Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.

politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Biden moves to 93% chance on Betfair after walloping Bernie in

13468911

Comments

  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,868
    As during wartime, we do what is necessary, and will face the bill afterwards.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,491
    DavidL said:

    Helicopter money now. The government thinks this is going to be really, really bad.

    This is a 2008/9 type emergency budget.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,868
    Markets so far not impressed
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,119
    edited March 2020
    kinabalu said:

    Gap in the market for a party that believes in sound money and sensible management of the public finances.

    At the moment, there is no vacancy for such. The game has radically changed for the foreseeable future.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,767
    DavidL said:

    Helicopter money now. The government thinks this is going to be really, really bad.

    I guess they are listening to the scientists and medics.

    Or, maybe @eadric ?
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826

    DavidL said:

    Helicopter money now. The government thinks this is going to be really, really bad.

    The effect of this virus on the economy this year will ultimately be far greater than it will on morbidity this year.
    Exactly the point that Trump is trying to make.
    He's an arsehole for saying it the way he is. The effect on morbidity won't be too bad if we contain it - but the effect on the economy will be.

    America's lack of containment means they'll take a hit on both.
  • contrariancontrarian Posts: 5,818
    A small consolation is that we can borrow pretty much free of charge.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,491
    Full Keynesian economics here.
  • Stark_DawningStark_Dawning Posts: 9,680
    I was right! Boris hasn't just shot Labour's fox he's blown it to smithereens with an AK-47. This is a budget bonanza with a ton of goodies for one and all - absolutely impossible for Labour to counter.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,862
    £175bn of infrastructure over 5 years. Massive level of spending.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216
    £175 billion investment over the next 5 years.....
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,119

    Full Keynesian economics here.

    Good job we did the deficit reduction part of the Keynesian plan as well.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,491
    Growth forecast still pretty anemic
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    This is a war budget.
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826

    Full Keynesian economics here.

    Good job we did the deficit reduction part of the Keynesian plan as well.
    Precisely!
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    Good joke there about "jobs miracles"
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,767

    This is a war budget.

    Winter is coming.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,119
    If the UK are having to do this to cope with impact of coronavirus and the public finances are in ok shape, what the hell of the likes of Italy and Greece going to do...they are going to need bailing out again.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,862
    The growth figures are of course rubbish. If 20% of workers are not at work we can expect a significant shrinkage this year 5-10% I would guess.
  • contrariancontrarian Posts: 5,818

    DavidL said:

    Helicopter money now. The government thinks this is going to be really, really bad.

    The effect of this virus on the economy this year will ultimately be far greater than it will on morbidity this year.
    Exactly the point that Trump is trying to make.
    He's an arsehole for saying it the way he is. The effect on morbidity won't be too bad if we contain it - but the effect on the economy will be.

    America's lack of containment means they'll take a hit on both.
    So more people might die from the economic impact of our measures to contain Corona than would die if we had simply done nothing about this, accepted the casualties and just carried on?

    Interesting idea. Very interesting.
  • MyBurningEarsMyBurningEars Posts: 3,651
    DavidL said:

    £175bn of infrastructure over 5 years. Massive level of spending.

    But is it enough to build a Boris Bridge?
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826

    Growth forecast still pretty anemic

    And that's without accounting for coronavirus.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,868
    DavidL said:

    Helicopter money now. The government thinks this is going to be really, really bad.

    We are facing a couple of weeks of uncertainty whilst the virus stats worsen around the world. Followed by an Italian style lockdown for a few weeks. Followed by a hopefully manageable epidemic for a month or more, during which a fair few of our older relatives will meet their end. After that, who knows. Economically, there isn’t a good news story to tell here.
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 21,675
    "Jobs miracle"- talk about a hostage to fortune.
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826

    DavidL said:

    Helicopter money now. The government thinks this is going to be really, really bad.

    The effect of this virus on the economy this year will ultimately be far greater than it will on morbidity this year.
    Exactly the point that Trump is trying to make.
    He's an arsehole for saying it the way he is. The effect on morbidity won't be too bad if we contain it - but the effect on the economy will be.

    America's lack of containment means they'll take a hit on both.
    So more people might die from the economic impact of our measures to contain Corona than would die if we had simply done nothing about this, accepted the casualties and just carried on?

    Interesting idea. Very interesting.
    No, that's not what I'm saying.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,862

    This is a war budget.

    Absolutely is. Which is what is required. No real guess about what the extent of the damage is going to be though.
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 32,570

    Business rates abolished for cinemas, restaurants and music venues for one year

    Fantastic news!

    Hopefully its made permanent. Business rates should be abolished and replaced with something else.
    He has said there will be a full review of the business rates system later in the year
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,491
    He’s not touching the OBR
  • eristdooferistdoof Posts: 5,065

    Just got my car filled up with petrol as you should always do on budget day mornings. Given the price has been moving downward this seems an obvious choice for an increase.

    A group called Fairfuel did a poll that showed fuel tax increases are about as popular as amnesties for paedophiles.
    An organisation called Fairfuel would say that wouldn't they.
  • I was right! Boris hasn't just shot Labour's fox he's blown it to smithereens with an AK-47. This is a budget bonanza with a ton of goodies for one and all - absolutely impossible for Labour to counter.

    Never fear - Corbyn will respond !!
  • Zero cheers for Carney and Bailey, when mentioned.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,767

    A small consolation is that we can borrow pretty much free of charge.

    They'll be paying the government to borrow soon.
  • Ave_itAve_it Posts: 2,411
    Sensible to allow time to review the fiscal framework
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,318

    £3k cash grant for small businesses even if they don’t pay rates

    I like the sound of that. It could really help my daughter’s business.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,862

    This is a war budget.

    Winter is coming.
    I said the other day the virus was a Stark.
  • Stark_DawningStark_Dawning Posts: 9,680
    Boris has finally exorcized Thatcher's ghost.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,868
    So far my balancing sell position on the Dow is doing all of the lifting
  • Beibheirli_CBeibheirli_C Posts: 8,163

    I was right! Boris hasn't just shot Labour's fox he's blown it to smithereens with an AK-47. This is a budget bonanza with a ton of goodies for one and all - absolutely impossible for Labour to counter.

    Tories are the new New Labour? ;)
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,119

    I was right! Boris hasn't just shot Labour's fox he's blown it to smithereens with an AK-47. This is a budget bonanza with a ton of goodies for one and all - absolutely impossible for Labour to counter.

    Never fear - Corbyn will respond !!
    This racist misogynist government again fail to look after the poor, the sick, etc etc etc.
  • SlackbladderSlackbladder Posts: 9,773
    This could be pretty tasty all around.
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826

    Business rates abolished for cinemas, restaurants and music venues for one year

    Fantastic news!

    Hopefully its made permanent. Business rates should be abolished and replaced with something else.
    He has said there will be a full review of the business rates system later in the year
    Good. Business rates are outdated and need to be abolished as they are. The idea that physical buildings should be taxed but Amazon shouldn't be doesn't belong in the 21st century.
  • Beibheirli_CBeibheirli_C Posts: 8,163
    IanB2 said:

    As during wartime, we do what is necessary, and will face the bill afterwards bequeath yet another bill to those coming after us

    I fixed that for you.....
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 21,675

    I was right! Boris hasn't just shot Labour's fox he's blown it to smithereens with an AK-47. This is a budget bonanza with a ton of goodies for one and all - absolutely impossible for Labour to counter.

    Never fear - Corbyn will respond !!
    The budget response is the most difficult speech in Parliament.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,491
    Sounds like he’s serious about fiscal rules - not going to go above a 3% deficit throughout this parliament and to ensure headline debt is falling again by the end.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,862

    Zero cheers for Carney and Bailey, when mentioned.

    I think Carney has been outstanding. Bailey has very big shoes to fill.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,119
    edited March 2020
    Scott_xP said:

    twitter.com/gabyhinsliff/status/1237722793615261696

    I think it is clear now that the next 6 months is going to be a suspension of normal life.
  • Beibheirli_CBeibheirli_C Posts: 8,163

    Fire up the Quattro printing presses....

    McDonnell and Co must be sitting there thinking if only we won the election we could have done this, nationalized everything and nobody would complain.

    Blue is the new Red
  • contrariancontrarian Posts: 5,818
    edited March 2020
    What absolutely nobody is considering is that Corona might be contained quite quickly, and that the authorities will have conducted a massive stimulus program on what is fundamantally a pretty robust global economy.

    Which wouldn;t make it a winter, but a blazing summer.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,868
    I am starting to close out of my FTSE buy. Rishi isn’t impressing the markets and the Dow is sinking.
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826

    Sounds like he’s serious about fiscal rules - not going to go above a 3% deficit throughout this parliament and to ensure headline debt is falling again by the end.

    Any borrowing numbers or claims he says today are relatively meaningless.

    Forthcoming budgets post-virus may be different.
  • Stark_DawningStark_Dawning Posts: 9,680
    edited March 2020

    I was right! Boris hasn't just shot Labour's fox he's blown it to smithereens with an AK-47. This is a budget bonanza with a ton of goodies for one and all - absolutely impossible for Labour to counter.

    Tories are the new New Labour? ;)
    Yes, I've thought for a long time that the politician Boris most resembles is not Churchill or Trump but Blair. This budget is absolutely peak Gordon Brown.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,119
    edited March 2020

    What absolutely nobody is considering is that Corona might be contained quite quickly, and that the authorities will have conducted a massive stimulus program on what is fundamantally a pretty robust global economy.

    Which wouldn;t make it a winter, but a blazing summer.

    There is little sign that will be true. It has taken China 3-4 months to get it under control and that was basically locking down 60 million people for the past 6 weeks.
  • DavidL said:

    Zero cheers for Carney and Bailey, when mentioned.

    I think Carney has been outstanding. Bailey has very big shoes to fill.
    Correct on both accounts. It will be difficult to preserve independence.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,609
    This Government delivers its promises and GETS THINGS DONE...

    There's your soundbite.
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 21,675
    He's lost it.
  • A Star is born

    Rishi Sunak
  • SlackbladderSlackbladder Posts: 9,773
    This is going to be a long one.
  • What absolutely nobody is considering is that Corona might be contained quite quickly, and that the authorities will have conducted a massive stimulus program on what is fundamantally a pretty robust global economy.

    Which wouldn;t make it a winter, but a blazing summer.

    Yes.
  • TGOHF666TGOHF666 Posts: 2,052
    Of course spending on new railways is not the same as spending on raising benefits and public sector wages.

    A point that will no doubt be missed.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,119

    This is going to be a long one.

    Has he got plenty of Yorkshire Tea on hand to get him through it?
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    IanB2 said:

    I am starting to close out of my FTSE buy. Rishi isn’t impressing the markets and the Dow is sinking.

    To be fair, it’s not what he’s doing but what he’s showing that’s worrying the markets, I expect. He can’t be blamed if reality is biting.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,491

    Sounds like he’s serious about fiscal rules - not going to go above a 3% deficit throughout this parliament and to ensure headline debt is falling again by the end.

    Any borrowing numbers or claims he says today are relatively meaningless.

    Forthcoming budgets post-virus may be different.
    True but the mood music is “I am not another Gordon Brown.”

    He’s not going to be irresponsible with the public finances.
  • GideonWiseGideonWise Posts: 1,123

    What absolutely nobody is considering is that Corona might be contained quite quickly, and that the authorities will have conducted a massive stimulus program on what is fundamantally a pretty robust global economy.

    Which wouldn;t make it a winter, but a blazing summer.

    Nobody is considering it because it has an extremely low probability.
  • Beibheirli_CBeibheirli_C Posts: 8,163
    Cyclefree said:


    ...
    4. What women object to is having some men, some of whom claim to be trans, telling women what womanhood means and seeking to deny the realities of female experiences, as if womanhood is simply something that you can assert and has no objective reality.
    5. They also object to them shouting down and bullying women who ask that their views and experiences and concerns be listened to and taken into account. For centuries women have had men telling them how to behave, what they can or can’t do, what being a “lady” or “femininity” means. Now we’re being told what even being a woman means. No. just no. We have a voice and we want to be listened to too.
    ...

    I agree with all the other points. On these two, my own strategy is to ignore the shouters. As you say, I have my own voice too.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,119

    IanB2 said:

    I am starting to close out of my FTSE buy. Rishi isn’t impressing the markets and the Dow is sinking.

    To be fair, it’s not what he’s doing but what he’s showing that’s worrying the markets, I expect. He can’t be blamed if reality is biting.
    Shit just got real....
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826

    A Star is born

    Rishi Sunak

    I'm feeling even happier today with my 200/1 tip on next PM. :grin:
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,868

    IanB2 said:

    I am starting to close out of my FTSE buy. Rishi isn’t impressing the markets and the Dow is sinking.

    To be fair, it’s not what he’s doing but what he’s showing that’s worrying the markets, I expect. He can’t be blamed if reality is biting.
    TBF he faces the dilemma that words but little action won’t satisfy and lots of action sends a message of panic.
  • WhisperingOracleWhisperingOracle Posts: 9,167
    edited March 2020

    What absolutely nobody is considering is that Corona might be contained quite quickly, and that the authorities will have conducted a massive stimulus program on what is fundamantally a pretty robust global economy.

    Which wouldn;t make it a winter, but a blazing summer.

    Nobody is considering it because it has an extremely low probability.
    Indeed, but a disproportionately important low probability, with disproportionate effects.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216
    edited March 2020
    He thinks we're going to need a stiff drink - Spirits Duty Increase cancelled....and beer, cider and wine....
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,218
    edited March 2020
    Here's something I hadn't thought of before. (Regarding the US, not the UK budget.)

    The US is running a big budget deficit - 5% of GDP. In the post WW2 world, that's a number that has only been reached about five times. Three times during the Global Financial Crisis, once in the early 80s recession, and once when the US faced the trifecta of the Vietnam War, the first oil shock and the cost of putting a man on the moon.

    The US was running this deficit when - how to put this - the sun was shining and economic growth was reasonable. How big could the deficit get with the economic slowdown associate with the Coronavirus? 10%? More?

    Now, it may well be that deficits don't matter any more (see Japan). But it may also be that this conclusively marks the point at which any pretence of fiscal prudence is abandoned by the countries of the world. This marks the point at which monetisation of debt - i.e. printing money to pay bills - becomes de rigeur for every country.

    If (print and) deficit spend becomes universal, then it can only end with money becoming devalued. The political pressure will always be to spend that extra dollar/euro/pound and to get that economy moving. (Vroom vroom.)

    Basically: if you own 30 Year Treasuries yielding a massive... 1.2%... then you might be in for a very nasty shock at some point.
  • Ave_itAve_it Posts: 2,411
    Good to seeing Rishi supporting pubs - supporting the working class!
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,491
    Business rate discount for pubs up from £1k to £5k for this year.

    Cider, wine and beer duty all frozen.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,609
    edited March 2020
    Great news for those two people still going to the pub over the next three months....
  • GideonWiseGideonWise Posts: 1,123

    IanB2 said:

    I am starting to close out of my FTSE buy. Rishi isn’t impressing the markets and the Dow is sinking.

    To be fair, it’s not what he’s doing but what he’s showing that’s worrying the markets, I expect. He can’t be blamed if reality is biting.
    As you said. It's a war budget. Wars are not so great for economic growth, in the short-term at least.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,491
    Fuel duty frozen
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826

    He thinks we're going to need a stiff drink - Spirits Duty Increase cancelled....and beer, cider and wine....

    All alcohol and petrol frozen.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,868
    rcs1000 said:

    Here's something I hadn't thought of before. (Regarding the US, not the UK budget.)

    The US is running a big budget deficit - 5% of GDP. In the post WW2 world, that's a number that has only been reached about five times. Three times during the Global Financial Crisis, once in the early 80s recession, and once when the US faced the trifecta of the Vietnam War, the first oil shock and the cost of putting a man on the moon.

    The US was running this deficit when - how to put this - the sun was shining and economic growth was reasonable. How big could the deficit get with the economic slowdown associate with the Coronavirus? 10%? More?

    Now, it may well be that deficits don't matter any more (see Japan). But it may also be that this conclusively marks the point at which any pretence of fiscal prudence is abandoned by the countries of the world. This marks the point at which monetisation of debt - i.e. printing money to pay bills - becomes de rigeur for every country.

    If (print and) deficit spend becomes universal, then it can only end with money becoming devalued. The political pressure will always be to spend that extra dollar/euro/pound and to get that economy moving. (Vroom vroom.)

    Basically: if you own 30 Year Treasuries yielding a massive... 1.2%... then you might be in for a very nasty shock at some point.

    So buy Gold and Index Linked Bonds. Which has been a sensible position for any investor for some time.

    Meanwhile Rishi ensures that we can continue drowning our sorrows in wine, beer and spirits.
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340

    Sounds like he’s serious about fiscal rules - not going to go above a 3% deficit throughout this parliament and to ensure headline debt is falling again by the end.

    Any borrowing numbers or claims he says today are relatively meaningless.

    Forthcoming budgets post-virus may be different.
    True but the mood music is “I am not another Gordon Brown.”

    He’s not going to be irresponsible with the public finances.
    He's hardly going to come out and say that he's a grasshopper rather than an ant. Doesn't mean that he's telling the truth.

    Gordon Brown was endlessly going on about prudence. A successor chancellor who has opened up the spigot is going to try to look responsible, even as he raids the earnings of future generations.
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 21,675
    edited March 2020
    Sunak is taking all sorts of political risks here. His "everything is awesome" approach might get easy applause from the folks behind him today, but might be rather reckless in retrospect.
  • TGOHF666TGOHF666 Posts: 2,052

    Sounds like he’s serious about fiscal rules - not going to go above a 3% deficit throughout this parliament and to ensure headline debt is falling again by the end.

    Any borrowing numbers or claims he says today are relatively meaningless.

    Forthcoming budgets post-virus may be different.
    True but the mood music is “I am not another Gordon Brown.”

    He’s not going to be irresponsible with the public finances.
    He's hardly going to come out and say that he's a grasshopper rather than an ant. Doesn't mean that he's telling the truth.

    Gordon Brown was endlessly going on about prudence. A successor chancellor who has opened up the spigot is going to try to look responsible, even as he raids the earnings of future generations.
    Gordon ladelled on compound spending increases to bribe Labour voters rather than build infrastructure.
  • eristdooferistdoof Posts: 5,065

    What absolutely nobody is considering is that Corona might be contained quite quickly, and that the authorities will have conducted a massive stimulus program on what is fundamantally a pretty robust global economy.

    Which wouldn;t make it a winter, but a blazing summer.

    Nobody is considering it because it has an extremely low probability.
    Indeed, but a disproportionately important low probability, with disproportionate effects.
    Have you been reading Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy recently?
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,491
    Entrepreneurial relief largely going. Lifetime limit reduced from £10m to £1m.

    That should save just over £1bn a year.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,609
    Tories bashing the rich entrepreneurs....
  • Ave_itAve_it Posts: 2,411
    Good to see action to reduce entrepreneurs relief - it was only rich people who benefited from it
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,226

    I was right! Boris hasn't just shot Labour's fox he's blown it to smithereens with an AK-47. This is a budget bonanza with a ton of goodies for one and all - absolutely impossible for Labour to counter.

    Just say thanks for implementing our budget - but what about private schools?

    Next year?
  • glwglw Posts: 9,908

    What absolutely nobody is considering is that Corona might be contained quite quickly, and that the authorities will have conducted a massive stimulus program on what is fundamantally a pretty robust global economy.

    Which wouldn;t make it a winter, but a blazing summer.

    Well let's hope you are right, as I'm certain the government and country as a whole would much rather deal with inflation getting out of control, instead of excess deaths in the five or six figures for the next couple of years.
  • eristdoof said:

    What absolutely nobody is considering is that Corona might be contained quite quickly, and that the authorities will have conducted a massive stimulus program on what is fundamantally a pretty robust global economy.

    Which wouldn;t make it a winter, but a blazing summer.

    Nobody is considering it because it has an extremely low probability.
    Indeed, but a disproportionately important low probability, with disproportionate effects.
    Have you been reading Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy recently?
    ;.)
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,491

    Sounds like he’s serious about fiscal rules - not going to go above a 3% deficit throughout this parliament and to ensure headline debt is falling again by the end.

    Any borrowing numbers or claims he says today are relatively meaningless.

    Forthcoming budgets post-virus may be different.
    True but the mood music is “I am not another Gordon Brown.”

    He’s not going to be irresponsible with the public finances.
    He's hardly going to come out and say that he's a grasshopper rather than an ant. Doesn't mean that he's telling the truth.

    Gordon Brown was endlessly going on about prudence. A successor chancellor who has opened up the spigot is going to try to look responsible, even as he raids the earnings of future generations.
    He was but he was constantly breaking his own rules.

    Sunak is being very clear here that he isn’t going to do that.
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,468
    Posting from a big Tesco in Newcastle. Absolutely no shortage of loo roll.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,862
    Ave_it said:

    Good to see action to reduce entrepreneurs relief - it was only rich people who benefited from it

    Yes, its a ridiculous relief for the already rich. I am not sure his replacements will be particularly well understood though.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,119

    Posting from a big Tesco in Newcastle. Absolutely no shortage of loo roll.

    I have this vision of the Tesco distribution centre now just being wall to wall bog roll.
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340

    Sounds like he’s serious about fiscal rules - not going to go above a 3% deficit throughout this parliament and to ensure headline debt is falling again by the end.

    Any borrowing numbers or claims he says today are relatively meaningless.

    Forthcoming budgets post-virus may be different.
    True but the mood music is “I am not another Gordon Brown.”

    He’s not going to be irresponsible with the public finances.
    He's hardly going to come out and say that he's a grasshopper rather than an ant. Doesn't mean that he's telling the truth.

    Gordon Brown was endlessly going on about prudence. A successor chancellor who has opened up the spigot is going to try to look responsible, even as he raids the earnings of future generations.
    He was but he was constantly breaking his own rules.

    Sunak is being very clear here that he isn’t going to do that.
    God give me chastity, but not yet.
  • GideonWiseGideonWise Posts: 1,123

    Posting from a big Tesco in Newcastle. Absolutely no shortage of loo roll.

    Please can you buy me 100 rolls?
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,491
    IanB2 said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Here's something I hadn't thought of before. (Regarding the US, not the UK budget.)

    The US is running a big budget deficit - 5% of GDP. In the post WW2 world, that's a number that has only been reached about five times. Three times during the Global Financial Crisis, once in the early 80s recession, and once when the US faced the trifecta of the Vietnam War, the first oil shock and the cost of putting a man on the moon.

    The US was running this deficit when - how to put this - the sun was shining and economic growth was reasonable. How big could the deficit get with the economic slowdown associate with the Coronavirus? 10%? More?

    Now, it may well be that deficits don't matter any more (see Japan). But it may also be that this conclusively marks the point at which any pretence of fiscal prudence is abandoned by the countries of the world. This marks the point at which monetisation of debt - i.e. printing money to pay bills - becomes de rigeur for every country.

    If (print and) deficit spend becomes universal, then it can only end with money becoming devalued. The political pressure will always be to spend that extra dollar/euro/pound and to get that economy moving. (Vroom vroom.)

    Basically: if you own 30 Year Treasuries yielding a massive... 1.2%... then you might be in for a very nasty shock at some point.

    So buy Gold and Index Linked Bonds. Which has been a sensible position for any investor for some time.

    Meanwhile Rishi ensures that we can continue drowning our sorrows in wine, beer and spirits.
    Suits me. Happy to get rat-arsed throughout this.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,868
    This is getting pitiful now. This is the sort of speech I would have made had I been telephoned late last night and told I was appointed emergency Chancellor.
This discussion has been closed.