat has hit the gilts market about half as much as Liz Truss's minibudget.
If Iran had hit whilst she was PM....
She would have thrown us in at the deep end too. Not sure the QE2 had any planes on then, but we could have risked losing both QE2's...and had interest rates double.
I'm with Eabhal on this. Universal subsidy is nuts. Targeted support, uncoupled from fuel/energy consumption, maybe (everything will be getting more expensive and will hit poorer households hardest anyway).
Otherwise we just hide what should be another clear signal to those who can afford them that there are benefits to EVs over ICEVs.
ETA: I've defined myself as a liberal for a long time and I feel further and further away from the lib Dems - it used to be I'd lend my vote to other parties, now my vote is looking for a home
I’m also with Eabhal on this.
I cannot see why everyone should get a bail out simply because shit happens.
It's worse than that, it's tantamount to burning money.
Prices are high because supply is constrained. If you cut the tax you will increase demand. With no more supply then prices will simply increase.
Now the new equilibrium will be at a slightly lower price, because the higher demand will have increased prices in other countries, and decreased demand there, but it's really the most wasteful intervention I can think of.
I agree. We need to be looking at some demand destruction rather than simply pushing prices higher.
Of course, the Lib Dem’s want to cut fuel duty and subsidise.
I’d also keep the fuel duty increase later in the year.
The Lib Dems are getting close to losing me over this. Very disappointing.
I'm off to deliver some leaflets shortly. I hope I don't end up chatting with anyone and having to defend this crap. It is incredibly demotivating.
Sorry, but I think it's bordering on delusional to imagine this would be a problem!!! Firstly, you rarely meet or talk to anyone while delivering leaflets. Secondly, I suspect most of the public will think a cut in fuel duty is a good idea. Thirdly, in the unlikely event that you do talk to someone and they think it's a bad policy, they're not going to think it's such a bad policy that they're going to have a go at you about it.
Ah, fair enough. I'm back again now, and no, I didn't speak to anyone. It's not unknown though - occasionally I do meet people outside their house and get chatting. I was feeling a bit pissed off with the policy and didn't much fancy the idea of having to enthuse about something that I don't actually approve of. I guess that's why I've always resisted attempts to persuade me to become anything more than a paper candidate (my efforts are to help actual* candidates).
At least its a sunny afternoon, and there are worse ways to spend it than wandering around the leafy suburbs of Brum.
As an illustration of the idiocy of my Lib Dem party’s populist announcement today, current unleaded prices here are just over 150p per litre, while in France they are hitting 200p (230c). We have it relatively easy here already.
And I’ve got to drive 600km through France this weekend… wish I’d opted for a full EV rather than my thirsty PHEV.
Just discovered, as I put liberon mahogany black bison wax on my William IV writing table, that Chopin wrote the 2nd movement of his first piano concerto when he was NINETEEN
Today was the first performance of Beethoven's 1st Symphony in 1800. He was a rather ancient 29.
Afternoon all. This weeks Find Out Now has Reform back up a little like MiC
Ref 26 (+2) Green 20 (=) Con 18 (=) Lab 15 (-1) LD 10 (-2) SNP 3 (=) Others 7 (=)
1-2 April, changes from 26-27 March
LibDems down again.
Wait until their "give motorists some money" policy gives them a bounce.
Motorists are massively overtaxed.
If that overtaxation is reduced then that is not being given money.
Some people have this bizarre idea that all money belongs to the state.
No - but Governments tax things that are easy to tax and where avoiding the tax is hard to impossible.
And it’s easy to tax fuel
It was easy to tax fuel.
Looking ahead fuel is getting phased out. A sensible government should be thinking of how to replace that money from general taxation and be phasing out fuel duty..
I'm with Eabhal on this. Universal subsidy is nuts. Targeted support, uncoupled from fuel/energy consumption, maybe (everything will be getting more expensive and will hit poorer households hardest anyway).
Otherwise we just hide what should be another clear signal to those who can afford them that there are benefits to EVs over ICEVs.
ETA: I've defined myself as a liberal for a long time and I feel further and further away from the lib Dems - it used to be I'd lend my vote to other parties, now my vote is looking for a home
I’m also with Eabhal on this.
I cannot see why everyone should get a bail out simply because shit happens.
It's worse than that, it's tantamount to burning money.
Prices are high because supply is constrained. If you cut the tax you will increase demand. With no more supply then prices will simply increase.
Now the new equilibrium will be at a slightly lower price, because the higher demand will have increased prices in other countries, and decreased demand there, but it's really the most wasteful intervention I can think of.
I agree. We need to be looking at some demand destruction rather than simply pushing prices higher.
Of course, the Lib Dem’s want to cut fuel duty and subsidise.
I’d also keep the fuel duty increase later in the year.
The Lib Dems are getting close to losing me over this. Very disappointing.
I'm off to deliver some leaflets shortly. I hope I don't end up chatting with anyone and having to defend this crap. It is incredibly demotivating.
Sorry, but I think it's bordering on delusional to imagine this would be a problem!!! Firstly, you rarely meet or talk to anyone while delivering leaflets. Secondly, I suspect most of the public will think a cut in fuel duty is a good idea. Thirdly, in the unlikely event that you do talk to someone and they think it's a bad policy, they're not going to think it's such a bad policy that they're going to have a go at you about it.
Yep. Prices have gone through the roof so the government has to do something about it. Rather than, the oil just isn't there, we need to learn how to do without.
I'm with Eabhal on this. Universal subsidy is nuts. Targeted support, uncoupled from fuel/energy consumption, maybe (everything will be getting more expensive and will hit poorer households hardest anyway).
Otherwise we just hide what should be another clear signal to those who can afford them that there are benefits to EVs over ICEVs.
ETA: I've defined myself as a liberal for a long time and I feel further and further away from the lib Dems - it used to be I'd lend my vote to other parties, now my vote is looking for a home
I’m also with Eabhal on this.
I cannot see why everyone should get a bail out simply because shit happens.
It's worse than that, it's tantamount to burning money.
Prices are high because supply is constrained. If you cut the tax you will increase demand. With no more supply then prices will simply increase.
Now the new equilibrium will be at a slightly lower price, because the higher demand will have increased prices in other countries, and decreased demand there, but it's really the most wasteful intervention I can think of.
I agree. We need to be looking at some demand destruction rather than simply pushing prices higher.
Of course, the Lib Dem’s want to cut fuel duty and subsidise.
I’d also keep the fuel duty increase later in the year.
The Lib Dems are getting close to losing me over this. Very disappointing.
I'm off to deliver some leaflets shortly. I hope I don't end up chatting with anyone and having to defend this crap. It is incredibly demotivating.
Sorry, but I think it's bordering on delusional to imagine this would be a problem!!! Firstly, you rarely meet or talk to anyone while delivering leaflets. Secondly, I suspect most of the public will think a cut in fuel duty is a good idea. Thirdly, in the unlikely event that you do talk to someone and they think it's a bad policy, they're not going to think it's such a bad policy that they're going to have a go at you about it.
Yep. Prices have gone through the roof so the government has to do something about it. Rather than, the oil just isn't there, we need to learn how to do without.
Prices have gone up to rationalise supply and demand. That is the oil price.
Fuel duty is not supply and demand, it is excessive taxation levied by the Government. It also needs to be eliminated, long-term, anyway.
I do not need or deserve money off my energy bills.
If it’s a public service like transport then I can more so see the logic but ultimately costs have gone up. The government can’t subsidise things every time something happens, otherwise where do you stop?
The reason the last energy subsidy was universal was down to keeping the suppliers viable not whether consumers deserved it or not. Off current prices that is unlikely to be the case this time but if we returned to 2022 prices then we will do similar again, whoever is in charge or what they currently think best.
Stupid idea.
If the suppliers go bust they should go bust. Assets and shareholders wiped out and continuity of operations via bankruptcy proceedings, including a newco if need be that could be privatised in the future.
Private companies should not be bailed out.
Most of the power ‘companies’ are little more than marketing vehicles backed by commodities market trading and cash flow investment. They don’t own anything except their own brand.
Residents! I could understand the IDF being 'unhappy' about Hezbollah fighters but AIUI there's a significant number of peaceful Muslim Lebanese citizens. The IDF seems to have gone trigger happy.
The Saudis are unhappy with the return they're getting on their investment in Kushner.
Latest from @cornishft & me on Saudi frustration with Trump’s way of waging war. “They are massively frustrated at Trump’s independent actions, his unwillingness to think through the consequences—& then the crowning glory is his comments about MBS” https://x.com/ahauslohner/status/2039465432147509710
Afternoon all. This weeks Find Out Now has Reform back up a little like MiC
Ref 26 (+2) Green 20 (=) Con 18 (=) Lab 15 (-1) LD 10 (-2) SNP 3 (=) Others 7 (=)
1-2 April, changes from 26-27 March
LibDems down again.
Wait until their "give motorists some money" policy gives them a bounce.
Motorists are massively overtaxed.
If that overtaxation is reduced then that is not being given money.
Some people have this bizarre idea that all money belongs to the state.
So where else does the tax come from to make up the lost money ?
Since it is being spent as general taxation, it should come from general taxation. Probably VAT or Income Tax.
Fuel is being phased out anyway, so fuel duty needs to be phased out too.
There's no particular reason why tax raised in one area shouldn't be spent in another.
So no reason why the roads can't be financed through general taxation and leave driving untaxed altogether then?
No fundamental reason, but it doesn't seem a particularly good idea to tax, say, labour rather than driving. In general I'd favour taxes that you can avoid by modifying your behaviour so as to cause less inconvenience to others. You can choose not to drive or to drive less, but you can't really choose not to have an income.
The Saudis are unhappy with the return they're getting on their investment in Kushner.
Latest from @cornishft & me on Saudi frustration with Trump’s way of waging war. “They are massively frustrated at Trump’s independent actions, his unwillingness to think through the consequences—& then the crowning glory is his comments about MBS” https://x.com/ahauslohner/status/2039465432147509710
Close the bases! That might get a ceasefire from Iran...
Residents! I could understand the IDF being 'unhappy' about Hezbollah fighters but AIUI there's a significant number of peaceful Muslim Lebanese citizens. The IDF seems to have gone trigger happy.
They are in the process of ethnically cleansing around half a million Lebanese from the areas they're de facto annexing.
Residents! I could understand the IDF being 'unhappy' about Hezbollah fighters but AIUI there's a significant number of peaceful Muslim Lebanese citizens. The IDF seems to have gone trigger happy.
Biggest shock to mortgage market since Truss mini-budget
The Iran war has triggered the sharpest shock to the UK mortgage market since the 2022 mini-budget delivered by Liz Truss, analysis by Moneyfacts has revealed.
Mortgage rates have soared in recent weeks, with the average two-year fixed deal jumping 100 basis points (bps) from 4.84% to 5.84% in March.
Typical five-year fixes have jumped from 4.96% to 5.75%.
Rates have not risen this sharply since autumn 2022.
Not exactly fixable though is it - interest rates are being driven by sharply higher inflation forecasts which is being driven by a lack of oil supply
Big G loves nothing more than to hloat when global issues affect UK economy under a non Tory Government.
It's all a bit ghoulish
Not gloating - just reminding those who celebrated the conservatives demise over the same crisis in 2022 that the ball is now in Starmer and labour's court
What goes around comes around
Labour will in the long term be seen as handling it far better.
The Saudis are unhappy with the return they're getting on their investment in Kushner.
Latest from @cornishft & me on Saudi frustration with Trump’s way of waging war. “They are massively frustrated at Trump’s independent actions, his unwillingness to think through the consequences—& then the crowning glory is his comments about MBS” https://x.com/ahauslohner/status/2039465432147509710
If only there were some clues from his past that Trump might be an unreliable, untrustworthy and incompetent partner.
And Mozart was FOURTEEN when he heard, just once, Allegri’s Miserere in - of all places - the Sistine Chapel. He heard it there because it was the only place it was allowed to be played, to keep it secret
Mozart then wrote it all down from memory - from that one hearing. Harmonies orchestration vocals everything. And then he went back once more to check he’d got it all right. He had
When the Pope heard of this he was meant to punish Mozart for transgressing the sacred secrecy of the Miserere, instead he gave him “The Order of the Golden Spur”
We must defend European civilisation with our lives. It is the greatest achievement of mankind. And it is in peril
In terms of how many candidates each party will field next month, the Eastern Daily Press report from the Reform rally in Norfolk on Tuesday stated they had a stall asking people to sign up to be candidates. I'd be very surprised if they didnt field a full slate as its a target council but i guess the on/off/on again thing might have caused complications - and perhaps therefore the case elsewhere too where csncellations were then reversed? The other parties will have the same issues of on/off etc, although they at least (in varying numbers) will have sitting councillors restanding in some wards. They might also be recruiting for future elections too i guess
Residents! I could understand the IDF being 'unhappy' about Hezbollah fighters but AIUI there's a significant number of peaceful Muslim Lebanese citizens. The IDF seems to have gone trigger happy.
They are in the process of ethnically cleansing around half a million Lebanese from the areas they're de facto annexing.
That’s okay.
They’re the good guys !!
I posted a week or so ago about the far right Israeli cabinet minister Smotrich saying they would take Lebanon up to the Litani river.
The Saudis are unhappy with the return they're getting on their investment in Kushner.
Latest from @cornishft & me on Saudi frustration with Trump’s way of waging war. “They are massively frustrated at Trump’s independent actions, his unwillingness to think through the consequences—& then the crowning glory is his comments about MBS” https://x.com/ahauslohner/status/2039465432147509710
That’s almost as poor an investment as their investment in Newcastle Utd.
Afternoon all. This weeks Find Out Now has Reform back up a little like MiC
Ref 26 (+2) Green 20 (=) Con 18 (=) Lab 15 (-1) LD 10 (-2) SNP 3 (=) Others 7 (=)
1-2 April, changes from 26-27 March
LibDems down again.
Wait until their "give motorists some money" policy gives them a bounce.
Motorists are massively overtaxed.
If that overtaxation is reduced then that is not being given money.
Some people have this bizarre idea that all money belongs to the state.
So where else does the tax come from to make up the lost money ?
Since it is being spent as general taxation, it should come from general taxation. Probably VAT or Income Tax.
Fuel is being phased out anyway, so fuel duty needs to be phased out too.
Reeves is starting to tackle that by introducing taxes on EVs on a per mile basis.
We will end up,with road pricing based on miles driven and time people drive.
If she cuts fuel duty and simultaneously introduces a per mile charge on EVs then I’m done with UK politics. Both are in isolation stupid policies; together a complete farce.
It’s like there is zero understanding of incentives, of the kind of journey that adds economic value, of any sense of where we want the UK to be in 10 years time. Every party is the same. The Greens win on default just by being happy - at least we’ll have a laugh on the way down.
Bloomberg: President Donald Trump is preparing to release a fiscal year 2027 budget plan on Friday that will frame his party’s midterm election message around a massive defense buildup, partially paid for by cuts to domestic agencies and health-care entitlements. https://x.com/PollTracker2024/status/2039667943122800854
Afternoon all. This weeks Find Out Now has Reform back up a little like MiC
Ref 26 (+2) Green 20 (=) Con 18 (=) Lab 15 (-1) LD 10 (-2) SNP 3 (=) Others 7 (=)
1-2 April, changes from 26-27 March
LibDems down again.
Wait until their "give motorists some money" policy gives them a bounce.
Motorists are massively overtaxed.
If that overtaxation is reduced then that is not being given money.
Some people have this bizarre idea that all money belongs to the state.
So where else does the tax come from to make up the lost money ?
Since it is being spent as general taxation, it should come from general taxation. Probably VAT or Income Tax.
Fuel is being phased out anyway, so fuel duty needs to be phased out too.
There's no particular reason why tax raised in one area shouldn't be spent in another.
So no reason why the roads can't be financed through general taxation and leave driving untaxed altogether then?
Why single out driving as something that should be untaxed on some kind of point of principle, whereas working, investing, passing on money in your estate, spending on goods and services and so on are all taxed?
Given you're not going to be able to raise 100% of the income you need to provide the public services people want purely by using tax as a way of internalising negative externalities, you're going to need to accept that most of the tax you charge will have negative impacts - for example, productive economic activity that would take place but for the existence of the tax. At that point, the question just becomes one of spreading the pain appropriately so as to limit economic distortion and be broadly "fair". I don't see any general point of principle why that should exclude motoring specifically while including the broad range of other things that are taxed.
Afternoon all. This weeks Find Out Now has Reform back up a little like MiC
Ref 26 (+2) Green 20 (=) Con 18 (=) Lab 15 (-1) LD 10 (-2) SNP 3 (=) Others 7 (=)
1-2 April, changes from 26-27 March
LibDems down again.
Wait until their "give motorists some money" policy gives them a bounce.
Motorists are massively overtaxed.
If that overtaxation is reduced then that is not being given money.
Some people have this bizarre idea that all money belongs to the state.
So where else does the tax come from to make up the lost money ?
Since it is being spent as general taxation, it should come from general taxation. Probably VAT or Income Tax.
Fuel is being phased out anyway, so fuel duty needs to be phased out too.
Reeves is starting to tackle that by introducing taxes on EVs on a per mile basis.
We will end up,with road pricing based on miles driven and time people drive.
If she cuts fuel duty and simultaneously introduces a per mile charge on EVs then I’m done with UK politics. Both are in isolation stupid policies; together a complete farce.
It’s like there is zero understanding of incentives, of the kind of journey that adds economic value, of any sense of where we want the UK to be in 10 years time. Every party is the same. The Greens win on default just by being happy - at least we’ll have a laugh on the way down.
She’s not going to cut fuel duty: Fuel duty is itself (kind of) road pricing by mileage!
Obviously as we transition to EVs, that tax income is going to disappear: The Treasury is going to insist that the £25billion of tax revenue be replaced from somewhere & a per mile tax on EVs seems like the closest equivalent economically speaking.
Biggest shock to mortgage market since Truss mini-budget
The Iran war has triggered the sharpest shock to the UK mortgage market since the 2022 mini-budget delivered by Liz Truss, analysis by Moneyfacts has revealed.
Mortgage rates have soared in recent weeks, with the average two-year fixed deal jumping 100 basis points (bps) from 4.84% to 5.84% in March.
Typical five-year fixes have jumped from 4.96% to 5.75%.
Rates have not risen this sharply since autumn 2022.
Not exactly fixable though is it - interest rates are being driven by sharply higher inflation forecasts which is being driven by a lack of oil supply
Big G loves nothing more than to hloat when global issues affect UK economy under a non Tory Government.
It's all a bit ghoulish
Not gloating - just reminding those who celebrated the conservatives demise over the same crisis in 2022 that the ball is now in Starmer and labour's court
What goes around comes around
Labour will in the long term be seen as handling it far better.
That will be crucial come 2028
They have to survive Scotland and Wales plus avoid a shellacking in May, otherwise they will be heading into opposition in 29
And Mozart was FOURTEEN when he heard, just once, Allegri’s Miserere in - of all places - the Sistine Chapel. He heard it there because it was the only place it was allowed to be played, to keep it secret
Mozart then wrote it all down from memory - from that one hearing. Harmonies orchestration vocals everything. And then he went back once more to check he’d got it all right. He had
When the Pope heard of this he was meant to punish Mozart for transgressing the sacred secrecy of the Miserere, instead he gave him “The Order of the Golden Spur”
We must defend European civilisation with our lives. It is the greatest achievement of mankind. And it is in peril
Are you discovering classical music ?
Just wait til you hear about how Die Kunst der Fuge ends. (Strictly speaking late baroque.)
Bloomberg: President Donald Trump is preparing to release a fiscal year 2027 budget plan on Friday that will frame his party’s midterm election message around a massive defense buildup, partially paid for by cuts to domestic agencies and health-care entitlements. https://x.com/PollTracker2024/status/2039667943122800854
Bloomberg: President Donald Trump is preparing to release a fiscal year 2027 budget plan on Friday that will frame his party’s midterm election message around a massive defense buildup, partially paid for by cuts to domestic agencies and health-care entitlements. https://x.com/PollTracker2024/status/2039667943122800854
Afternoon all. This weeks Find Out Now has Reform back up a little like MiC
Ref 26 (+2) Green 20 (=) Con 18 (=) Lab 15 (-1) LD 10 (-2) SNP 3 (=) Others 7 (=)
1-2 April, changes from 26-27 March
LibDems down again.
Wait until their "give motorists some money" policy gives them a bounce.
Motorists are massively overtaxed.
If that overtaxation is reduced then that is not being given money.
Some people have this bizarre idea that all money belongs to the state.
So where else does the tax come from to make up the lost money ?
Since it is being spent as general taxation, it should come from general taxation. Probably VAT or Income Tax.
Fuel is being phased out anyway, so fuel duty needs to be phased out too.
Reeves is starting to tackle that by introducing taxes on EVs on a per mile basis.
We will end up,with road pricing based on miles driven and time people drive.
If she cuts fuel duty and simultaneously introduces a per mile charge on EVs then I’m done with UK politics. Both are in isolation stupid policies; together a complete farce.
It’s like there is zero understanding of incentives, of the kind of journey that adds economic value, of any sense of where we want the UK to be in 10 years time. Every party is the same. The Greens win on default just by being happy - at least we’ll have a laugh on the way down.
She’s not going to cut fuel duty: Fuel duty is itself (kind of) road pricing by mileage!
Obviously as we transition to EVs, that tax income is going to disappear: The Treasury is going to insist that the £25billion of tax revenue be replaced from somewhere & a per mile tax on EVs seems like the closest equivalent economically speaking.
The 5p reversal in fuel duty relief and the 3p per mile on EVs was mentioned in the same budget.
Not implementing both of them is going to annoy the people left paying tax.
Mind you it also shows how stupid the 3p per mile only on EVs is, it should have been implemented everywhere with fuel duty left as it was
Bloomberg: President Donald Trump is preparing to release a fiscal year 2027 budget plan on Friday that will frame his party’s midterm election message around a massive defense buildup, partially paid for by cuts to domestic agencies and health-care entitlements. https://x.com/PollTracker2024/status/2039667943122800854
Plenty more war to come until they 25th him I guess is the message.
Biggest shock to mortgage market since Truss mini-budget
The Iran war has triggered the sharpest shock to the UK mortgage market since the 2022 mini-budget delivered by Liz Truss, analysis by Moneyfacts has revealed.
Mortgage rates have soared in recent weeks, with the average two-year fixed deal jumping 100 basis points (bps) from 4.84% to 5.84% in March.
Typical five-year fixes have jumped from 4.96% to 5.75%.
Rates have not risen this sharply since autumn 2022.
Yes, full blown ongoing regional war in the Middle East with global energy and food supplies under mortal threat has hit the gilts market about half as much as Liz Truss's minibudget.
Oh, and of course, none of the problems of the gilt markets is down to the govt. No sireeeee. 🤡🤡🤡🤡
You've misconstrued again, Taz. I was simply comparing the gilts impact of the two happenings - Middle East on fire v Truss minibudget. You'd have thought (least I would) that the War would be the winner there. But no, Truss was the more destructive event. Just goes to show the pen can be mightier than the sword.
They might be right, they might be wrong, they are certainly quirky.
A striking difference between More in Common polls and all the others is the gap between Labour and Greens - +7 or so according to MiC, -negative according everyone else. What is the methodilogical difference causing this?
I'm with Eabhal on this. Universal subsidy is nuts. Targeted support, uncoupled from fuel/energy consumption, maybe (everything will be getting more expensive and will hit poorer households hardest anyway).
Otherwise we just hide what should be another clear signal to those who can afford them that there are benefits to EVs over ICEVs.
ETA: I've defined myself as a liberal for a long time and I feel further and further away from the lib Dems - it used to be I'd lend my vote to other parties, now my vote is looking for a home
I’m also with Eabhal on this.
I cannot see why everyone should get a bail out simply because shit happens.
It's worse than that, it's tantamount to burning money.
Prices are high because supply is constrained. If you cut the tax you will increase demand. With no more supply then prices will simply increase.
Now the new equilibrium will be at a slightly lower price, because the higher demand will have increased prices in other countries, and decreased demand there, but it's really the most wasteful intervention I can think of.
I agree. We need to be looking at some demand destruction rather than simply pushing prices higher.
Of course, the Lib Dem’s want to cut fuel duty and subsidise.
I’d also keep the fuel duty increase later in the year.
The Lib Dems are getting close to losing me over this. Very disappointing.
I'm off to deliver some leaflets shortly. I hope I don't end up chatting with anyone and having to defend this crap. It is incredibly demotivating.
Sorry, but I think it's bordering on delusional to imagine this would be a problem!!! Firstly, you rarely meet or talk to anyone while delivering leaflets. Secondly, I suspect most of the public will think a cut in fuel duty is a good idea. Thirdly, in the unlikely event that you do talk to someone and they think it's a bad policy, they're not going to think it's such a bad policy that they're going to have a go at you about it.
Ah, fair enough. I'm back again now, and no, I didn't speak to anyone. It's not unknown though - occasionally I do meet people outside their house and get chatting. I was feeling a bit pissed off with the policy and didn't much fancy the idea of having to enthuse about something that I don't actually approve of. I guess that's why I've always resisted attempts to persuade me to become anything more than a paper candidate (my efforts are to help actual* candidates).
At least its a sunny afternoon, and there are worse ways to spend it than wandering around the leafy suburbs of Brum.
Afternoon all. This weeks Find Out Now has Reform back up a little like MiC
Ref 26 (+2) Green 20 (=) Con 18 (=) Lab 15 (-1) LD 10 (-2) SNP 3 (=) Others 7 (=)
1-2 April, changes from 26-27 March
LibDems down again.
Wait until their "give motorists some money" policy gives them a bounce.
Motorists are massively overtaxed.
If that overtaxation is reduced then that is not being given money.
Some people have this bizarre idea that all money belongs to the state.
So where else does the tax come from to make up the lost money ?
Since it is being spent as general taxation, it should come from general taxation. Probably VAT or Income Tax.
Fuel is being phased out anyway, so fuel duty needs to be phased out too.
Reeves is starting to tackle that by introducing taxes on EVs on a per mile basis.
We will end up,with road pricing based on miles driven and time people drive.
If she cuts fuel duty and simultaneously introduces a per mile charge on EVs then I’m done with UK politics. Both are in isolation stupid policies; together a complete farce.
It’s like there is zero understanding of incentives, of the kind of journey that adds economic value, of any sense of where we want the UK to be in 10 years time. Every party is the same. The Greens win on default just by being happy - at least we’ll have a laugh on the way down.
She’s already introduced a per mile charge on EVs and Hybrids.
I doubt she will cut fuel duty. Just raise money from EVs and Hybrids as we transition.
Afternoon all. This weeks Find Out Now has Reform back up a little like MiC
Ref 26 (+2) Green 20 (=) Con 18 (=) Lab 15 (-1) LD 10 (-2) SNP 3 (=) Others 7 (=)
1-2 April, changes from 26-27 March
LibDems down again.
Wait until their "give motorists some money" policy gives them a bounce.
Motorists are massively overtaxed.
If that overtaxation is reduced then that is not being given money.
Some people have this bizarre idea that all money belongs to the state.
So where else does the tax come from to make up the lost money ?
Since it is being spent as general taxation, it should come from general taxation. Probably VAT or Income Tax.
Fuel is being phased out anyway, so fuel duty needs to be phased out too.
Reeves is starting to tackle that by introducing taxes on EVs on a per mile basis.
We will end up,with road pricing based on miles driven and time people drive.
If she cuts fuel duty and simultaneously introduces a per mile charge on EVs then I’m done with UK politics. Both are in isolation stupid policies; together a complete farce.
It’s like there is zero understanding of incentives, of the kind of journey that adds economic value, of any sense of where we want the UK to be in 10 years time. Every party is the same. The Greens win on default just by being happy - at least we’ll have a laugh on the way down.
She’s not going to cut fuel duty: Fuel duty is itself (kind of) road pricing by mileage!
Obviously as we transition to EVs, that tax income is going to disappear: The Treasury is going to insist that the £25billion of tax revenue be replaced from somewhere & a per mile tax on EVs seems like the closest equivalent economically speaking.
It was a hypothetical. Hopefully she doesn’t succumb to pressure from the Lib Dem’s (wtf are they up to). To be clear, my complaints are
1) If we want to transition to EVs, these are exactly the wrong incentives to put in place 2) cutting taxes or making payments during shocks is why we have ended up with an coddled population and economy. Freebies all the time. 3) cutting fuel duty now in particular is disaster for the risk of short term shortages 4) mile charging is deeply harmful to rural communities, who do long trips, versus short trips in cities (exactly the ones we want to reduce)
IF we tax EV transport (I agree with Bart that this isn’t strictly necessary, income tax and VAT are good replacements), then per journey is what you want.
Afternoon all. This weeks Find Out Now has Reform back up a little like MiC
Ref 26 (+2) Green 20 (=) Con 18 (=) Lab 15 (-1) LD 10 (-2) SNP 3 (=) Others 7 (=)
1-2 April, changes from 26-27 March
LibDems down again.
Wait until their "give motorists some money" policy gives them a bounce.
Motorists are massively overtaxed.
If that overtaxation is reduced then that is not being given money.
Some people have this bizarre idea that all money belongs to the state.
So where else does the tax come from to make up the lost money ?
Since it is being spent as general taxation, it should come from general taxation. Probably VAT or Income Tax.
Fuel is being phased out anyway, so fuel duty needs to be phased out too.
Reeves is starting to tackle that by introducing taxes on EVs on a per mile basis.
We will end up,with road pricing based on miles driven and time people drive.
If she cuts fuel duty and simultaneously introduces a per mile charge on EVs then I’m done with UK politics. Both are in isolation stupid policies; together a complete farce.
It’s like there is zero understanding of incentives, of the kind of journey that adds economic value, of any sense of where we want the UK to be in 10 years time. Every party is the same. The Greens win on default just by being happy - at least we’ll have a laugh on the way down.
She’s not going to cut fuel duty: Fuel duty is itself (kind of) road pricing by mileage!
Obviously as we transition to EVs, that tax income is going to disappear: The Treasury is going to insist that the £25billion of tax revenue be replaced from somewhere & a per mile tax on EVs seems like the closest equivalent economically speaking.
The 5p reversal in fuel duty relief and the 3p per mile on EVs was mentioned in the same budget.
Not implementing both of them is going to annoy the people left paying tax.
Mind you it also shows how stupid the 3p per mile only on EVs is, it should have been implemented everywhere with fuel duty left as it was
They need to implement both, in spite of what the Lib Dem’s say.
And Mozart was FOURTEEN when he heard, just once, Allegri’s Miserere in - of all places - the Sistine Chapel. He heard it there because it was the only place it was allowed to be played, to keep it secret
Mozart then wrote it all down from memory - from that one hearing. Harmonies orchestration vocals everything. And then he went back once more to check he’d got it all right. He had
When the Pope heard of this he was meant to punish Mozart for transgressing the sacred secrecy of the Miserere, instead he gave him “The Order of the Golden Spur”
We must defend European civilisation with our lives. It is the greatest achievement of mankind. And it is in peril
Apparently this story is mostly false. Which is a shame, because it’s a great story.
We know it’s rubbish, because Allegri’s Miserere was performed in London from 1735 onwards & copies are known to have been available in Rome & elsewhere. Mozart is supposed to have transcribed it in 1770, according to a letter sent by his father.
What /was/ kept secret was the ornamentation of the notes which was kept exclusive to the Vatican - it’s far more plausible that Mozart was able to remember & later transcribe the vocal ornamentation over an extant copy of the piece than the idea that he was able to remember the entire five-vocal part plus accompanying keyboard music in its entirety. Mozart was a genius, but probably not that much of a genius.
"With all the noise about energy policy, it is worth boiling the arguments down to these essentials.
British people use energy. We are worse off when there is an energy shock. Labour wants everyone to pay except the poor. The Conservatives and Reform UK want private investors to pay. The Lib Dems and Greens want the country’s children to pay. It really is that simple."
Thankfully, the moves that we have already made towards net zero mean that the bill is a lot lower than it would otherwise have been.
No they don't. Even at its elevated levels, it would still be cheaper if we were fully powered by gas with no renewables.
Bollocks. As RCS1000 pointed out yesterday, energy tends to be cheaper in those countries that use more renewable sources. If we were fully powered by gas, we'd be completely hamstrung now and looking into an even bleaker future.
I'm sorry, it is not bollocks.
Here is David Turver's chart again - and before anyone says that RCS 'debunked' this - he didn't. He offered a mild reproach at how the gas MWH price was simplified. He gave no objections to the broad figures, and if he wishes to do so, let him do so now.
The table is obviously out of date, ChatGPT's current estimate for gas generation is £120–140 per MWh, including £15–25/MWh of carbon offsetting costs.
That makes solar under CFD the only renewable source that is competitive with gas, even at its current Hormuz-related spike. The rest are all costing us considerably more.
The fundamental flaw with that table is it compares the marginal cost of gas with the total cost of renewables. A like-for-like comparison would be to drop (almost) all the CfD costs from renewables, given almost all of them are incurred from the initial investment. This is why LCOE is the better measure - particularly looking into the future, with the cost of non-wind renewables and batteries dropping so quickly.
There are also huge costs associated with uncertainty and lack of energy security. A fixed price CfD contract which Iran, Putin and Trump can't fuck up is worth additional £10s of billions to the UK economy, even if the LCOE is actually higher than it is for gas (which it isn't).
That chart reminds me of one that used to claim that EVs generated more C02 than ICE - by assuming all electricity was generated from brown coal and using the full “well-to-wheels” for EVs and only the C02 from actually burning the petrol for ICE.
So it's wrong because 'it reminds you of something'. That's the shittest argument against it yet.
For anyone who wishes to read the full post (obviously if you prefer to dismiss the facts because they remind you of something ydy), it is here:
One of the problems for someone who wishes to engage with this argument from a relatively low knowledge base is that someone like David Turver is quoted as a reliable source.
It is clear from a gently perusal of his substack that his views on renewables and net zero were formed long before that table was.
I don't wish to play the man and not the ball, but the problem I find is that a long article full of facts can do as much to obscure as it can to illuminate.
On the other side many repeat unquestionably the claim that renewables are now cheaper than gas but inflated by the way we price electricity.
As with many things it is hard to know what to believe. It would be nice if fewer people were disingenuous in their substack or.podcast pronouncements...doesn't seem an unreasonable thing to wish for.
I suggest you read the comment thread that follows the article, where someone (using ChatGPT) attempts a point by point takedown of Turver's argument. Very informative.
Slow reply @Luckyguy1983, but thank you yes that was informative. I can't say I'm any closer to escaping my own prejudices but I do have more respect for the author as he is clearly informed enough to argue his perspective to quite a deep level.
Afternoon all. This weeks Find Out Now has Reform back up a little like MiC
Ref 26 (+2) Green 20 (=) Con 18 (=) Lab 15 (-1) LD 10 (-2) SNP 3 (=) Others 7 (=)
1-2 April, changes from 26-27 March
LibDems down again.
Wait until their "give motorists some money" policy gives them a bounce.
Motorists are massively overtaxed.
If that overtaxation is reduced then that is not being given money.
Some people have this bizarre idea that all money belongs to the state.
So where else does the tax come from to make up the lost money ?
Since it is being spent as general taxation, it should come from general taxation. Probably VAT or Income Tax.
Fuel is being phased out anyway, so fuel duty needs to be phased out too.
Reeves is starting to tackle that by introducing taxes on EVs on a per mile basis.
We will end up,with road pricing based on miles driven and time people drive.
If she cuts fuel duty and simultaneously introduces a per mile charge on EVs then I’m done with UK politics. Both are in isolation stupid policies; together a complete farce.
It’s like there is zero understanding of incentives, of the kind of journey that adds economic value, of any sense of where we want the UK to be in 10 years time. Every party is the same. The Greens win on default just by being happy - at least we’ll have a laugh on the way down.
She’s not going to cut fuel duty: Fuel duty is itself (kind of) road pricing by mileage!
Obviously as we transition to EVs, that tax income is going to disappear: The Treasury is going to insist that the £25billion of tax revenue be replaced from somewhere & a per mile tax on EVs seems like the closest equivalent economically speaking.
It was a hypothetical. Hopefully she doesn’t succumb to pressure from the Lib Dem’s (wtf are they up to). To be clear, my complaints are
1) If we want to transition to EVs, these are exactly the wrong incentives to put in place 2) cutting taxes or making payments during shocks is why we have ended up with an coddled population and economy. Freebies all the time. 3) cutting fuel duty now in particular is disaster for the risk of short term shortages 4) mile charging is deeply harmful to rural communities, who do long trips, versus short trips in cities (exactly the ones we want to reduce)
IF we tax EV transport (I agree with Bart that this isn’t strictly necessary, income tax and VAT are good replacements), then per journey is what you want.
If you replace fuel duty with a mileage duty on all vehicles then that’s roughly equivalent to no real change for a ICE powered car, although it has the unfortunate effect of making efficient small vehicles subsidise heavy ones unless you make the mileage charge depend on weight.
And Mozart was FOURTEEN when he heard, just once, Allegri’s Miserere in - of all places - the Sistine Chapel. He heard it there because it was the only place it was allowed to be played, to keep it secret
Mozart then wrote it all down from memory - from that one hearing. Harmonies orchestration vocals everything. And then he went back once more to check he’d got it all right. He had
When the Pope heard of this he was meant to punish Mozart for transgressing the sacred secrecy of the Miserere, instead he gave him “The Order of the Golden Spur”
We must defend European civilisation with our lives. It is the greatest achievement of mankind. And it is in peril
And Mozart was FOURTEEN when he heard, just once, Allegri’s Miserere in - of all places - the Sistine Chapel. He heard it there because it was the only place it was allowed to be played, to keep it secret
Mozart then wrote it all down from memory - from that one hearing. Harmonies orchestration vocals everything. And then he went back once more to check he’d got it all right. He had
When the Pope heard of this he was meant to punish Mozart for transgressing the sacred secrecy of the Miserere, instead he gave him “The Order of the Golden Spur”
We must defend European civilisation with our lives. It is the greatest achievement of mankind. And it is in peril
That's not as impressive as it sounds.
The whole thing, musically is repeated 5 times. Just the ending is different. And it's unaccompanied (5 parts).
Several tankers, including a possibly laden LNG tanker, are making their way through the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first outbound LNG tanker transit since the beginning of the war.
Afternoon all. This weeks Find Out Now has Reform back up a little like MiC
Ref 26 (+2) Green 20 (=) Con 18 (=) Lab 15 (-1) LD 10 (-2) SNP 3 (=) Others 7 (=)
1-2 April, changes from 26-27 March
LibDems down again.
Wait until their "give motorists some money" policy gives them a bounce.
Motorists are massively overtaxed.
If that overtaxation is reduced then that is not being given money.
Some people have this bizarre idea that all money belongs to the state.
So where else does the tax come from to make up the lost money ?
Since it is being spent as general taxation, it should come from general taxation. Probably VAT or Income Tax.
Fuel is being phased out anyway, so fuel duty needs to be phased out too.
Reeves is starting to tackle that by introducing taxes on EVs on a per mile basis.
We will end up,with road pricing based on miles driven and time people drive.
If she cuts fuel duty and simultaneously introduces a per mile charge on EVs then I’m done with UK politics. Both are in isolation stupid policies; together a complete farce.
It’s like there is zero understanding of incentives, of the kind of journey that adds economic value, of any sense of where we want the UK to be in 10 years time. Every party is the same. The Greens win on default just by being happy - at least we’ll have a laugh on the way down.
She’s not going to cut fuel duty: Fuel duty is itself (kind of) road pricing by mileage!
Obviously as we transition to EVs, that tax income is going to disappear: The Treasury is going to insist that the £25billion of tax revenue be replaced from somewhere & a per mile tax on EVs seems like the closest equivalent economically speaking.
It was a hypothetical. Hopefully she doesn’t succumb to pressure from the Lib Dem’s (wtf are they up to). To be clear, my complaints are
1) If we want to transition to EVs, these are exactly the wrong incentives to put in place 2) cutting taxes or making payments during shocks is why we have ended up with an coddled population and economy. Freebies all the time. 3) cutting fuel duty now in particular is disaster for the risk of short term shortages 4) mile charging is deeply harmful to rural communities, who do long trips, versus short trips in cities (exactly the ones we want to reduce)
IF we tax EV transport (I agree with Bart that this isn’t strictly necessary, income tax and VAT are good replacements), then per journey is what you want.
If you replace fuel duty with a mileage duty on all vehicles then that’s roughly equivalent to no real change for a ICE powered car, although it has the unfortunate effect of making efficient small vehicles subsidise heavy ones unless you make the mileage charge depend on weight.
Christ, I hadn't thought of that either. I don't think your former point is entirely right because long rural journeys are much more fuel efficient than short urban ones, so the fuel duty cost is reduced.
A transfer from people driving small cars in rural areas to people driving SUVs in cities. A rubbish policy.
Once again, Nigel is a pro surrounded by nasty idiots. The question of why Nigel is surrounded by nasty idiots is left as an exercise for the reader.
His comments could have been worded better, but they're absolutely spot on. This country is being brought to a halt by single issues not being addressed and weighed in the balance with other issues, but being given overriding importance and addressed with knee jerk legislation with legal teeth, piling another straw on the camel's back. Example: Covid, when the whole country went into the service of people not dying of covid. See also bat tunnels. See also equality legislation that means administrators must be paid the same as binmen. To be convulsed by knee jerk reactions to single issues is no way to run a country - it runs the country into the ground, and long term will cause more misery and suffering than it avoids.
"Many, many more people die on the roads driving cars, but we're not making cars illegal, so why are we stopping houses being built?" is a completely idiotic comment only makeable by someone who has practically no understanding of social issues.
It's reminiscent of Prince Philip saying after the Dunblane massacre words to the effect of "You wanna ban handguns, then why don't you ban cricket bats". Absolutely beneath contempt. Not "spot on" at all, or a question of suboptimal word choice. Everybody knows resources are limited. The country is not being brought to a halt by lack of recognition of that fact.
It's your knee that's jerking here. Next you'll be blaming trendy vicars or social workers.
This kind of thing makes me think there may be sense in laying Reform at their current price. They may find that the pond of Stupid Sociopathic Knuckledragger in which they fish isn't as deep as they believe.
I don’t know why you need to be so unpleasant. He’s not making an unreasonable point.
we take measures to minimise the amount of people who die on the roads. Airbags, crash protection, design of the BIW. We accept some risk and do not go too the nth degree.
The argument is on housebuilding we have gone too far. That’s worthy of debate as it may be choking off supply.
Yes but he trashed the point with the delivery of it.
"Everybody has to die sometime"
In relation to Grenfell. I mean, cmon, that's horrible and the rather banal point (about kneejerk reactions to tragedies) doesn't really come to the rescue.
We do indeed all have to die. But preferably not burned to death way before our time in a tower block inferno. 72 people, the youngest six months old.
Gross to say what he did and Farage is right to weed him out imo. He'll be needing to do lots more of this, I'd imagine. It's a problem for him. The people he attracts.
And Mozart was FOURTEEN when he heard, just once, Allegri’s Miserere in - of all places - the Sistine Chapel. He heard it there because it was the only place it was allowed to be played, to keep it secret
Mozart then wrote it all down from memory - from that one hearing. Harmonies orchestration vocals everything. And then he went back once more to check he’d got it all right. He had
When the Pope heard of this he was meant to punish Mozart for transgressing the sacred secrecy of the Miserere, instead he gave him “The Order of the Golden Spur”
We must defend European civilisation with our lives. It is the greatest achievement of mankind. And it is in peril
Apparently this story is mostly false. Which is a shame, because it’s a great story.
We know it’s rubbish, because Allegri’s Miserere was performed in London from 1735 onwards & copies are known to have been available in Rome & elsewhere. Mozart is supposed to have transcribed it in 1770, according to a letter sent by his father.
What /was/ kept secret was the ornamentation of the notes which was kept exclusive to the Vatican - it’s far more plausible that Mozart was able to remember & later transcribe the vocal ornamentation over an extant copy of the piece than the idea that he was able to remember the entire five-vocal part plus accompanying keyboard music in its entirety. Mozart was a genius, but probably not that much of a genius.
Comments
we take measures to minimise the amount of people who die on the roads. Airbags, crash protection, design of the BIW. We accept some risk and do not go too the nth degree.
The argument is on housebuilding we have gone too far. That’s worthy of debate as it may be choking off supply.
And I’ve got to drive 600km through France this weekend… wish I’d opted for a full EV rather than my thirsty PHEV.
https://taxpayersalliance.com/poll-welsh-voters-quiet-quitting-on-net-zero-policies-in-wake-of-iran-crisis/
Reform majority of 10
Bizarre
https://x.com/_zachfoster/status/2039363196381794546?s=61
Starmer’s Iran bounce is as elusive as the Kemi bounce.
Plus, taking about lunches: Lab at 15??? We live in strange time.
She would have thrown us in at the deep end too. Not sure the QE2 had any planes on then, but we could have risked losing both QE2's...and had interest rates double.
At least its a sunny afternoon, and there are worse ways to spend it than wandering around the leafy suburbs of Brum.
* Or whatever the opposite of paper is.
If that overtaxation is reduced then that is not being given money.
Some people have this bizarre idea that all money belongs to the state.
And it’s easy to tax fuel
Looking ahead fuel is getting phased out. A sensible government should be thinking of how to replace that money from general taxation and be phasing out fuel duty..
Iranian forces appear to have shot down a Saudi/UAE Wing Loong 2 UAV (misidentified as an American drone) over Shiraz.
Would be the first evidence of Gulf State participation in operations over Iran.
Fuel is being phased out anyway, so fuel duty needs to be phased out too.
Somebody else about to discover the depths of Trump's loyalty.
(Spoiler: it's measured in angstroms....)
https://x.com/davetroy/status/2039725333318897697
(Apart from all working for a narcissistic loon.)
Fuel duty is not supply and demand, it is excessive taxation levied by the Government. It also needs to be eliminated, long-term, anyway.
We will end up,with road pricing based on miles driven and time people drive.
https://x.com/ryangrim/status/2039684274564051425
Since it is being spent as general taxation, it should come from general taxation.
Would be both fairer and put our budget on a surer long term economic footing.
It is both morally and economically the right thing to do.
And being women.
Driving should not be taxed, beyond the cost of building and maintaining roads.
I reckon he will pull it off.
Based on 2 polls?
"Safe"
Right.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_United_Kingdom_general_election
They might be right, they might be wrong, they are certainly quirky.
There are arguments pro and anti.
I do believe vehicle size should be factored in.
As someone who used to drive 50k miles a year in Range Rovers but who now drives 5k a year in a Volvo, I'm currently all for it.
‘ BREAKING: Iran and Oman are drafting a protocol to "monitor transit" through the Strait of Hormuz.
Details include:
1. Iran says tanker traffic through Hormuz will be "supervised and coordinated” with Iran and Oman
2. Iran says "these requirements will not mean restrictions, but rather to facilitate and ensure safe passage"
3. This is reportedly a "post-war draft" and aimed to "prevent aggression in the future"
4. Iran says that even in peaceful conditions, traffic should be monitored
It appears Iran is positioning for long-term control of the Strait of Hormuz.’
https://x.com/kobeissiletter/status/2039734165956862043?s=61
Latest from @cornishft & me on Saudi frustration with Trump’s way of waging war. “They are massively frustrated at Trump’s independent actions, his unwillingness to think through the consequences—& then the crowning glory is his comments about MBS”
https://x.com/ahauslohner/status/2039465432147509710
I just ignore it.
Rarely shop at Tescos.
So I’m similar to you.
Now,I have an electric bike I’ll drive less.
That will be crucial come 2028
But Susan Acland-Hood in the link says that autism is a spectrum, she doesn't say it doesn't exist.
Mozart then wrote it all down from memory - from that one hearing. Harmonies orchestration vocals everything. And then he went back once more to check he’d got it all right. He had
When the Pope heard of this he was meant to punish Mozart for transgressing the sacred secrecy of the Miserere, instead he gave him “The Order of the Golden Spur”
We must defend European civilisation with our lives. It is the greatest achievement of mankind. And it is in peril
They might also be recruiting for future elections too i guess
They’re the good guys !!
I posted a week or so ago about the far right Israeli cabinet minister Smotrich saying they would take Lebanon up to the Litani river.
It will be part of greater Israel.
While Trump fucks up Iran they do this.
It’s like there is zero understanding of incentives, of the kind of journey that adds economic value, of any sense of where we want the UK to be in 10 years time. Every party is the same. The Greens win on default just by being happy - at least we’ll have a laugh on the way down.
Bloomberg: President Donald Trump is preparing to release a fiscal year 2027 budget plan on Friday that will frame his party’s midterm election message around a massive defense buildup, partially paid for by cuts to domestic agencies and health-care entitlements.
https://x.com/PollTracker2024/status/2039667943122800854
Your thoughts on this ? You know the toon better than me, I just visit to eat and drink or theatre. It just seems implausible to me
https://x.com/leftiestats/status/2039734861057949876?s=61
Given you're not going to be able to raise 100% of the income you need to provide the public services people want purely by using tax as a way of internalising negative externalities, you're going to need to accept that most of the tax you charge will have negative impacts - for example, productive economic activity that would take place but for the existence of the tax. At that point, the question just becomes one of spreading the pain appropriately so as to limit economic distortion and be broadly "fair". I don't see any general point of principle why that should exclude motoring specifically while including the broad range of other things that are taxed.
Obviously as we transition to EVs, that tax income is going to disappear: The Treasury is going to insist that the £25billion of tax revenue be replaced from somewhere & a per mile tax on EVs seems like the closest equivalent economically speaking.
Just wait til you hear about how Die Kunst der Fuge ends.
(Strictly speaking late baroque.)
https://bsky.app/profile/thetnholler.bsky.social/post/3mijlpjexws26
Not implementing both of them is going to annoy the people left paying tax.
Mind you it also shows how stupid the 3p per mile only on EVs is, it should have been implemented everywhere with fuel duty left as it was
Austria has denied the US the use of airspace for Iran military operations, Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner says.
I doubt she will cut fuel duty. Just raise money from EVs and Hybrids as we transition.
1) If we want to transition to EVs, these are exactly the wrong incentives to put in place
2) cutting taxes or making payments during shocks is why we have ended up with an coddled population and economy. Freebies all the time.
3) cutting fuel duty now in particular is disaster for the risk of short term shortages
4) mile charging is deeply harmful to rural communities, who do long trips, versus short trips in cities (exactly the ones we want to reduce)
IF we tax EV transport (I agree with Bart that this isn’t strictly necessary, income tax and VAT are good replacements), then per journey is what you want.
We know it’s rubbish, because Allegri’s Miserere was performed in London from 1735 onwards & copies are known to have been available in Rome & elsewhere. Mozart is supposed to have transcribed it in 1770, according to a letter sent by his father.
What /was/ kept secret was the ornamentation of the notes which was kept exclusive to the Vatican - it’s far more plausible that Mozart was able to remember & later transcribe the vocal ornamentation over an extant copy of the piece than the idea that he was able to remember the entire five-vocal part plus accompanying keyboard music in its entirety. Mozart was a genius, but probably not that much of a genius.
https://x.com/i/status/2039742712195215668
The whole thing, musically is repeated 5 times. Just the ending is different. And it's unaccompanied (5 parts).
https://x.com/FaytuksNetwork/status/2039737689545879997
Several tankers, including a possibly laden LNG tanker, are making their way through the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first outbound LNG tanker transit since the beginning of the war.
A transfer from people driving small cars in rural areas to people driving SUVs in cities. A rubbish policy.
"Everybody has to die sometime"
In relation to Grenfell. I mean, cmon, that's horrible and the rather banal point (about kneejerk reactions to tragedies) doesn't really come to the rescue.
We do indeed all have to die. But preferably not burned to death way before our time in a tower block inferno. 72 people, the youngest six months old.
Gross to say what he did and Farage is right to weed him out imo. He'll be needing to do lots more of this, I'd imagine. It's a problem for him. The people he attracts.
Maybe Mozart did transcribe it in Rome? Either way it had already escaped to London by that point.