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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » The reason why there’s all the confusion over Cameron’s comments on pensioner benefits is in this table
It is any wonder that pensioners perks are being protected when you look at this breakdown of 2010 voting & turnout pic.twitter.com/7Ng00o1UHG
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What confusion would this be?
The comical Cameroonian spinners were adamant that there is nothing more vile, deserving of failure and opportunistic than populist posturing when little Ed attempted to form a policy on an energy price freeze. It was also grossly irresponsible because as we all know "there is no money left." Meanwhile the PB Romneys will lose no time at all telling you that it is evil socialism or indeed communism to pander to certain groups of voters, as long as it's the ones they appear to loathe in the public sector. They would also warn you of the inherent wickedness of throwing yet more money at welfare, but pensions aren't welfare, well... just because.
*chortle*
It's a pledge and like all Cast Iron Pledges just making it hardly means everyone is going to believe it.
It's also a pledge based on monitoring economic benchmarks and percentages which will have little to no real salience for anyone not obsessed with politics or economics. You either feel better off or you don't and no amount of statistics will truly persuade those who don't. Idiot spinners spouting statistics in an effort to tell the voter "they've never had it so good" are far more likely to anger voters if they feel the opposite.
And as anotherDave already pointed out, So if it's a pledge every party can very easily make then it's usefulness as a political campaigning tool is at an end. Unless there is a massive built in advantage for one party to make it rather than another. Which, as we can see, there is not.
We were learning about the Tudors. The teacher had drawn the family tree on the blackboard. He pointed to Mary and asked "What title was she known as?".
I answered "Mary the first". He said "No."
Another boy answered "Mary Queen of Scots". He said "Yes".
I was only about 80% sure that he was wrong, and that Mary Tudor & Mary Queen of Scots were two different people, but I wasn't 100% certain and I didn't challenge him or answer back. I have always regretted since then that I didn't.
On another occasion I wrote in my exercise book that Queen Elizabeth I was born in 1533; he crossed it out and wrote "1558". I wasn't quick-witted enough to ask him how a child had come to be born 11 years after the death of her father and 22 years after the execution of her mother.
He also taught music and geography as well as history; I guess that his main qualifications were in music.
I personally entered into two bets with Jonathan Arnott, the UKIP General Secretary regarding Buckingham, and the result. He bet that (a) Farage would win at 7/2, and that (b) Bercow would not get more than 50% more votes than Farage. He lost both bets.
You are rewriting history because it suits your narrative.
Your betting history is irrelevant.
And considering that you don't know what my narritive is, that is clearly bollocks as well.
"Amid the blasts and counter-blasts two charges stand out: Mr Clegg's – that Mr Gove is too 'ideological'; and Mr Gove's, that the Deputy PM isn't telling the truth. Check with their colleagues and a number of clear impressions emerge. First, Mr Gove is indeed ideological. In fact, that's why so many admire him. There is something heartening about having a minister who believes in something, and who advances his argument at every opportunity. He stands out because he is in a minority of principled politicians in a sea of opportunistic careerists who would sell their grandmothers if it helped to keep them in red boxes. Michael Gove brings some old fashioned Tory belief to the work of Government, and politics is the better for it. Second, Mr Gove is not altogether collegiate. His interests range beyond his brief and he likes to stir trouble, particularly for Lib Dems. Why? Again, because he believes in things and one of the things he believes in is crushing Lib Dems at every opportunity. He is in Coalition with them, but wants to destroy them, just as they want to destroy him. He is not one to keep his nose in his brief and keep out of the wider politics of Government. Good thing too. Third, if Team Gove is prepared to accuse Mr Clegg of 'lying', things are serious, surely? But who is telling the truth? Bit of both. Mr Clegg is right that Mr Gove generates heat. His department is a troublemaker, rather than a backwater. But given the trouble the Lib Dems have been causing by trying to force greater differentiation, it's a bit pot/kettle/black."
Of course, if he doesn't make the same pledge over all our other benefits then that might be different!
Boris Johnson in the Daily Telegraph - Germany started the Great War, but the Left can’t bear to say so
TwitterKevin Maguire @Kevin_Maguire 9m
Dave's barrister bro Alex Cameron backing today's legal aid strike. Relief one member of that family values solidarity and public services
Sun Politics @Sun_Politics 13m
EXCL: Road to No10.. 91% back party that will fill the UK's potholes - http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/5359418/nine-out-of-ten-voters-back-party-that-fills-potholes.html …
Sun Politics @Sun_Politics 16m
PM hints at ending rich OAP benefits - http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/5359403/PM-David-Cameron-hints-at-ending-rich-OAP-benefits.html …
Sun Politics @Sun_Politics 18m
Osborne tax cut pledge - http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/5359759/George-Osborne-to-pledge-more-tax-cuts-in-2014-to-be-paid-for-by-more-spending-cuts.html …
Nick Robinson said that during Labour’s years in government, BBC executives feared an uncensored debate about the issue would stoke racism. - As a result, viewers’ concerns about pressure on jobs and wages, and cultural tensions were not aired as the BBC ‘had decided these are not acceptable views – and that was a terrible mistake’.
I’ve often wondered why BBC TV debates regularly appear entirely comprised of likeminded bods agreeing with themselves. - can’t have dissenting voices once the aunty's ‘executives’ have made up their minds. Gobsmacked.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2534366/BBC-accused-bias-immigration-political-editor-Nick-Robinson-says-Corporation-terrible-mistakes-not-reflecting-publics-concerns.html#comments
" Less than a third of Scots want to leave the United Kingdom, according to an opinion poll published today as the phoney war over independence ends and the battle to win this year’s referendum starts in earnest.
Better Together, the pro-UK campaign, published a survey showing support for separation has stagnated at 30 per cent despite Alex Salmond recently unveiling his long-awaited blueprint for separation.
Support for remaining in the UK is more than twice as high (61 per cent), according to the You Gov poll, and more than third of Scots who voted SNP in the 2011 Holyrood election are opposed to independence."
STV News - Teachers 'angry and frustrated' with new National exam structure
"Increased workloads for teachers caused by the new National exams are impacting on Scottish pupils' lessons, educators have warned.
The EIS union said it was seeing an "unprecedented" level of concern from teachers frustrated with the amount of administration needed to deliver the exams.
Many teachers have also expressed concerns that the extra pressure will have a negative impact on lessons, the union said.
The first set of students taught the new qualification will sit exams in the spring but teachers have cited a lack of support from the body that developed the changes.
In a survey carried out by the EIS, they raised concerns over poor quality materials provided by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), frequent revisions to guideline documents and the "cumbersome" assessment process."
Twitter
Douglas Fraser @BBCDouglasF 3m
Asda not giving overall Christmas figures but hit £5m per day in online groceries, 21 & 22 Dec. Xmas sweaters & onesies "incredibly popular"
Douglas Fraser @BBCDouglasF 7m
Asda says it "held its nerve" through tough Christmas trading, with "no gimmicks". Says that paid off, while others "hit panic button"
I was in Parliament Square, doing a demonstration about something-or-other, when Tony Robinson and a TV crew came along filming a documentary programme about the history of the development of the law. As I understand it, contract law meant that I had to be paid something in order for them to have my consent to be filmed, just in case I was in the background of the eventual programme (I wasn't, by the way).
Tony Robinson is shorter than me in the same way that Tom Daley is taller than me.
Pensioners, particularly that blessed generation who got final salary scheme pensions, include many of the better off in our society but also include many that are poor. The current set up, like all universal benefits (a point acknowledged by this government in relation to CB), is extremely expensive and inefficient in providing benefits to the poor that need them and spends absurd amounts of money on those that don't.
But it is simplistic to point to the cynical calculation highlighted by OGH. The real problem is that pensioners genuinely believe that they bought their right to a state pension by paying NI over their working lives. That lie, by politicians of all parties who spent the NI and made no provision for pensions, has come home to roost. It is very difficult for the current generation of politicians who are holding the parcel when it stops ticking to do much about that.
You didn't understand the poll then?
Here's someone who did. As big a political ticking time bomb as your curiously oft delayed scottish tory surge?
Despite all the unnecessary invective, there isn't much to disagree with here...
Can't see that again.
"Tony Robinson is shorter than me in the same way that Tom Daley is taller than me."
Have you had your gaydar fully reset after calling me out, some time back, for suggesting young Daley might be batting for the other side ?!?
1 Day 30 minutes
Strange... I can't see the 'more powers' option on the referendum question..
Referendums are not a choice between 'the status quo' and 'not the status quo', they're a choice between 'the change on offer' and 'not the change on offer'.
The change on offer in this case is independence, which very clearly has minority support. After all, those who want more powers for the Scottish parliament but not independence can only get to that position by voting No (unless they believe that Yes is going to lose by some distance and want to add a bit of pressure for their position). Either way, it's a good poll for Better Together.
At least you used an unbiased sorce
Rod Crosby says they'll move back. Do you agree?
Meanwhile someone with a close eye on the lib dem finances appears to have it in for Clegg. First one of these type of 'cash for' stories for a while. Certainly won't be the last though.
I don't remember you suggesting such a thing, but if you did, fair play for your wisdom. I was very surprised when Tom came out as bisexual (albeit that he didn't use that word) and I had always thought he was heterosexual due to the fact that he used to go on and on all the time about fancying Cheryl Cole and Pippa Middleton and Little Mix (a girl group on X-Factor). Anyway.
I suppose the depressing aspect of this is that the voters believe in these promises in the first place and make the politicians go through the whole charade, but the electorate is what it is.
I'm not saying that Stevens campaign was nothing more than a Libdem false flag operation (had anybody heard of the "Buckinghamshire Campaign for Democracy" prior to 2010, or indeed since?), but to describe him as an independent is at best ingenuous, surely?
On the Scottish poll, both Better Together and Mick are making the classic polling misleader (not a word but should be) of classing a middle option as being essentially on their side. I'm sure they both know it, too.
2. Hammer it home as much as you like. If you want a referendum on more powers, say what you want and ask that question instead. This referendum's about independence - you know, the question on the ballot paper?
http://www.euractiv.com/general/italian-coalition-eyes-speedy-el-news-532584?utm_source=EurActiv Newsletter&utm_campaign=c544aac66b-newsletter_euractiv_alerts&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_bab5f0ea4e-c544aac66b-245514803
As an aside, but relatedly, the big political story - and with significant betting implications - is Osborne's comments about the deficit and cuts. How I read this is:
1. Osborne is confident that the economy is running the right way and will use that as vindication for the government's policies.
2. The 'more cuts needed' message means a subliminal theme of 'you can't send the doctor away yet'.
3. Labour is about to be hit with a broadside of 'black holes in their spending plans', 'country can't afford them' type stories.
The risk, of course, is that Labour will no doubt ask the government where the cuts will come, and that's a reasonable question to which there'll have to be a credible response.
Blow-out manufacturing PMI numbers from Spain - 54.5 from 51.6, the best numbers since 2007, and suggests that Spain (like Ireland) is now clearly on the road to recovery.
Services PMI numbers are out from Italy (bad), France (worse), Germany (rather good) and Ireland (astonishingly good).
UK numbers are out at at 9:30. Can it beat Irelands 61.8 Services PMI?
If you want to make broad characterizations, countries that slashed government spending and liberalised labour markets are doing quite well. While those who increased government spending and did not, are doing very badly (ahem, France, ahem).
Amused by the headline about Nick Robinson. Reminds me of the time Cameron made a speech (possibly before 2010) about immigration. Robinson claimed it meant that those who would be denied entry would be more likely to have black and brown faces (there's a biasedbbc article with the exact quote, but it's not on their new site and I can't find it). The day after the speech Trevor Philips praised Cameron's speech for seeking to deracialise the immigration debate. Robinson neither corrected himself nor apologised for a rather shocking use of language.
The jam-tomorrow promises from the unionists (of which there are going to be a great many more coming) would seem to indicate they are less than content to have that stark prospect put to the scottish public.
Have you been sourcing your ground nuts from Colorado?
There is nothing much new or surprising in anything said by Cameron on the Basic State Pension. The OBR had already assumed that the 'triple lock' will continue in place throughout the next term and its forecasts for public finances remained unaltered by the recent announcement. This means that the OBR prediction that the Public Sector Net Borrowing and the cyclically adjusted Current account will be in balance by the end of next term remains in place and is unaltered by state pension provision.
The Basic State Pension (BSP) is uprated in April each year in line with the ‘triple-lock’ guarantee that it will increase by the highest of average earnings growth, CPI inflation in the previous September and 2.5 per cent. As a result, we assume the BSP will be uprated by 2.7 per cent in 2014-15, in line with the outturn CPI inflation rate in September 2013. This will be the third successive year that the BSP has increased faster than average earnings, with the cumulative difference over that period 4.7 per cent. On our current forecast, uprating will be in line with the 2.5 per cent minimum in 2015-16, and by average earnings growth thereafter.
My recommendation is that you take a morning dip in the sea waters off Scotland's west coast.
As for what's on the ballot I'm entirely content it will be down to Vote Yes get Independence Vote No get Nothing. I think you'll find it's the unionist parties that will be struggling to promise more powers despite it not being on the ballot. As some of them already have done but with an amusing and telling lack of detail.
She tagged Mr Daley way back and where I only saw a polite, confident and media friendly lad, she was right on the case and stamped "friend of Dorothy" on him after the Beijing Olympics. Uncanny !!
As for the 'what next' question, it is of significance but it's clearly secondary to the independence debate. I also suspect that there'll be Settlement Fatigue after the vote and that anyone who immediately moves on to 'more powers' in the event of a No vote will be face a wave of apathy from those more interested in bread and butter issues. The unionists don't need to agree a common line on what next / devomax / more powers: that's a different question and will produce different campaign coalitions as and when it comes up. The fact remains though that the only viable route to devomax is via No.
http://www.espn.co.uk/mercedes/motorsport/story/140857.html
Basically, it's advantage manufacturers. So, Mercedes and Ferrari will be greatly helped by their ability to actually fix, as well as report, problems. This can't help the likes of McLaren, Red Bull or Lotus.
Has there ever been an election debate where one of the people in the debate isn't allowed to vote ?
And at only 58.8 the answer is no.
Still the good news from Markit is that 2013 growth is estimated at 1.9% and the strongest growth in the service sector was in the 'business' side of services rather than the household consumption side.
http://www.markiteconomics.com/Survey/PressRelease.mvc/1132e9ba11934548a369f9a4872acb02
Markit's Services PMI has come in at 58.8 for the month of December, a shade down on the 60.0 reading in November.
This slight dip, matching that in Manufacturing and Construction, also follows trends seen in China, the US, Germany and the Eurozone. It is too early yet to say whether this is a small dip or the beginning of a turning point towards a sustained downturn.
Caution stated, the UK figures are excellent by comparison with its main trading competitors and the underlying metrics remain strong.
The positive trends in activity and new business are widely expected to continue in 2014. Optimism amongst the survey panel regarding activity over the next 12 months was at its highest since March 2010, with well over 50% of respondents forecasting growth. Investment in capacity, new products and marketing platforms was also noted as a reason to be confident heading into 2014.
There was further evidence of capacity pressures in December, with backlogs of work rising for a ninth successive month. Although not to the extent seen in recent months, backlog growth was solid as continued sharp rises in new business stretched resources.
It looks as if antifrank will be busy in 2014.
For comparison, here are the indices for Germany, the Eurozone and France
Germany
Final Germany Services Business Activity Index at 53.5 in December, down from 55.7 in November (2 month low).
Final Germany Composite Output Index at 55.0 in December, down from 55.4 in November (2 month low).
Eurozone
Final Eurozone Composite Output Index: 52.1 (Flash 52.1, November 51.7)
Final Eurozone Services Business Activity Index: 51.0 (Flash 51.0, November 51.2)
France
Final Markit France Composite Output Index: 47.3 (48.0 in November, 7 month low)
Final Markit France Services Business Activity Index: 47.8 (48.0 in November, 6 month low)
La pauvre France!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25617844
"In his speech later Mr Osborne is expected to warn: "As a result of the painful cuts we've made, the deficit is down by a third and we're borrowing nearly £3,000 less for every one of you and for every family in the country.
That's the good news. The bad news is there's still a long way to go."
He said the UK was "borrowing around £100bn a year - and paying half that money a year in interest just to service our debts".
He added: "We've got to make more cuts. That's why 2014 is the year of hard truths - the year when Britain faces a choice.
"Do we say 'the worst is over, back we go to our bad habits of borrowing and spending and living beyond our means and let the next generation pay the bill'?
"Or do we say to ourselves 'yes, because of our plan, things are getting better - but there is still a long way to go and there are big, underlying problems we have to fix in our economy'?"
"
I left space for you to post on tapas output in Spain! Wasn't expecting to be pipped by the leprechauns.
The challenge for Labour is that they have already, albeit grudgingly, accepted the principle that the country will need to continue the programme of getting the public finances under proper control. David H said upthread "Labour will no doubt ask the government where the cuts will come, and that's a reasonable question to which there'll have to be a credible response." But this is a trap for Labour: once they've said they'll match spending cuts (as they have), it's hard for them to attack on the basis of where the cuts will come without exposing themselves to the same riposte, or to the even more damaging riposte that they are not serious about the public finances despite what they say.
It's a trap they seem curiously determined to jump into, despite it being heavily sign-posted.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25614095
Essentially, what they're saying is that the rate at which interest rates rise determines how salable the debt will be. Work your own conclusions as to what that's mean for choosing to borrow and spend more / plan to make further cuts (indeed, I wonder whether Osborne's own comments have been timed to coincide with it).
But equally there has been a small easing off in the rate of growth across the major economies which given its consistency is going to be more than statistical error. The "ish" addition was in context no more than the expression of warranted caution.
Are you still taking the p*ss out of Cameron and Osbrowne with your "ironic" spinning or have you reverted to your out of touch twit persona that nobody takes seriously? Either way even the fops and their inept PR machine would throw out your attempts at spinning as comically counterproductive for the tories.
Let's have a YG prediction contest. Mine: Lab 37, Con 32, UKIP 13, LD 11.
The Debt Management Office are being assisted by the reduction in the amount of debt issued. In the Autumn Statement Osborne reduced the amount of gilts and Treasury bills to issued this financial year (i.e. before end March 2014) by £15.5 billion.
That is a reduction in net borrowing (i.e. after deducting borrowing to roll-over redemptions) of some 15% of the annual total.
Assuming the sale of Lloyds bank shares will continue through 2014 and the cash flows from the BoE APF scheme continue to come in under the radar, the government's net cash requirement will continue to be much lower than the headline borrowing figures printed in the press.
All said though, UK bonds have lost more money for investors over the past year than competing issues, so there is a pricing issue.
Much will depend on the extent to which the markets expectations of interest rate rises remain in line with the BoE's 'forward guidance'. The DMO will hit difficulties in issuance if the a significant gap in expectations arises.
Osborne is attempting to get this back to where the tories feel comfortable, namely discussing where the further cuts are going to fall. Labour find this very difficult territory as their campaign is all about goodies for selected groups. Will Osborne succeed? The key obvious fact in his corner is a deficit of £100bn a year that needs serious sorting. No one can credibly argue this is a state with money to burn.
But does the population as a whole want to hear more pain? I think that is harder to answer. I am just sure that it is a better conversation for the tories to have with the electorate than the one they have been having for the last 3 months.
Richard, thanks for brightening up a cold January day with some mirth. The very idea that Labour give a toss ( to quote the SCoE ) is just risible. At the first chance to splurge some cash they'll be off spending faster than a russian oligarch in a who's got the biggest yacht competition.
Compouter1 on life support :-)
We were fortunate not to need labour market reform; we've structurally cut government spending; and we've sorted out our banks. (We did the last well before the Spanish or the Irish.)
Essentially, the US has led, and the UK followed 18 months behind. Ireland is six months behind the UK, and Spain is a further six months back. I am hearing somewhat encouraging things about Italy, with the banks hopefully being sorted out in the near future, although labour market reform there remains elusive.
France, however, remains the sick man of Europe. As I have said many times previously, the decisions of M. Hollande will - much more than the gyrations of Mr Farage - will decide whether the EU and the Euro survive.
Last week, the US manufacturing PMI came in at 57 - above forecasts, and a very strong number.
In Europe, confidence numbers are generally rising. The pan-Euro Sentix economic confidence number out today came in at +11.9, well above the +9.5 expected, and the +8.0 achieved a month ago. Italy's manufacturing PMI that was out last week showed that country dramatically improving, going from 51.4 to 53.3. Germany edged up from 54.2 to 54.3. Of the major countries, only France is going backwards.
You can see the dilemma they've made for themselves here, in an announcement which Labour did their level best to bury by releasing on the 19th December (!):
http://www.edballs.co.uk/blog/?p=4694
Ireland now runs a trade surplus, has sorted out its banks, and is showing annualised GDP growth of close 4% a year. I suspect unemployment will be below 10% by the the end of this year, and government debt-to-GDP should start falling this year. That's a pretty impressive achievement for a country which, a few years ago, was unable to pay its bills and which had to go running to the ECB and the IMF.
Are we not having a recovery?
'As we have said before, the last Labour government did not spend every pound of public money well.'
(Though I'm not sure that I can remember them saying anything like that previously)
I really don't understand why they've gone down this route. Just as the Tories can't out-snake Milband in his cost-of-living snake oil, Labour can never win in a match of who is best placed to control public spending.
Mr. Nabavi, one suspects Labour's opposition to a £26,000 per year cap on benefits will get raised by both Coalition parties. It was bonkers at the time and remains bonkers now.
The US was the first country to sort out its banks (and did not have a problem of excessive government spending or inflexible labour laws), it was the first to begin recovering, and its GDP is back at peak levels.
The UK was the second country to sort out its banks. It did have to make structural changes to government spending, but it already had a flexible labour market. It's GDP has been recovering for 18 months or so, but is still more than 5% below peak.
Ireland was next to adapt. It instituted very aggressive cuts to government spending, sorted out its banking sector, did a huge amount of private sector deleveraging, and further loosened labour laws. It is now growing very rapidly, albeit its GDP is more than 5% below peak, and unemployment remains relatively high (although now falling fast).
Spain has also done the right things. It sorted out its banks only in 2012 (three years after the UK, and two after Ireland). It dramatically cut government spending, and liberalised its labour markets. It has also reduced private sector debt levels considerably. It is now beginning to recover although its GDP is more than 10% below peak levels. Unemployment, although now falling, remains incredibly high (although it's worth noting that these are not unprecedented levels for Spain - they had similar (25%) levels of unemployment in 1994.
Many left-orientated posters were arguing on here 18 months ago that Ireland's revival was effectively impossible because of its austerity policy.
Meanwhile UKIP will chip away at the 60+ CON vote (And Labour/NOTA), but net effect CON...
I think you are being unduly pessimistic. China's PMI numbers have been very weak (registering only just over 50, and massively diverging from stated 7+% GDP numbers). But in the US and in the European economies (excuding France) the number have been reasonable to good.
Last week, the US manufacturing PMI came in at 57 - above forecasts, and a very strong number.
In Europe, confidence numbers are generally rising. The pan-Euro Sentix economic confidence number out today came in at +11.9, well above the +9.5 expected, and the +8.0 achieved a month ago. Italy's manufacturing PMI that was out last week showed that country dramatically improving, going from 51.4 to 53.3. Germany edged up from 54.2 to 54.3. Of the major countries, only France is going backwards.
I am not a natural pessimist, Robert! And on the issue of confidence metrics and PMIs, it is unwise to rely on small fluctuations as being indicators of outcomes.
But for all the growing confidence and step improvements in growth, global trade value and volume remains depressed. China (correctly) are responding to the reduction in consumption in its main trading partners forced by austerity by refocussing their own economy on domestic growth. In the long term this will benefit the global economy but the short term effect is to reduce growth and, indirectly, trade.
The growth in the Eurozone is to be welcomed but it has not been sufficient to boost the UK's exports to the area. At present, UK growth is multi-sectoral but heavily skewed towards personal and household consumption. This is only sustainable over the short to medium term: our mantelpiece piggy banks are being emptied and there remains a reluctance to borrow. So global trade needs to grow in line or more strongly than domestic output if the growth rates experienced in the last three quarters are to be sustained over the recovery cycle.
This isn't really pessimism. The UK, European and Global economies are in a better position than they were a year ago, but all problems haven't been solved and there remains much work to be done. Trade, productivity, investment and real earnings growth are all poor and need urgent attention. And the burden of spending cuts to meet the OBR's Fiscal Forecasts remain mostly in front of us rather than behind.
A different set of problems to 2010 maybe but I remain cautiously confident that they are more likely than not to be solved.
Ok, even more confusing is why Cameron should be trumpeting a pension indexation policy that delivered LOWER state pensions over this parliament than the old, pre-triple lock policy would have delivered.
This is one of GO's biggest failings. We have a sick oligopoly on continued taxpayer life support which is failing to lend to the business sector.
When he has broken up a mega bank, restored competition, got interest rates back to normal levels and restored commercial lending he can think about making the claim. In between he's simply fiddling the books in the hope that our bank failures can do a Lazarus.