Lab could end austerity on 7/5/15 and stick within their plans according to IFS.
75% of welfare cuts fall on workers according to IFS
You seem remarkably excited by the discovery that Labour would increase borrowing, compared with Osborne. Hadn't you realised that if you borrow more you can spend more, in the short term at least?
Had you realized that we have much worse cuts to come under the Torieswhoever wins the election than those seen so far.
You expect it will be as obvious where these will fall in the manifesto as the VAT increase in 2010 was?
Fixed that for you
Not according to the IFS.
Only those parties who want to wreck the welfare state to give millionaires more tax cuts for political doctrine reasons would need to make cuts worse than already seen.
Would that be those tax cuts that are now set 5% higher than all but 39 days of Labours 13 year tenure?
Absolutely, this point cant be made often enough!!!!!
Lab could end austerity on 7/5/15 and stick within their plans according to IFS.
I don't understand how they've come to this conclusion? The deficit is still rather big. If Labour are going to continue to (foolishly) pledge to balance the books, then I don't understand how significant cuts (or tax rises) would be avoided?
But in any case, I hope it's right, and Labour wake up and run simply on a straightforward "Stop the Cuts" ticket. It would be rather negative, but atleast it would give them some focus and put in voters' minds a clear reason why they should vote Labour, a damn improvement on the recent weeks' of drift and no clear message of why someone should vote Labour atall.
If we are doing moral calculus, one restaurant bill is hardly doing a Lord Taylor of Warwick either. And Atkinson isn't standing as a candidate now either, so I don't see your point there.
No, you don't see the point.
I don't know what the facts of the case are, of course, but the allegation made by the Sun against Ms Atkinson, appears to be such that, if it were true, it would be fraud and thus a criminal offence.
I indeed don't see the point. first because Burley was almost certainly committing crimes under English and French law, and secondly because some forms of misconduct are so revolting that criminality is a side issue.
Obviously golden generation members like flightpath only need to be sadists as they expect to get away scot free but love to see the future generations suffer (presumably?)
Lab could end austerity on 7/5/15 and stick within their plans according to IFS.
75% of welfare cuts fall on workers according to IFS
You seem remarkably excited by the discovery that Labour would increase borrowing, compared with Osborne. Hadn't you realised that if you borrow more you can spend more, in the short term at least?
Had you realized that we have much worse cuts to come under the Torieswhoever wins the election than those seen so far.
You expect it will be as obvious where these will fall in the manifesto as the VAT increase in 2010 was?
Fixed that for you
Not according to the IFS.
Only those parties who want to wreck the welfare state to give millionaires more tax cuts for political doctrine reasons would need to make cuts worse than already seen.
The conservatives will choose to cut. The others would be compelled to cut against their will by the IMF within 30 months of taking power.
No need for IMF
IFS think Lab plans prudent Tory plans vicious dont they?
The IMF, whatever next?
Will the Tories start scaremongering again about a credit rating downgrade? Will they say, like they did in 2010, that only they can protect our AAA ratings?
Oh hang on, what was that? They already lost it. Oh dear.
If we are doing moral calculus, one restaurant bill is hardly doing a Lord Taylor of Warwick either. And Atkinson isn't standing as a candidate now either, so I don't see your point there.
No, you don't see the point.
I don't know what the facts of the case are, of course, but the allegation made by the Sun against Ms Atkinson, appears to be such that, if it were true, it would be fraud and thus a criminal offence.
I indeed don't see the point. first because Burley was almost certainly committing crimes under English and French law, and secondly because some forms of misconduct are so revolting that criminality is a side issue.
Wait, Burley wore a silly outfit. And his behaviour was... worse than criminal...
£12bn is buttons from a £250bn welfare and pensions bill.
Scrap free tv licenses, thats $600-700m gone, scale back winter heating allowance and free buss passes...I have got 10% of that already, with zero thinking.
Unfortunately, the Tories won't repeal Gordon OAP bribes, and Labour "plan" wont save any money just increase paperwork.
Just the opposite. The facts changed. Instead of doing what Labour or Tory do and try and argue black is white, the SNP have just accepted the numbers, adjusted their outlook and moved on.
Hence : -
New full-scale Scottish poll from Survation -
SNP 47.1% Labour 28.0% Conservatives 14.5% Liberal Democrats 4.0% UKIP 3.4% Greens 2.3%
The SNP gave a range of figures based on what they perceived. Their perceptions were wrong. ie ''admit for the first time that the SNP had got its independence predictions for North Sea oil wrong'' The facts did not change. Here is a fact ''the growing shortfall in Scotland’s finances is the equivalent of a 17p hike in income tax.'' and anotherone ''Two years ago, the OBR predicted that oil would generate £4.4 billion in 2017/18 but the Scottish Government insisted revenues would be as high as £11.8 billion.''
In any case, the alleged hole in Scotland's finances from falling oil revenues would be paid several fold over by ending the subsidy of England's debt mountain, ending the London Subsidy (laughingly called UK Wide Government Spending) and reductions in the bloated Arms budget Scotland is saddled paying.
Rather a good effort by Philip Stephens behind the FT paywall. Starts off with a nice anecdote from a government official who quickly took the view of the new PM in 2010 that he saw the rest of the world as 'somewhere to go on holiday.'
The rest of the article is a demolition job of Dave's non-foreign policy. Be it in Europe or elsewhere he's left an empty chair at the global table. The foreign office has become nothing more than an extension of UK plc. At the same time Cameron insists on maintaining a continual at sea nuclear deterrant and aircraft carriers of quetionable use. For what reason though? Presumably because we're British. He also says he wants to stay in the EU but never tells us why.
Stephens does miss a significant point to my mind though. Whilst this attitude might seem unsurprising for an incurious home counties Tory PM, he makes no mention of the fact that this is a coalition government and one of its two members is the hardcore internationalist Lib Dems. The withdrawl of the UK from world affairs is just another thing for the traditional yellow base to feel disillusioned about.
If we are doing moral calculus, one restaurant bill is hardly doing a Lord Taylor of Warwick either. And Atkinson isn't standing as a candidate now either, so I don't see your point there.
No, you don't see the point.
I don't know what the facts of the case are, of course, but the allegation made by the Sun against Ms Atkinson, appears to be such that, if it were true, it would be fraud and thus a criminal offence.
I indeed don't see the point. first because Burley was almost certainly committing crimes under English and French law, and secondly because some forms of misconduct are so revolting that criminality is a side issue.
Wait, Burley wore a silly outfit. And his behaviour was... worse than criminal...
Really?
Burley thought the mass murder of Jews was funny so yes, really.
If we are doing moral calculus, one restaurant bill is hardly doing a Lord Taylor of Warwick either. And Atkinson isn't standing as a candidate now either, so I don't see your point there.
No, you don't see the point.
I don't know what the facts of the case are, of course, but the allegation made by the Sun against Ms Atkinson, appears to be such that, if it were true, it would be fraud and thus a criminal offence.
I indeed don't see the point. first because Burley was almost certainly committing crimes under English and French law, and secondly because some forms of misconduct are so revolting that criminality is a side issue.
Wait, Burley wore a silly outfit. And his behaviour was... worse than criminal...
Really?
Burley thought the mass murder of Jews was funny so yes, really.
Oh, I didn't read his speech where he said that. Could you post a link?
Obviously golden generation members like flightpath only need to be sadists as they expect to get away scot free but love to see the future generations suffer (presumably?)
That £30 Billion is £500 for each person in this country per year. Or roughly £1,250 per household. Since some households don't pay any tax it means others will be liable for double.
Its got to come from somewhere, I don't particularly want it to come from me as I think I can put the money to better use.
Rather a good effort by Philip Stephens behind the FT paywall. Starts off with a nice anecdote from a government official who quickly took the view of the new PM in 2010 that he saw the rest of the world as 'somewhere to go on holiday.'
The rest of the article is a demolition job of Dave's non-foreign policy. Be it in Europe or elsewhere he's left an empty chair at the global table. The foreign office has become nothing more than an extension of UK plc. At the same time Cameron insists on maintaining a continual at sea nuclear deterrant and aircraft carriers of quetionable use. For what reason though? Presumably because we're British. He also says he wants to stay in the EU but never tells us why.
Stephens does miss a significant point to my mind though. Whilst this attitude might seem unsurprising for an incurious home counties Tory PM, he makes no mention of the fact that this is a coalition government and one of its two members is the hardcore internationalist Lib Dems. The withdrawl of the UK from world affairs is just another thing for the traditional yellow base to feel disillusioned about.
If they are internationalist, why are they so fixated on an inward looking EU?
Any guesses on the % of Londoners who thought homosexuality 'morally wrong'??
'the poll also asked respondents whether they think in general that homosexuality is ‘morally acceptable’ or ‘morally wrong’. What do you think the figures were? Well in most regions of the UK those people who thought homosexuality ‘morally wrong’ sat at around 15 per cent. About what one might have expected. But what do you think the figure was in that enlightened beacon of progressive diversity which is our capital? 1 per cent? 2 per cent?'
In any case, the alleged hole in Scotland's finances from falling oil revenues would be paid several fold over by ending the subsidy of England's debt mountain, ending the London Subsidy (laughingly called UK Wide Government Spending) and reductions in the bloated Arms budget Scotland is saddled paying.
Ending the subsidy of Britain's debt mountain?
The UK borrows for 10 years at 1.8%. What do you think Scotland would be able to borrow at?
As a comparison, socialist paradise petro-states like Venezuela and Ecuador, which are probably the most apposite comparisons, can only borrow in US Dollars, and pay a rather higher interest rate.
@Charles Are many of your friends and relatives using foodbanks, or going hungry? Tell them to get in touch and we can organize some second hand clothes for their kids.
Any guesses on the % of Londoners who thought homosexuality 'morally wrong'??
'the poll also asked respondents whether they think in general that homosexuality is ‘morally acceptable’ or ‘morally wrong’. What do you think the figures were? Well in most regions of the UK those people who thought homosexuality ‘morally wrong’ sat at around 15 per cent. About what one might have expected. But what do you think the figure was in that enlightened beacon of progressive diversity which is our capital? 1 per cent? 2 per cent?'
Any guesses on the % of Londoners who thought homosexuality 'morally wrong'??
'the poll also asked respondents whether they think in general that homosexuality is ‘morally acceptable’ or ‘morally wrong’. What do you think the figures were? Well in most regions of the UK those people who thought homosexuality ‘morally wrong’ sat at around 15 per cent. About what one might have expected. But what do you think the figure was in that enlightened beacon of progressive diversity which is our capital? 1 per cent? 2 per cent?'
This is the sort of thing that makes Guardian readers heads explode. They encourage and welcome vast numbers of immigrants and then to their horror find they've imported a bunch of people whos views are distinctly 1950s.
In any case, the alleged hole in Scotland's finances from falling oil revenues would be paid several fold over by ending the subsidy of England's debt mountain, ending the London Subsidy (laughingly called UK Wide Government Spending) and reductions in the bloated Arms budget Scotland is saddled paying.
Ending the subsidy of Britain's debt mountain?
The UK borrows for 10 years at 1.8%. What do you think Scotland would be able to borrow at?
As a comparison, socialist paradise petro-states like Venezuela and Ecuador, which are probably the most apposite comparisons, can only borrow in US Dollars, and pay a rather higher interest rate.
Exactly the same rate as any other North European modern economy.
And in the long term, that would be a much better rate than England.
Of course history shows that the borrowing requirements of an Independent Scotland would be negligible.
If we are doing moral calculus, one restaurant bill is hardly doing a Lord Taylor of Warwick either. And Atkinson isn't standing as a candidate now either, so I don't see your point there.
No, you don't see the point.
I don't know what the facts of the case are, of course, but the allegation made by the Sun against Ms Atkinson, appears to be such that, if it were true, it would be fraud and thus a criminal offence.
I indeed don't see the point. first because Burley was almost certainly committing crimes under English and French law, and secondly because some forms of misconduct are so revolting that criminality is a side issue.
Wait, Burley wore a silly outfit. And his behaviour was... worse than criminal...
Really?
Burley thought the mass murder of Jews was funny so yes, really.
Oh, I didn't read his speech where he said that. Could you post a link?
You think "A thinks that B" necessarily implies "A has made a speech, linkable to on the interweb, stating that B"? And you are the genius who keeps putting us right about about Ther Science of global warming and the logical fallacies we can't help ourselves from committing?
If someone hires a Nazi uniform for a friend (he didn't wear one - you don't seem to be very good at ascertaining basic facts despite your devotion to the scientific method), goes to a party where Nazi toasts are given and chants are chanted, and reacts when he's caught out by apologising to the chief Rabbi and popping off to Auschwitz on a journey of self-redemption, then yes: I am confident in stating that, on the balance of probabilities, we are looking at someone who finds the concept of Zyklon-B pretty risible.
If we are doing moral calculus, one restaurant bill is hardly doing a Lord Taylor of Warwick either. And Atkinson isn't standing as a candidate now either, so I don't see your point there.
No, you don't see the point.
I don't know what the facts of the case are, of course, but the allegation made by the Sun against Ms Atkinson, appears to be such that, if it were true, it would be fraud and thus a criminal offence.
I indeed don't see the point. first because Burley was almost certainly committing crimes under English and French law, and secondly because some forms of misconduct are so revolting that criminality is a side issue.
Wait, Burley wore a silly outfit. And his behaviour was... worse than criminal...
Really?
The French thought it should be investigated under French law.
Lab could end austerity on 7/5/15 and stick within their plans according to IFS.
75% of welfare cuts fall on workers according to IFS
You seem remarkably excited by the discovery that Labour would increase borrowing, compared with Osborne. Hadn't you realised that if you borrow more you can spend more, in the short term at least?
Had you realized that we have much worse cuts to come under the Torieswhoever wins the election than those seen so far.
You expect it will be as obvious where these will fall in the manifesto as the VAT increase in 2010 was?
Fixed that for you
Not according to the IFS.
Only those parties who want to wreck the welfare state to give millionaires more tax cuts for political doctrine reasons would need to make cuts worse than already seen.
The conservatives will choose to cut. The others would be compelled to cut against their will by the IMF within 30 months of taking power.
No need for IMF
IFS think Lab plans prudent Tory plans vicious dont they?
So What, who cares what they think. They are just a think tank. I'm sure there are other think tanks out there who think the osborne plan is reasonable and Labour irresponsible but they won't get breathless headlines on the BBC and Channel 4 news.
@chestnut Try again. Since pensioners are to be protected, the money has to come out of a smaller slice of the budget. Go look it up?
Freeze Housing Benefit. Apply an annual squeeze to exhorbitant London Housing Benefit. Freeze Child Benefit, limit to set number of children, reduce max qualifying age from 20 Merge Child benefit and Child tax Credit Introduce 2 year residency qualifying periods across the full range of benefits Rationalise delivery - for example electronic signing at Jobcentres. Relocate all existing london functions to the regions Reform contributory jobseekers allowance, it's utterly pointless. Scrapping class 2 conts should save a few bob in admin. Merge the single payment systems for social fund and winter fuel payments and Christmas bonuses
In any case, the alleged hole in Scotland's finances from falling oil revenues would be paid several fold over by ending the subsidy of England's debt mountain, ending the London Subsidy (laughingly called UK Wide Government Spending) and reductions in the bloated Arms budget Scotland is saddled paying.
Ending the subsidy of Britain's debt mountain?
The UK borrows for 10 years at 1.8%. What do you think Scotland would be able to borrow at?
As a comparison, socialist paradise petro-states like Venezuela and Ecuador, which are probably the most apposite comparisons, can only borrow in US Dollars, and pay a rather higher interest rate.
Exactly the same rate as any other North European modern economy.
And in the long term, that would be a much better rate than England.
Of course history shows that the borrowing requirements of an Independent Scotland would be negligible.
Petro-states tend to pay more to borrow because of the volatility of their income streams. Smaller countries tend to pay more to borrow because investors like liquid assets.
Any guesses on the % of Londoners who thought homosexuality 'morally wrong'??
'the poll also asked respondents whether they think in general that homosexuality is ‘morally acceptable’ or ‘morally wrong’. What do you think the figures were? Well in most regions of the UK those people who thought homosexuality ‘morally wrong’ sat at around 15 per cent. About what one might have expected. But what do you think the figure was in that enlightened beacon of progressive diversity which is our capital? 1 per cent? 2 per cent?'
@chestnut Try again. Since pensioners are to be protected, the money has to come out of a smaller slice of the budget. Go look it up?
Freeze Housing Benefit. Apply an annual squeeze to exhorbitant London Housing Benefit. Freeze Child Benefit, limit to set number of children, reduce max qualifying age from 20 Merge Child benefit and Child tax Credit Introduce 2 year residency qualifying periods across the full range of benefits Rationalise delivery - for example electronic signing at Jobcentres. Relocate all existing london functions to the regions Reform contributory jobseekers allowance, it's utterly pointless. Scrapping class 2 conts should save a few bob in admin. Merge the single payment systems for social fund and winter fuel payments and Christmas bonuses
And that's without looking too deeply.
It really isn't that hard.
Even easier - introduce rent controls with all rents that are more than 67% of the annual minumum wage compulsorily reduced by 5% below inflation per year. You could save the lot on the housing benefit budget without people receiving it losing a penny.
Even more interesting. The Greens are now the third most popular party in Scotland for the Holyrood List vote. The message "SNP Constituency, Green List" is getting through and getting popular
Scottish Parliament constituency ballot :
SNP 49.2% (+1.2) Labour 26.9% (-0.8) Conservatives 12.9% (+0.2) Liberal Democrats 5.0% (+0.3) UKIP 2.2% (-0.1) Greens 3.1% (-0.6)
Scottish Parliament regional list ballot :
SNP 41.3% (+2.7) Labour 22.5% (+0.4) Greens 12.6% (-0.5) Conservatives 11.9% (-0.1) Liberal Democrats 5.7% (-0.8) UKIP 5.0% (-1.5)
If we are doing moral calculus, one restaurant bill is hardly doing a Lord Taylor of Warwick either. And Atkinson isn't standing as a candidate now either, so I don't see your point there.
No, you don't see the point.
I don't know what the facts of the case are, of course, but the allegation made by the Sun against Ms Atkinson, appears to be such that, if it were true, it would be fraud and thus a criminal offence.
I indeed don't see the point. first because Burley was almost certainly committing crimes under English and French law, and secondly because some forms of misconduct are so revolting that criminality is a side issue.
Wait, Burley wore a silly outfit. And his behaviour was... worse than criminal...
Really?
The French thought it should be investigated under French law.
At 2-3% interest that is £30-45 billion pounds a year interest payments
If the markets lose confidence then that interest rate goes up to 5 or 7% which means £75-105 Billion a year in interest.
Sorry but Browns profiligacy ensured a national debt which means the moneymen have the government by the balls whoever is in power, even if it were Balls.
Nope. Not hat serious.
I believe that about 75% of the gilts in issue are at a fixed rate.
@chestnut Try again. Since pensioners are to be protected, the money has to come out of a smaller slice of the budget. Go look it up?
Freeze Housing Benefit. Apply an annual squeeze to exhorbitant London Housing Benefit. Freeze Child Benefit, limit to set number of children, reduce max qualifying age from 20 Merge Child benefit and Child tax Credit Introduce 2 year residency qualifying periods across the full range of benefits Rationalise delivery - for example electronic signing at Jobcentres. Relocate all existing london functions to the regions Reform contributory jobseekers allowance, it's utterly pointless. Scrapping class 2 conts should save a few bob in admin. Merge the single payment systems for social fund and winter fuel payments and Christmas bonuses
And that's without looking too deeply.
It really isn't that hard.
Hopefully the Tories will tell us if that is what they plan and if that gets anywhere near £12bn i doubt it myself.
At least if they are transparent people can vote accordingly.
In any case, the alleged hole in Scotland's finances from falling oil revenues would be paid several fold over by ending the subsidy of England's debt mountain, ending the London Subsidy (laughingly called UK Wide Government Spending) and reductions in the bloated Arms budget Scotland is saddled paying.
Ending the subsidy of Britain's debt mountain?
The UK borrows for 10 years at 1.8%. What do you think Scotland would be able to borrow at?
As a comparison, socialist paradise petro-states like Venezuela and Ecuador, which are probably the most apposite comparisons, can only borrow in US Dollars, and pay a rather higher interest rate.
Exactly the same rate as any other North European modern economy.
And in the long term, that would be a much better rate than England.
Of course history shows that the borrowing requirements of an Independent Scotland would be negligible.
Er...... Scotland would be a new sovereign (without its own currency?) and an unknown quantity. Not sure what history you are referring to.
If we are doing moral calculus, one restaurant bill is hardly doing a Lord Taylor of Warwick either. And Atkinson isn't standing as a candidate now either, so I don't see your point there.
No, you don't see the point.
I don't know what the facts of the case are, of course, but the allegation made by the Sun against Ms Atkinson, appears to be such that, if it were true, it would be fraud and thus a criminal offence.
I indeed don't see the point. first because Burley was almost certainly committing crimes under English and French law, and secondly because some forms of misconduct are so revolting that criminality is a side issue.
Wait, Burley wore a silly outfit. And his behaviour was... worse than criminal...
Really?
The French thought it should be investigated under French law.
In any case, the alleged hole in Scotland's finances from falling oil revenues would be paid several fold over by ending the subsidy of England's debt mountain, ending the London Subsidy (laughingly called UK Wide Government Spending) and reductions in the bloated Arms budget Scotland is saddled paying.
Ending the subsidy of Britain's debt mountain?
The UK borrows for 10 years at 1.8%. What do you think Scotland would be able to borrow at?
As a comparison, socialist paradise petro-states like Venezuela and Ecuador, which are probably the most apposite comparisons, can only borrow in US Dollars, and pay a rather higher interest rate.
Exactly the same rate as any other North European modern economy.
And in the long term, that would be a much better rate than England.
Of course history shows that the borrowing requirements of an Independent Scotland would be negligible.
Petro-states tend to pay more to borrow because of the volatility of their income streams. Smaller countries tend to pay more to borrow because investors like liquid assets.
And what history is this of which you refer?
Love the attempted weasel words. "Petro-state" I suppose Norway with its 30% of economy reliant on oil is one of your Petro-states?
What does that make England? It is over-reliant on Casino Banking which makes up as larger a portion of its economy as oil does in Scotland. Oil is down below 10% of the Scottish economy on the new numbers. Casino Banking is still 15% to 20% depending on your measure.
Of course the big difference here is that there is NOTHING not one thing that requires Casino Banks to be based in London. You can't drill Scottish oil from another country.
You do understand that this is an argument that's already been had and the Unionists lost? Polling on the issue shows that Scots generally do not believe the lies that come from London. They don't believe they will end up as the Pakistan of Europe. Even if you had the evidence and proof that you clearly lack, you still can't achieve anything with the line of thinking.
If we are doing moral calculus, one restaurant bill is hardly doing a Lord Taylor of Warwick either. And Atkinson isn't standing as a candidate now either, so I don't see your point there.
No, you don't see the point.
I don't know what the facts of the case are, of course, but the allegation made by the Sun against Ms Atkinson, appears to be such that, if it were true, it would be attempted fraud and thus a criminal offence. Of course there may be a perfectly innocent explanation, but UKIP's own statement is pretty strong.
The odd thing is that the Sun story says that it was her aide who paid the bill & then was filmed "renegotiating" the bill. So where's the smoking gun?
In any case, the alleged hole in Scotland's finances from falling oil revenues would be paid several fold over by ending the subsidy of England's debt mountain, ending the London Subsidy (laughingly called UK Wide Government Spending) and reductions in the bloated Arms budget Scotland is saddled paying.
Ending the subsidy of Britain's debt mountain?
The UK borrows for 10 years at 1.8%. What do you think Scotland would be able to borrow at?
As a comparison, socialist paradise petro-states like Venezuela and Ecuador, which are probably the most apposite comparisons, can only borrow in US Dollars, and pay a rather higher interest rate.
Exactly the same rate as any other North European modern economy.
And in the long term, that would be a much better rate than England.
Of course history shows that the borrowing requirements of an Independent Scotland would be negligible.
Er...... Scotland would be a new sovereign (without its own currency?) and an unknown quantity. Not sure what history you are referring to.
There would be nothing new about the Scottish economy. It is already a known quantity with known output figures and quanta. The drivel arguments equating Scotland to a newly independent African state fall on deaf ears yet still Loyalists insist on proferring them.
Hard enough that Ozzie and Dave don't want to talk about it till after the election apparently?
I am still waiting to see Darling's plan for deficit reduction....I think never got past the blank paper stage. I mean I guess this time Labour have got two approaches. BANKERS BONUS TAX and MANSION TAX. Unfortunately, they have already spent the money many times over on 20 different things.
I await Labour's deficit reduction plan with much anticipation. Simply saying our cuts will be less nasty than the Tories cuts doesn't wash.
Ignoring posts like Roger's meal with his mate.. and Rosaree's ridiculous posts what actual vibes are you getting re Budget 2015???. I've met lots of people but not a soul has mentioned it in any way whatsoever.
I phone-canvassed 30-odd this evening who had doorstep-canvassed as undecided. A few said they would vote Labour, a couple said they were Tory, the rest sounded not very interested at all. Nobody mentioned the Budget, either positively or negatively. The one who engaged most interestingly was a woman in her 70s, who compared the current Middle East with Wolf Hall Britain ("we did plenty of beheading, and even demolished holy relics, just like ISIS") and expressed puzzlement that young people didn't seem as scared of the future as most people did when she grew up.
Hard enough that Ozzie and Dave don't want to talk about it till after the election apparently?
I am still waiting to see Darling's plan for deficit reduction....I think never got past the blank paper stage. I mean I guess this time Labour have got two approaches. BANKERS BONUS TAX and MANSION TAX. Unfortunately, they have already spent the money many times over on 20 different things.
I await Labour's deficit reduction plan with much anticipation. Simply saying our cuts will be less nasty than the Tories cuts doesn't wash.
But Lab dont need to make any cuts according to IFS on C4
An independent Scotland wanted to keep the Pound, so the SNP presumably did not believe they could set up a new currency and borrow easily.
That depends how you expect the negotiations would play out.
My belief is that the negotiations would "break down" allowing Scotland to walk away with no English Subsidy to pay and end up being "forced" to launch a new currency.
The main challenge would be much like that of Norway, managing to keep a lid on the appreciation but all in all I would expect Scotland would find a way.
In any case, the alleged hole in Scotland's finances from falling oil revenues would be paid several fold over by ending the subsidy of England's debt mountain, ending the London Subsidy (laughingly called UK Wide Government Spending) and reductions in the bloated Arms budget Scotland is saddled paying.
Ending the subsidy of Britain's debt mountain?
The UK borrows for 10 years at 1.8%. What do you think Scotland would be able to borrow at?
As a comparison, socialist paradise petro-states like Venezuela and Ecuador, which are probably the most apposite comparisons, can only borrow in US Dollars, and pay a rather higher interest rate.
Exactly the same rate as any other North European modern economy.
And in the long term, that would be a much better rate than England.
Of course history shows that the borrowing requirements of an Independent Scotland would be negligible.
Er...... Scotland would be a new sovereign (without its own currency?) and an unknown quantity. Not sure what history you are referring to.
There would be nothing new about the Scottish economy. It is already a known quantity with known output figures and quanta. The drivel arguments equating Scotland to a newly independent African state fall on deaf ears yet still Loyalists insist on proferring them.
There WOULD be something new about a Scottish sovereign. Countries which have a long history of solvency are treated favourably by the bond market. Scotland as a new sovereign would be in a different category. I suspect borrowing wouldn't be too much of a problem though if you could sort the currency situation out.
DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I FLY: TORY CLIMATE CHANGE MINISTER RACKS UP £22K BILL ON INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS.....weeks before standing down as a minister and announcing his retirement from politics, the Sun has reported.
Hard enough that Ozzie and Dave don't want to talk about it till after the election apparently?
I am still waiting to see Darling's plan for deficit reduction....I think never got past the blank paper stage. I mean I guess this time Labour have got two approaches. BANKERS BONUS TAX and MANSION TAX. Unfortunately, they have already spent the money many times over on 20 different things.
I await Labour's deficit reduction plan with much anticipation. Simply saying our cuts will be less nasty than the Tories cuts doesn't wash.
But Lab dont need to make any cuts according to IFS on C4
We've known that since the IFS said the SNP were right last week. Albeit suggesting £165bn of additional spending rather than £180bn was the way to go.
In any case, the alleged hole in Scotland's finances from falling oil revenues would be paid several fold over by ending the subsidy of England's debt mountain, ending the London Subsidy (laughingly called UK Wide Government Spending) and reductions in the bloated Arms budget Scotland is saddled paying.
Ending the subsidy of Britain's debt mountain?
The UK borrows for 10 years at 1.8%. What do you think Scotland would be able to borrow at?
As a comparison, socialist paradise petro-states like Venezuela and Ecuador, which are probably the most apposite comparisons, can only borrow in US Dollars, and pay a rather higher interest rate.
Exactly the same rate as any other North European modern economy.
And in the long term, that would be a much better rate than England.
Of course history shows that the borrowing requirements of an Independent Scotland would be negligible.
Er...... Scotland would be a new sovereign (without its own currency?) and an unknown quantity. Not sure what history you are referring to.
There would be nothing new about the Scottish economy. It is already a known quantity with known output figures and quanta. The drivel arguments equating Scotland to a newly independent African state fall on deaf ears yet still Loyalists insist on proferring them.
There WOULD be something new about a Scottish sovereign. Countries which have a long history of solvency are treated favourably by the bond market. Scotland as a new sovereign would be in a different category. I suspect borrowing wouldn't be too much of a problem though if you could sort the currency situation out.
National credit ratings are not like personal credit ratings. The vast bulk of the work done by the ratings agencies is based on future expectations, quite different to how personal ratings work - based entirely on past history.
Attempts to relate National considerations to personal ones are bizarre. Its also dangerous as we can see in the apparent public perception that National Debt somehow needs to be "Paid Back" like a Credit card. It doesn't. It can be eliminated through Inflation and/or Growth and never repaid.
@Charles Are many of your friends and relatives using foodbanks, or going hungry? Tell them to get in touch and we can organize some second hand clothes for their kids.
Food banks not so much.
But we spend a lot of time and effort on adult literacy, recidivism, breaking down gang culture, and education.
I'm going to post this link, because it is an absolutely phenomenal organisation that we backed when it was a start up. Please look at some of the videos on the site.
@chestnut And before you grace me with another comment, try understanding that Ozzie delivered a budget speech yesterday, not a party manifesto. It may have sounded like one, but I am sure even he wouldn't stoop so low*. *(actually, the slimy little sh*t could limbo dance under a snake!)
The "as it used to be" was just a bad patch that lasted about 30 years, and ended about 15 years ago. Liverpool is manifestly returning to what it previously was, one of the great cities of the world.
@Charles Are many of your friends and relatives using foodbanks, or going hungry? Tell them to get in touch and we can organize some second hand clothes for their kids.
Food banks not so much.
But we spend a lot of time and effort on adult literacy, recidivism, breaking down gang culture, and education.
I'm going to post this link, because it is an absolutely phenomenal organisation that we backed when it was a start up. Please look at some of the videos on the site.
Whats wrong with kids wearing second hand clothes. My kids have always worn a fair chunk of second hand clothes and handme downs. Often hardly worn. The sad thing is that when they grow out of them its really hard to find anyone who wants them (free). Basically all too proud.
As for food banks. Got my own. Called an allotment and a chicken coop.
You mean like a secret? Strange, after the budget, there was a firm conviction here that there was no secret?
There must obviously be things that are being kept back for manifestos among other things. Wouldn't you be disappointed if Ed had shown his full hand already?
If you read between the lines - digital tax returns, streamlined single universal credit, abolition of the class 2 NI system, NHS records online, car tax disc scrapped and online, virtual scrapping of ISAs - it's fairly clear that there will be a big modernisation and rationalisation project within the civil service.
And here are the key points from the opening statement by Paul Johnson, the Institute for Fiscal Studies director, at the IFS’s post-budget briefing.
Johnson said, if you consider tax and benefit changes introduced by the coalition, “the poorest have seen the biggest proportionate losses”.
This is after the 2014 budget, but I don't think there were that many material changes yesterday. It's not the one I say (which was quintiles) but chart 2C has the same message (shown in deciles instead
'My belief is that the negotiations would "break down" allowing Scotland to walk away with no English Subsidy to pay and end up being "forced" to launch a new currency.'
If that happened rUK wouldn't need to pay any Scottish subsidy either.
You know it says a lot about where we are when there was a Scotland wide poll earlier, it gave 47% SNP to 26% Labour and it has barely been worthy of comment.
@Charles Are many of your friends and relatives using foodbanks, or going hungry? Tell them to get in touch and we can organize some second hand clothes for their kids.
Food banks not so much.
But we spend a lot of time and effort on adult literacy, recidivism, breaking down gang culture, and education.
I'm going to post this link, because it is an absolutely phenomenal organisation that we backed when it was a start up. Please look at some of the videos on the site.
Whats wrong with kids wearing second hand clothes. My kids have always worn a fair chunk of second hand clothes and handme downs. Often hardly worn. The sad thing is that when they grow out of them its really hard to find anyone who wants them (free). Basically all too proud.
As for food banks. Got my own. Called an allotment and a chicken coop.
My daughter is currently wearing her great aunt's hand me downs...
@chestnut And before you grace me with another comment, try understanding that Ozzie delivered a budget speech yesterday, not a party manifesto. It may have sounded like one, but I am sure even he wouldn't stoop so low*. *(actually, the slimy little sh*t could limbo dance under a snake!)
@chestnut I repeat again, it was a BUDGET, not a MANIFESTO! Or at least, that is how it is supposed to work .
"The Chancellor used his hour-long speech to set out what would be Labour’s strategy for an election campaign, focusing on persuading voters that Gordon Brown had successfully navigated Britain through the worst of the recession.
But the Conservatives branded it the “empty Budget”, with key decisions being delayed until after polling day."
@chestnut I repeat again, it was a BUDGET, not a MANIFESTO! Or at least, that is how it is supposed to work .
"The Chancellor used his hour-long speech to set out what would be Labour’s strategy for an election campaign, focusing on persuading voters that Gordon Brown had successfully navigated Britain through the worst of the recession.
But the Conservatives branded it the “empty Budget”, with key decisions being delayed until after polling day."
If we are doing moral calculus, one restaurant bill is hardly doing a Lord Taylor of Warwick either. And Atkinson isn't standing as a candidate now either, so I don't see your point there.
No, you don't see the point.
I don't know what the facts of the case are, of course, but the allegation made by the Sun against Ms Atkinson, appears to be such that, if it were true, it would be fraud and thus a criminal offence.
I indeed don't see the point. first because Burley was almost certainly committing crimes under English and French law, and secondly because some forms of misconduct are so revolting that criminality is a side issue.
Wait, Burley wore a silly outfit. And his behaviour was... worse than criminal...
Really?
Burley thought the mass murder of Jews was funny so yes, really.
Oh, I didn't read his speech where he said that. Could you post a link?
You think "A thinks that B" necessarily implies "A has made a speech, linkable to on the interweb, stating that B"? And you are the genius who keeps putting us right about about Ther Science of global warming and the logical fallacies we can't help ourselves from committing?
If someone hires a Nazi uniform for a friend (he didn't wear one - you don't seem to be very good at ascertaining basic facts despite your devotion to the scientific method), goes to a party where Nazi toasts are given and chants are chanted, and reacts when he's caught out by apologising to the chief Rabbi and popping off to Auschwitz on a journey of self-redemption, then yes: I am confident in stating that, on the balance of probabilities, we are looking at someone who finds the concept of Zyklon-B pretty risible.
I hope that answers your question.
It was well answered. So good I'm sure Mr X will be delighted to hear your explanation of Ed Balls dressing up in a nazi uniform as well.
I see the PB Lefties are still very tetchy after the budget - yet more evidence that Ozzy got it right. Oh can they remind us which of the measures Ed Balls has pledged today to reverse?
Your link is interesting, not just for the gurning Farage in the photos but the two ladies he is flanked by in both. Atkinson and James. Both selected as candidates for seats in 2015 general election and now both of them standing down after being selected. In James' case just hours after making a speech at the UKIP conference. Farage is getting positively Brownian in the Photo-op Of Death stakes.
You know it says a lot about where we are when there was a Scotland wide poll earlier, it gave 47% SNP to 26% Labour and it has barely been worthy of comment.
If it didn't show a Tory surge, what does it matter??!
@GoodallGiles: #Ukip has now suspended 18 councillors, 14 candidates, 2 MEPs, 1 national secretary, 1 youth sec, 1 Scottish chair & an entire local branch
Just the opposite. The facts changed. Instead of doing what Labour or Tory do and try and argue black is white, the SNP have just accepted the numbers, adjusted their outlook and moved on.
Hence : -
New full-scale Scottish poll from Survation -
SNP 47.1% Labour 28.0% Conservatives 14.5% Liberal Democrats 4.0% UKIP 3.4% Greens 2.3%
The SNP gave a range of figures based on what they perceived. Their perceptions were wrong. ie ''admit for the first time that the SNP had got its independence predictions for North Sea oil wrong'' The facts did not change. Here is a fact ''the growing shortfall in Scotland’s finances is the equivalent of a 17p hike in income tax.'' and anotherone ''Two years ago, the OBR predicted that oil would generate £4.4 billion in 2017/18 but the Scottish Government insisted revenues would be as high as £11.8 billion.''
In any case, the alleged hole in Scotland's finances from falling oil revenues would be paid several fold over by ending the subsidy of England's debt mountain, ending the London Subsidy (laughingly called UK Wide Government Spending) and reductions in the bloated Arms budget Scotland is saddled paying.
You are amusing. Although since your grasp of reality is so unhinged I will suggest to everyone we do not laugh.
DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I FLY: TORY CLIMATE CHANGE MINISTER RACKS UP £22K BILL ON INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS.....weeks before standing down as a minister and announcing his retirement from politics, the Sun has reported.
Comments
thats what it said
Are there enough Masochists to vote for that.
Obviously golden generation members like flightpath only need to be sadists as they expect to get away scot free but love to see the future generations suffer (presumably?)
The IMF, whatever next?
Will the Tories start scaremongering again about a credit rating downgrade? Will they say, like they did in 2010, that only they can protect our AAA ratings?
Oh hang on, what was that? They already lost it. Oh dear.
Really?
Unfortunately, the Tories won't repeal Gordon OAP bribes, and Labour "plan" wont save any money just increase paperwork.
Try again. Since pensioners are to be protected, the money has to come out of a smaller slice of the budget.
Go look it up?
In any case, the alleged hole in Scotland's finances from falling oil revenues would be paid several fold over by ending the subsidy of England's debt mountain, ending the London Subsidy (laughingly called UK Wide Government Spending) and reductions in the bloated Arms budget Scotland is saddled paying.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0947ebf8-c7f4-11e4-8210-00144feab7de.html
Rather a good effort by Philip Stephens behind the FT paywall. Starts off with a nice anecdote from a government official who quickly took the view of the new PM in 2010 that he saw the rest of the world as 'somewhere to go on holiday.'
The rest of the article is a demolition job of Dave's non-foreign policy. Be it in Europe or elsewhere he's left an empty chair at the global table. The foreign office has become nothing more than an extension of UK plc. At the same time Cameron insists on maintaining a continual at sea nuclear deterrant and aircraft carriers of quetionable use. For what reason though? Presumably because we're British. He also says he wants to stay in the EU but never tells us why.
Stephens does miss a significant point to my mind though. Whilst this attitude might seem unsurprising for an incurious home counties Tory PM, he makes no mention of the fact that this is a coalition government and one of its two members is the hardcore internationalist Lib Dems. The withdrawl of the UK from world affairs is just another thing for the traditional yellow base to feel disillusioned about.
You need to save £12bn from the remaining £75bn presumably?
http://www.politics.hu/20150319/ministry-said-to-have-paid-for-luxury-paris-getaway-for-defense-minister-mistress/
Why not make it up out of VAT receipts?
The charts I've seen show that the richest quintile has done the worst, followed by the poorest quintile.
Its got to come from somewhere, I don't particularly want it to come from me as I think I can put the money to better use.
If they don't abolish the English Subsidy as the first act of an Independent Scottish parliament then a party standing on that issue will romp home.
'the poll also asked respondents whether they think in general that homosexuality is ‘morally acceptable’ or ‘morally wrong’. What do you think the figures were? Well in most regions of the UK those people who thought homosexuality ‘morally wrong’ sat at around 15 per cent. About what one might have expected. But what do you think the figure was in that enlightened beacon of progressive diversity which is our capital? 1 per cent? 2 per cent?'
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2015/03/is-londons-diversity-to-blame-for-its-unprogressive-views-on-homosexuality/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
The UK borrows for 10 years at 1.8%. What do you think Scotland would be able to borrow at?
As a comparison, socialist paradise petro-states like Venezuela and Ecuador, which are probably the most apposite comparisons, can only borrow in US Dollars, and pay a rather higher interest rate.
Are many of your friends and relatives using foodbanks, or going hungry?
Tell them to get in touch and we can organize some second hand clothes for their kids.
They will all start voting UKIP next......
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2015/mar/19/george-osbornes-post-budget-inteviews-politics-live-blog
And in the long term, that would be a much better rate than England.
Of course history shows that the borrowing requirements of an Independent Scotland would be negligible.
The richest quintile has done worst for income, but QE has boosted the value of their assets (probably temporarily).
Paul Johnson's IFS post-budget briefing - Summary
And here are the key points from the opening statement by Paul Johnson, the Institute for Fiscal Studies director, at the IFS’s post-budget briefing.
Johnson said, if you consider tax and benefit changes introduced by the coalition, “the poorest have seen the biggest proportionate losses”.
If someone hires a Nazi uniform for a friend (he didn't wear one - you don't seem to be very good at ascertaining basic facts despite your devotion to the scientific method), goes to a party where Nazi toasts are given and chants are chanted, and reacts when he's caught out by apologising to the chief Rabbi and popping off to Auschwitz on a journey of self-redemption, then yes: I am confident in stating that, on the balance of probabilities, we are looking at someone who finds the concept of Zyklon-B pretty risible.
I hope that answers your question.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-16299035
Freeze Child Benefit, limit to set number of children, reduce max qualifying age from 20
Merge Child benefit and Child tax Credit
Introduce 2 year residency qualifying periods across the full range of benefits
Rationalise delivery - for example electronic signing at Jobcentres.
Relocate all existing london functions to the regions
Reform contributory jobseekers allowance, it's utterly pointless.
Scrapping class 2 conts should save a few bob in admin.
Merge the single payment systems for social fund and winter fuel payments and Christmas bonuses
And that's without looking too deeply.
It really isn't that hard.
And what history is this of which you refer?
Scottish Parliament constituency ballot :
SNP 49.2% (+1.2)
Labour 26.9% (-0.8)
Conservatives 12.9% (+0.2)
Liberal Democrats 5.0% (+0.3)
UKIP 2.2% (-0.1)
Greens 3.1% (-0.6)
Scottish Parliament regional list ballot :
SNP 41.3% (+2.7)
Labour 22.5% (+0.4)
Greens 12.6% (-0.5)
Conservatives 11.9% (-0.1)
Liberal Democrats 5.7% (-0.8)
UKIP 5.0% (-1.5)
Do you believe someone wearing a Ku Klux Klan outfit at a fancy dress party is guilty of a crime of moral turpitude?
At least if they are transparent people can vote accordingly.
Hard enough that Ozzie and Dave don't want to talk about it till after the election apparently?
Grrrrr Android.
What does that make England? It is over-reliant on Casino Banking which makes up as larger a portion of its economy as oil does in Scotland. Oil is down below 10% of the Scottish economy on the new numbers. Casino Banking is still 15% to 20% depending on your measure.
Of course the big difference here is that there is NOTHING not one thing that requires Casino Banks to be based in London. You can't drill Scottish oil from another country.
You do understand that this is an argument that's already been had and the Unionists lost? Polling on the issue shows that Scots generally do not believe the lies that come from London. They don't believe they will end up as the Pakistan of Europe. Even if you had the evidence and proof that you clearly lack, you still can't achieve anything with the line of thinking.
In fact UK think tank of the year 2014.
If you have to attack the IFS and the OBR you have lost the argument IMO
I await Labour's deficit reduction plan with much anticipation. Simply saying our cuts will be less nasty than the Tories cuts doesn't wash.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/ukip-mep-janice-atkinson-suspended-and-axed-as-election-candidate-over-financial-allegations-10120992.html
An independent Scotland wanted to keep the Pound, so the SNP presumably did not believe they could set up a new currency and borrow easily.
I wonder why that is?
*innocent face*
Labour showed theirs on funding ideas, and Osborne promptly stole the money (pension allowances, banker levy).
Some things need to to be kept back.
My belief is that the negotiations would "break down" allowing Scotland to walk away with no English Subsidy to pay and end up being "forced" to launch a new currency.
The main challenge would be much like that of Norway, managing to keep a lid on the appreciation but all in all I would expect Scotland would find a way.
DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I FLY: TORY CLIMATE CHANGE MINISTER RACKS UP £22K BILL ON INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS.....weeks before standing down as a minister and announcing his retirement from politics, the Sun has reported.
Well thats one way of taking ones holidays.
Debt or taxes?
"Some things need to to be kept back."
You mean like a secret? Strange, after the budget, there was a firm conviction here that there was no secret?
Attempts to relate National considerations to personal ones are bizarre. Its also dangerous as we can see in the apparent public perception that National Debt somehow needs to be "Paid Back" like a Credit card. It doesn't. It can be eliminated through Inflation and/or Growth and never repaid.
But we spend a lot of time and effort on adult literacy, recidivism, breaking down gang culture, and education.
I'm going to post this link, because it is an absolutely phenomenal organisation that we backed when it was a start up. Please look at some of the videos on the site.
http://readeasy.org.uk/
And before you grace me with another comment, try understanding that Ozzie delivered a budget speech yesterday, not a party manifesto.
It may have sounded like one, but I am sure even he wouldn't stoop so low*.
*(actually, the slimy little sh*t could limbo dance under a snake!)
'IFS think Lab plans prudent Tory plans vicious dont they?'
Since when did the IFS supply the money to fund this country's deficit?
The "as it used to be" was just a bad patch that lasted about 30 years, and ended about 15 years ago. Liverpool is manifestly returning to what it previously was, one of the great cities of the world.
As for food banks. Got my own. Called an allotment and a chicken coop.
If you read between the lines - digital tax returns, streamlined single universal credit, abolition of the class 2 NI system, NHS records online, car tax disc scrapped and online, virtual scrapping of ISAs - it's fairly clear that there will be a big modernisation and rationalisation project within the civil service.
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCIQFjAA&url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/293738/budget_2014_distributional_analysis.pdf&ei=zzcLVfP9DYqAU4rag6gO&usg=AFQjCNHV1GTC4JgKw8gBI6KCe_dXdFW_aA&bvm=bv.88528373,d.d24&cad=rja
'My belief is that the negotiations would "break down" allowing Scotland to walk away with no English Subsidy to pay and end up being "forced" to launch a new currency.'
If that happened rUK wouldn't need to pay any Scottish subsidy either.
I repeat again, it was a BUDGET, not a MANIFESTO!
Or at least, that is how it is supposed to work .
"Wake up - it was Brown who ruined our finances. "
The world's finances?
Grow up.
But the Conservatives branded it the “empty Budget”, with key decisions being delayed until after polling day."
March 2010.
They all do it.
So, we can brand Ozzie's attempt as empty as well then?
Just a blowing off of rectal gasses by a clueless little posh boy?
"Just vote for it, you don't need to know what you are voting for"
Osborne accused of pork barrel politics over funds to fight kebab-stealing seagulls.
Spreads are pretty close to my guesses, though I think I have UKIP doing worse, and the SNP perhaps better.
How do you know Ozzie got it right, when even the financial experts can't work out where he is getting the savings from?
Atkinson and James. Both selected as candidates for seats in 2015 general election and now both of them standing down after being selected. In James' case just hours after making a speech at the UKIP conference.
Farage is getting positively Brownian in the Photo-op Of Death stakes.
Osborne's record is good. Balls was one of Brown's apprentices.
@GoodallGiles: #Ukip has now suspended 18 councillors, 14 candidates, 2 MEPs, 1 national secretary, 1 youth sec, 1 Scottish chair & an entire local branch