£199bn off forecast. Which as I pointed out before, shows that predicting the future borrowing of a government, since it is not a metaphorical island, is difficult.
Osborne is cutting into what the spend would have been otherwise. It's a very different thing to Brown's never ending spending on expanding the state. Any idiot can spend more money. The insane Cheshire cat smile that Brown always exhibited when he gave himself 10/10 for doing so is the mark of the man. The worst Chancellor we have ever had, and the worst PM anyone has ever had.
Osborne, although no means perfect, is doing a decent job.
Full text of statement - including the cheeky Waterloo bit:
"And while we’re at it, we’ll make sure the site of the Battle of Waterloo is restored in time for the 200th anniversary, to commemorate those who died there and to celebrate a great victory of coalition forces over a discredited former regime that had impoverished millions."
He didn't seriously say that did he? Christ that is pathetic.
Wasn't that when some sort of German army pulled our chestnuts out the fire?
Wellington's army was about one third british, the rest were dutch or german.
Well, anything that compliments the Germans & the Dutch & pisses off the French can't be all bad.....
Wasn't the battle won on the playing fields of Eton?
No - Wellington hated his time at Eton & there weren't any playing fields there at the time anyway.
The famous quote attributed to Wellington "The battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton" was probably apocryphal. (Wikipedia). A contributor on nother website says" the words were written by Montalembert in 'De l'Avenir Politique de l'Angleterre". The website, looks to be considerably less reliable than Wikipedia
What evidence is there that George Osborne was hidden away from the cameras during the run up to GE 2010?
I remember hearing him do an hour on R5 answering questions from the public, he did the debates, he was constantly on telly being scrutinised over Tory economic plans.
Was he really hidden away? Or are Tim and Pork talking rubbish to deflect from Labour copying all of Osborne's spending policies?
Blucher may have been a little tardy at Waterloo but it could have been worse, we could have been waiting for the Yanks. They wouldn't have arrived until about 1817.
Politicians don't make good comedians when they're trying to be funny. When they're not trying though ....
Blucher may have been a little tardy at Waterloo but it could have been worse, we could have been waiting for the Yanks. They wouldn't have arrived until about 1817.
Politicians don't make good comedians when they're trying to be funny. When they're not trying though ....
The Yanks were on the other side!!! Remember the events of 1812-1814? Washington being burnt and all that?
Evening all, How long would a claimant be given to learn English? Or do they have to achieve a minimum standard before they can claim. I agree with posters who say that this is only a gimmick.
As I understand it, they only need to sign up to a Government-funded language course. They don't have to actually learn anything. I suppose it might help some, but primarily it's of course a bit of populist nonsense.
£199bn off forecast. Which as I pointed out before, shows that predicting the future borrowing of a government, since it is not a metaphorical island, is difficult.
I must say I think the anti-Osborne brigade are on to something with this burger business. The idea that he eats takeaway burgers in plastic packaging, and (it pains me to say) not only at his desk but also in a car, is the one fault which shakes my otherwise complete confidence in his judgement.
As far as I know there is no current requirement on someone claiming JSA who does not speak English, to do so. If a local course is available I suppose a Jobcentre adviser could direct someone to attend, but I am not sure how successful that would be.
In fact it would be very easy to deem them "unavailable for work" and disallow benefits, but in practice this is not done.
£199bn off forecast. Which as I pointed out before, shows that predicting the future borrowing of a government, since it is not a metaphorical island, is difficult.
Yes, now that I have seen the clip on C4 news I would agree with your analysis. Having to attend free language lessons to learn the world's most popular language aint much of a disincentive. In addition it will presumably bugger up the business plans of anyone currently offering ESOL courses.
Evening all, How long would a claimant be given to learn English? Or do they have to achieve a minimum standard before they can claim. I agree with posters who say that this is only a gimmick.
As I understand it, they only need to sign up to a Government-funded language course. They don't have to actually learn anything. I suppose it might help some, but primarily it's of course a bit of populist nonsense.
Populist nonsense? Someone who chooses to come and live in the UK should surely be expected to learn English at their own expense. Or alternatively should support themselves without recourse to the State, e.g. by depending on relatives if they cannot find work.
Regardless of today the Tories need to win voters that stuck with Brown in 2010.
This is their political play. If it doesn't work Cameron and Osborne are out. I know for a lot of posters it's boring going on about electoral math but it is necessary. The Tories are miles off making gains. ScottP et al can post all they like but that's the reality.
Hopefully the next two years isn't like 2008. Lot's of over confident Tory PB posters calling things wrong left right and center cos they can't see what is right in front of them.
Said Wellington: “What’s the location of this battle I’ve won for the nation?” They replied: “Waterloo.” He said: “That’ll do. What a glorious name for a station.”
Michael Savage @michaelsavage So £5bn out of £11.5bn coming from "efficiency savings". Sounds heroic. Difficult to check. #SR2013
They've already achieved more savings in departmental spending than they said they would in 2010, so not really very heroic.
And borrowed £245 Billion more than they said in 2010, and spent more than Labour were. Bring on the efficiency savings!
tim
Do please stop this nonsense about Osborne spending more than Labour.
It is like saying Osborne spent more this year than Harold Wilson did in 1975, when public spending was 49.7 % of GDP.
Any meaningful comparison of annual spending has to be adjusted for inflation.
Quote me any reliable source which shows that Osborne has spent more than Brown in real terms.
Otherwise withdraw your bogus claims.
AveryLP: actually, I suspect that - adjusted for inflation - Osborne is spending around the same as Darling was at the end of his tenure. If you go to Trading Economics (http://www.tradingeconomics.com/united-kingdom/government-spending) you can see the raw numbers. Having slightly higher than anticipated unemployment and weaker than expected economic growth will account for pretty much the entire issue, I would guess.
By the way, if you (as in tim or anyone else) wants to see what *real* austerity looks like, then check out the following government spending charts:
I haven't done the inflation adjustments to the spending and receipts figures but you don't need to. The picture is very clear from the nominal figures.
Sounds like a reasonable approach for our European partners to take, I don't see a problem
[edit] hmm you edited that after my reply. I'm not sure healthcare is relevant, and after all there are reciprocal agreements between European countries. But speaking the language is very relevant when claiming work-age benefits. So I would fully support the Germans in requiring a good working standard of German to claim unemployment benefit.
And then again there are non-EU languages: Turkish, Nepalese, Somali etc for which your argument has no relevance.
#taffys - they get translators. The claim should usually be made online but will probably be done by phone with a translator, alternatively they might be booked into a Jobcentre to have a form filled in with a translator present.
Osborne comes over as too political for his own good – for as soon as as people start thinking that then he’s failed. He’s just another politico trying to hang on to his job. All this is offset by the fact that his opposite number, Ed Balls, is precisely the same.
But does politics have to be like this? Mike Smithson
"Regardless of today the Tories need to win voters that stuck with Brown in 2010."
IOS , Londoner and inheritance millionaire Edward Miliband is unlikely to perform as well as Gordon Brown did in Scotland.
Scotland? That's what you Tories are pinning your hopes on? Scotland? My word.
IOS is of course spot on. Optimistic Tories talk vaguely of economic improvement, and the choice between Miliband and Cameron.
Forgetting that Cameron rates no better than Miliband amongst the public, and missing the crucial point about the electoral maths. Just where are all these Tories going to come from to deprive Miliband a majority, never mind give the Tories a victory? 2010 Brown voters going Cameron? Scotland is a better bet...
So will they have to make their claim in English in the future? or can they still claim in a foreign language as long as they sign up for English classes (which they then won't go to).
Ahh Richard Dodd trots out the classic headless chicken line. It's all so easy for the PB Tories. A little bit of put down to make them feel better. Sadly for them it's all very superficial. As is the Tory campaign.
Just like last time it's all smoke and mirrors. And just like last time they will miss what's right in front of them.
"Regardless of today the Tories need to win voters that stuck with Brown in 2010."
IOS , Londoner and inheritance millionaire Edward Miliband is unlikely to perform as well as Gordon Brown did in Scotland.
Scotland? That's what you Tories are pinning your hopes on? Scotland? My word.
IOS is of course spot on. Optimistic Tories talk vaguely of economic improvement, and the choice between Miliband and Cameron.
Forgetting that Cameron rates no better than Miliband amongst the public, and missing the crucial point about the electoral maths. Just where are all these Tories going to come from to deprive Miliband a majority, never mind give the Tories a victory? 2010 Brown voters going Cameron? Scotland is a better bet...
carl , Scotland may well be out of the Westminster political frame by 2015 . Only a fool would bet against Salmond.
Which was the perfectly sensible response. You dont slash spending in the immediate aftermath of a financial crisis.
In 2009-10 Brown plugged a £98 bn current account deficit with additional borrowing of £157 bn.
That is not the action of a sensible man.
Remember these figures exclude the amount he borrowed to bail out the banks.
Would you like to know how much that was?
I believe Scotland's Brown and Darling sanctioned a bank rescue package totalling some £500 billion (approximately $850 billion) in 2008 to save the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Bank of Scotland . Apologies if I've underestimated.
A new line is a new line..if it is not a new line then it is an upgraded line..That is not what was said..How can you spin a new line as not being one..and 200mph plus is most definitely High Speed
Michael Savage @michaelsavage So £5bn out of £11.5bn coming from "efficiency savings". Sounds heroic. Difficult to check. #SR2013
They've already achieved more savings in departmental spending than they said they would in 2010, so not really very heroic.
And borrowed £245 Billion more than they said in 2010, and spent more than Labour were. Bring on the efficiency savings!
tim
Do please stop this nonsense about Osborne spending more than Labour.
It is like saying Osborne spent more this year than Harold Wilson did in 1975, when public spending was 49.7 % of GDP.
Any meaningful comparison of annual spending has to be adjusted for inflation.
Quote me any reliable source which shows that Osborne has spent more than Brown in real terms.
Otherwise withdraw your bogus claims.
AveryLP: actually, I suspect that - adjusted for inflation - Osborne is spending around the same as Darling was at the end of his tenure. If you go to Trading Economics (http://www.tradingeconomics.com/united-kingdom/government-spending) you can see the raw numbers. Having slightly higher than anticipated unemployment and weaker than expected economic growth will account for pretty much the entire issue, I would guess.
By the way, if you (as in tim or anyone else) wants to see what *real* austerity looks like, then check out the following government spending charts:
I haven't done the inflation adjustments to the spending and receipts figures but you don't need to. The picture is very clear from the nominal figures.
No sane person can look at these figures and conclude that the story is one of Osborne spending more than Brown/Darling.
Only tim would claim that.
Osborne has spent, and forecasts he will spend more than Brown did in any year as Chancellor.Every year. And so far has spent at least as much as Darling did post crash.Every year. Facts
A new line is a new line..if it is not a new line then it is an upgraded line..That is not what was said..How can you spin a new line as not being one..and 200mph plus is most definitely High Speed
HS2 involves cutting across huge swathes of countryside, through villages etc
Upgrading existing lines means putting new lines where existing ones were already...existing!
Populist nonsense? Someone who chooses to come and live in the UK should surely be expected to learn English at their own expense. Or alternatively should support themselves without recourse to the State, e.g. by depending on relatives if they cannot find work.
That's not the proposal, however. The proposal is that they should sign up for a course (funded by the Government). There is (as I understand it) no proposal to test whether they succeed in learning English. It's a classic "Jump through this hoop and we'll give you what you want" thing.
Incidentally, I can't speak for Ed Balls or anyone else, but I certainly oppose the 7-day thing - it's a bit of nasty spite directed at people who may be undergoing the worst crisis of their lives up to that point.
ISAM..The word used was NEW.. not upgraded..if they meant to say upgraded then why did they not say so..they said new. And if the existing lines are to be upgraded what will the trains run on whilst that is taking place, and for how many years.
What always gets me about Gideon Osborne (apart from him changing his name) is that despite the fact his parents would have spent hundreds of thousands on his education, the only two real jobs he could get where folding returned towels at Selfridges and entering the names of dead people onto an NHS computer. It was only the fact that his father got him a job in the Conservative Party, he would still be freelancing for the Telegraph, which he had to do because he was turned down for The Times trainee scheme.
ISAM..The word used was NEW.. not upgraded..if they meant to say upgraded then why did they not say so..they said new. And if the existing lines are to be upgraded what will the trains run on whilst that is taking place, and for how many years.
Osborne has spent much less than Darling would have done given the same situation. Now it's perfectly arguable that Darling's daring splash of the cash (i.e. lesser austerity) may have stimulated some growth that would have enabled him to face a more benign environment than Osborne has faced in the last year or so. Arguable, but probably wrong. It may be the case that the budgets for future years would have been markedly different given some additional growth. I don't really buy that, but the further we get away from 2010 then the harder any extrapolation becomes.
It's quite clear that increased state spending can be bad, but it's equally clear that some state spending is needed.
The difficulty the left have is that they want to use any rise in economic activity to increase the share that the state represents as a fraction of GDP. Sadly the right wing of politics also have the same inclination sometimes, but they dress it up differently.
I don't know Ed Balls personally, but I do rather wonder whether he might be able to make a better case for Tory policies than his own. Perhaps a better case than the Tories make.
Budge up! Population of England and Wales swells by 400,000 in a YEAR Net migration in England and Wales was 155,000, say Office of National Statistics show
Birth-rate between June 2011 and 2012 highest for 40 years
Figures show more than 250,000 'internal migrants' fled London
This from the article -
In the same period, 729,400 babies were born - the highest birthrate for 40 years.
The ONS said: ‘The number of births was at a 40-year high - the largest since 1972.
Which was the perfectly sensible response. You dont slash spending in the immediate aftermath of a financial crisis.
In 2009-10 Brown plugged a £98 bn current account deficit with additional borrowing of £157 bn.
That is not the action of a sensible man.
Remember these figures exclude the amount he borrowed to bail out the banks.
Would you like to know how much that was?
I believe Scotland's Brown and Darling sanctioned a bank rescue package totalling some £500 billion (approximately $850 billion) in 2008 to save the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Bank of Scotland . Apologies if I've underestimated.
You have underestimated, Moniker, but no need to apologise.
Here is the difference between Public Sector Net Debt (excluding "financial interventions") and Public Sector Net Debt at the end of the 2008-9 Fiscal Year. Financial interventions is Brown's euphemism for bank bailouts.
ISAM ..That is not the answer to the question which was ..What will the trains run on whilst the tracks are being relaid.and for how long, if they are new tracks which do not replace the old tracks then they are .. new..
" the only two real jobs he could get where folding returned towels at Selfridges and entering the names of dead people onto an NHS computer. "
Pure revolting snobbery.
"Pure revolting snobbery" don't talk about Gideon like that. I am quite sure when daddy Osborne was writing those cheques out for his education that one of the jobs he envisged young Gideon would be doing would not be folding second hand towels. Lucky he pulled the strings to get him a job in the Conservative Party.
Though he does have some luck, considering he was Michael Howards third choice to become Shadow Chancellor which preceded his best chum becoming the leader.
ISAM ..That is not the answer to the question which was ..What will the trains run on whilst the tracks are being relaid.and for how long, if they are new tracks which do not replace the old tracks then they are .. new..
I would have thought the new ones would be laid alongside the exisitng ones, which means considerably less digging up of countryside etc than the proposed HS2
If Spurs, Liverpool & Man Utd wanted to rebuild or improve their stadia, it wouldnt be hypocritical of them if they had opposed Arsenals move from Highbury to the Emirates. Just as it isnt of UKIP to suggest new tracks alongside existing ones but oppose digging up swathes ofcountryside for a brand new line
Oh my god, a Trot opposes Labour. Almost as surprising as your Dan Hodges posts.
Serwotka does have some influence in Labour discussions though. Moreover he is being funded by a somewhat prehistoric arrangement which also funds Labour. I wonder too about his low profile on Wikipedia.
Which was the perfectly sensible response. You dont slash spending in the immediate aftermath of a financial crisis.
In 2009-10 Brown plugged a £98 bn current account deficit with additional borrowing of £157 bn.
That is not the action of a sensible man.
Remember these figures exclude the amount he borrowed to bail out the banks.
Would you like to know how much that was?
I believe Scotland's Brown and Darling sanctioned a bank rescue package totalling some £500 billion (approximately $850 billion) in 2008 to save the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Bank of Scotland . Apologies if I've underestimated.
You have underestimated, Moniker, but no need to apologise.
Here is the difference between Public Sector Net Debt (excluding "financial interventions") and Public Sector Net Debt at the end of the 2008-9 Fiscal Year. Financial interventions is Brown's euphemism for bank bailouts.
I cant agree with the thread header, i think that this is one of the least political governments especially compared to the previous one. As soon as they try anything political they are criticized. Should he have just been bland and let Balls have all the attack lines. I am sure there would have been a thread header criticizing him for that.
" the only two real jobs he could get where folding returned towels at Selfridges and entering the names of dead people onto an NHS computer. "
Pure revolting snobbery.
"Pure revolting snobbery" don't talk about Gideon like that. I am quite sure when daddy Osborne was writing those cheques out for his education that one of the jobs he envisged young Gideon would be doing would not be folding second hand towels. Lucky he pulled the strings to get him a job in the Conservative Party.
Though he does have some luck, considering he was Michael Howards third choice to become Shadow Chancellor which preceded his best chum becoming the leader.
Not only are you a grinding snob who despises shop workers and data entry employees but you also have a sordid misogynistic name in " Redrag1 ". Go away.
Red Rag seems to have lost Ed Millibands employment record,apart from working hard to avoid tax by altering his fathers will..but he is apparently clued up about Osborne's..funny that
That's fantastic news. And labour can't claim all the credit as those babies will have all been conceived under the coalition. Celebrate, rejoice ate the defusing of our demographic time bomb
Agree,I mainly posted it for you tim,just to point out that the birth rate was already growing,like I posted and it's growing even faster under the coalition.
and you can now please stop mentioning japan.
What this country is heading for is a population time bomb.
ISAM so laying a brand new track alongside an existing track..which I assume will need some considerable land purchases, maybe even through some villages, is not really a new track..who'd a thunk it..
ISAM so laying a brand new track alongside an existing track..which I assume will need some considerable land purchases, maybe even through some villages, is not really a new track..who'd a thunk it..
OK James Kelly, its the same as HS2 and UKIP are being hypocrites
Are you saying that the PCS have no influence? He definitely is funded by trade union subscriptions and those same subscriptions also fund the Labour party.
While the PCS isn't affiliated witht he Labour Party, they do think of themselves as influecing policy:
We are asking members to support the political campaigning strategy we have developed in recent years. We have built Parliamentary Groups and our ‘Make your vote count’ campaign to influence the politicians that make decisions that affect the lives of PCS members at work. We are also asking members if they agree with the proposal to take our political work a step further and support candidates in national elections in circumstances where it would assist our campaigns.*
Our member unions: ■ASLEF (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen) ■BECTU (Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union) ■BFAWU (Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union) ■Community ■CWU (Communication Workers Union) ■GMB ■MU (Musicians Union) ■NACODS (National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers) ■NUM (National Union of Mineworkers) ■TSSA (Transport Salaried Staffs' Association) ■UCATT (Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians) ■UNISON ■Unite ■Unity ■USDAW (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers)
*That was in March (year not stated); I wonder if the result is in.
Yes, the result is in. Serwotka and PCS have so much influence over the Labour party that they decided to fund (in theory .. in practice they're broke) candidates to, er, run against Labour.
Comments
Year / Predicted /Actual / Difference
2007-8 / 34,000m / 36,000m / +2bn
2008-9 / 30,000m / 97,000m / +67bn
2009-10 / 28,000m / 158,000m / +130bn
[2010-11 / 26,000m / 146,000m / +120bn]
[2011-12 / 24,000m / 125,000m / +101bn]
£199bn off forecast. Which as I pointed out before, shows that predicting the future borrowing of a government, since it is not a metaphorical island, is difficult.
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=0SiO3ta0fEAC&pg=RA1-PA3-IA5 (table 2.3)
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_276550.pdf (PSF1)
Osborne, although no means perfect, is doing a decent job.
A contributor on nother website says" the words were written by Montalembert in 'De l'Avenir Politique de l'Angleterre". The website, looks to be considerably less reliable than Wikipedia
(Make of that phrase what you will)
Iain Dunkin' Donuts?
I remember hearing him do an hour on R5 answering questions from the public, he did the debates, he was constantly on telly being scrutinised over Tory economic plans.
Was he really hidden away? Or are Tim and Pork talking rubbish to deflect from Labour copying all of Osborne's spending policies?
Blucher may have been a little tardy at Waterloo but it could have been worse, we could have been waiting for the Yanks. They wouldn't have arrived until about 1817.
Politicians don't make good comedians when they're trying to be funny. When they're not trying though ....
I thought we were past the point where "man eats burger" would be their best shot, but they went for it again!
Sums up New Labour's " education , education , education " garbage to a tee.
As far as I know there is no current requirement on someone claiming JSA who does not speak English, to do so. If a local course is available I suppose a Jobcentre adviser could direct someone to attend, but I am not sure how successful that would be.
In fact it would be very easy to deem them "unavailable for work" and disallow benefits, but in practice this is not done.
All figures exclude financial interventions. *Edit: 2011/2 was revised - I'll need to double check it's the right figure.*
In the name of balance, here's the same for the June 2010 budget:
Year / Predicted / Actual / Difference
2010-11 / 149,000m / 146,000m / -3bn
2011-12 / 116,000m / 118,000m / +2bn
2012-13 / 89,000m / 119,000m / +30bn
http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_188581.pdf Table B1
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/409232/Revised-figures-show-borrowing-rise
In addition it will presumably bugger up the business plans of anyone currently offering ESOL courses.
Populist nonsense? Someone who chooses to come and live in the UK should surely be expected to learn English at their own expense. Or alternatively should support themselves without recourse to the State, e.g. by depending on relatives if they cannot find work.
This is their political play. If it doesn't work Cameron and Osborne are out. I know for a lot of posters it's boring going on about electoral math but it is necessary. The Tories are miles off making gains. ScottP et al can post all they like but that's the reality.
Hopefully the next two years isn't like 2008. Lot's of over confident Tory PB posters calling things wrong left right and center cos they can't see what is right in front of them.
Sunil,
Yes, I was aware that we'd just kicked their arses and they 'd be busy re-painting the White House, but Waterloo was a year and more later.
Anyway, they seem to think they won the 1812 war. Ask them about their invasion of Canada. Even the French Quebecoise said "No, thanks."
Today or the boundary review going down?
of this battle I’ve won for the nation?”
They replied: “Waterloo.”
He said: “That’ll do.
What a glorious name for a station.”
Are they given the forms and/or a translator in a language of their choice?
IOS , Londoner and inheritance millionaire Edward Miliband is unlikely to perform as well as Gordon Brown did in Scotland.
I haven't done the inflation adjustments to the spending and receipts figures but you don't need to. The picture is very clear from the nominal figures. This shows that government receipts started to collapse in 2008 creating an escalating Current Account Deficit. Brown's response was to ramp up borrowing: No sane person can look at these figures and conclude that the story is one of Osborne spending more than Brown/Darling.
Only tim would claim that.
Sounds like a reasonable approach for our European partners to take, I don't see a problem
[edit] hmm you edited that after my reply. I'm not sure healthcare is relevant, and after all there are reciprocal agreements between European countries. But speaking the language is very relevant when claiming work-age benefits. So I would fully support the Germans in requiring a good working standard of German to claim unemployment benefit.
And then again there are non-EU languages: Turkish, Nepalese, Somali etc for which your argument has no relevance.
The Coailtion's June 2010 budget was £29bn over three years.
Looking at the change in forecasts:
Year / Predicted 2010 / Predicted 2013 / Difference
2013-14 / 60,000m / 108,000m / +48bn
2014-15 / 37,000m / 97,000m / +60bn
2015-16 / 20,000m / 87,000m / +67bn
Which is £175bn over the three years (not very good for the Chancellor), but that's all in the future.
All this is offset by the fact that his opposite number, Ed Balls, is precisely the same.
But does politics have to be like this?
Mike Smithson
NO! VOTE UKIP!
IOS is of course spot on. Optimistic Tories talk vaguely of economic improvement, and the choice between Miliband and Cameron.
Forgetting that Cameron rates no better than Miliband amongst the public, and missing the crucial point about the electoral maths. Just where are all these Tories going to come from to deprive Miliband a majority, never mind give the Tories a victory? 2010 Brown voters going Cameron? Scotland is a better bet...
@afneil: On Daily Politics UKIP denied party ever supporting new high-speed lines. This was 2010 promise: “3 new 200mph-plus high-speed rail lines”.
@afneil you're wrong. They want upgrades to existing lines. As a tory press officer it's not my job to defend them, but please don't lie.
So will they have to make their claim in English in the future? or can they still claim in a foreign language as long as they sign up for English classes (which they then won't go to).
If the latter its not much of a reform really.
Just like last time it's all smoke and mirrors. And just like last time they will miss what's right in front of them.
It's the ground game, stupid.
That is not the action of a sensible man.
Remember these figures exclude the amount he borrowed to bail out the banks.
Would you like to know how much that was?
Paucity of ambition.
Oliver Adam @oliveradam 30m
@afneil that is not the same as hs2. Eg. It could mean new line along existing route. You have made an assumption that distorts the facts.
Reigning Wimbledon champion Roger Federer goes out in the 2nd round in four sets to Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky!
Here are the interest payment figures. Deduct them from the total expenditure figures (see post below) and then compare. This is the proper way to compare expenditure.
And then adjust for inflation.
Upgrading existing lines means putting new lines where existing ones were already...existing!
Incidentally, I can't speak for Ed Balls or anyone else, but I certainly oppose the 7-day thing - it's a bit of nasty spite directed at people who may be undergoing the worst crisis of their lives up to that point.
In Andy Murray’s half of the #Wimbledon draw, the only seeds remaining are seeded 15, 20, 22, 24, 25 and 32
Poor Andy Murray. Everything is now perfectly set up for one of the all-time great British sporting disasters.
And now he is chancellor.......pretty scary.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/179563/pesa_complete_2012.pdf.pdf
" the only two real jobs he could get where folding returned towels at Selfridges and entering the names of dead people onto an NHS computer. "
Pure revolting snobbery. Shame on you , RedRag 1 , workers' enemy.
It's quite clear that increased state spending can be bad, but it's equally clear that some state spending is needed.
The difficulty the left have is that they want to use any rise in economic activity to increase the share that the state represents as a fraction of GDP. Sadly the right wing of politics also have the same inclination sometimes, but they dress it up differently.
I don't know Ed Balls personally, but I do rather wonder whether he might be able to make a better case for Tory policies than his own. Perhaps a better case than the Tories make.
Net migration in England and Wales was 155,000, say Office of National Statistics show
Birth-rate between June 2011 and 2012 highest for 40 years
Figures show more than 250,000 'internal migrants' fled London
This from the article -
In the same period, 729,400 babies were born - the highest birthrate for 40 years.
The ONS said: ‘The number of births was at a 40-year high - the largest since 1972.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2349021/Budge-Population-England-Wales-swells-400-000-YEAR.html
Here is the difference between Public Sector Net Debt (excluding "financial interventions") and Public Sector Net Debt at the end of the 2008-9 Fiscal Year. Financial interventions is Brown's euphemism for bank bailouts. Although a rough and ready calculation this tells us that that the net cost was £1.3 trillion of additional borrowing.
Though he does have some luck, considering he was Michael Howards third choice to become Shadow Chancellor which preceded his best chum becoming the leader.
If Spurs, Liverpool & Man Utd wanted to rebuild or improve their stadia, it wouldnt be hypocritical of them if they had opposed Arsenals move from Highbury to the Emirates. Just as it isnt of UKIP to suggest new tracks alongside existing ones but oppose digging up swathes ofcountryside for a brand new line
and you can now please stop mentioning japan.
What this country is heading for is a population time bomb.
Are you saying that the PCS have no influence?
He definitely is funded by trade union subscriptions and those same subscriptions also fund the Labour party.
Oliver Adam @oliveradam 1h
@afneil that is not the same as hs2. Eg. It could mean new line along existing route. You have made an assumption that distorts the facts.
http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/campaigns/political-campaign-ballot/updates-and-resources/guide-to-winning-the-political-campaign-ballot.cfm
*That was in March (year not stated); I wonder if the result is in.
* Not sure I have spelt it correctly.
http://www.unionstogether.org.uk/pages/member_unions
Our member unions:
■ASLEF (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen)
■BECTU (Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union)
■BFAWU (Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union)
■Community
■CWU (Communication Workers Union)
■GMB
■MU (Musicians Union)
■NACODS (National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers)
■NUM (National Union of Mineworkers)
■TSSA (Transport Salaried Staffs' Association)
■UCATT (Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians)
■UNISON
■Unite
■Unity
■USDAW (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers)
Today at PMQs: Twitter verdict shows Ed Miliband thrashed the Prime Minister http://bit.ly/12pVM2c