politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » The Leader of Surrey County Council – The Unlikeliest Revoluti

At a time when the Daily Mail and others are eulogising over Donald Trump and extolling him as a revolutionary (though his “America First” slogan belonged to Charles Lindbergh over 70 years ago), I would argue the week’s true revolutionary is a contemporary of President Trump.
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We used to have the best new threads...let's make new threads great again! Threads first!0
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Excellent piece Stodge.0
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This did make me chuckle
David Cameron reveals he shoots birds he's named after Brexit betrayer Boris Johnson (and Michael Gove)
“I find that when I shoot a few Borises and Michaels I feel a whole lot better," the ex-Prime Minister told the global elite in Davos
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-reveals-shoots-birds-96716160 -
The sky news angle on the missile test is nonsense saying well the government have in the past given out a press's release on a successful test as proof the government always talk about weapons testing, so this was a massive cover up.
Whatever next, by that logic, they expect every SAS mission to be revealed?0 -
I said the other day I'd end tax credits and send the money over to social care.0
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But he is just a regular bloke, right?TheScreamingEagles said:This did make me chuckle
David Cameron reveals he shoots birds he's named after Brexit betrayer Boris Johnson (and Michael Gove)
“I find that when I shoot a few Borises and Michaels I feel a whole lot better," the ex-Prime Minister told the global elite in Davos
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-reveals-shoots-birds-9671616
THIS is the reason why the Tories are now so far ahead in the polls. Cameron/Osborne have clearly been holding them back for 6 years.0 -
Is that before or after a few pints of Guinness?TheScreamingEagles said:This did make me chuckle
David Cameron reveals he shoots birds he's named after Brexit betrayer Boris Johnson (and Michael Gove)
“I find that when I shoot a few Borises and Michaels I feel a whole lot better," the ex-Prime Minister told the global elite in Davos
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-reveals-shoots-birds-96716160 -
More money diverted from the JAMS to the pensioners?TheScreamingEagles said:I said the other day I'd end tax credits and send the money over to social care.
Very courageous, sir.
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Dave and George took the Tory party from fewer than 200 MPs to 331 MPs, some holding back.Mortimer said:
But he is just a regular bloke, right?TheScreamingEagles said:This did make me chuckle
David Cameron reveals he shoots birds he's named after Brexit betrayer Boris Johnson (and Michael Gove)
“I find that when I shoot a few Borises and Michaels I feel a whole lot better," the ex-Prime Minister told the global elite in Davos
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-reveals-shoots-birds-9671616
THIS is the reason why the Tories are now so far ahead in the polls. Cameron/Osborne have clearly been holding them back for 6 years.0 -
Big fat turkeys and wee Scottish grouse.TheScreamingEagles said:This did make me chuckle
David Cameron reveals he shoots birds he's named after Brexit betrayer Boris Johnson (and Michael Gove)
“I find that when I shoot a few Borises and Michaels I feel a whole lot better," the ex-Prime Minister told the global elite in Davos
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-reveals-shoots-birds-96716160 -
In two goes.TheScreamingEagles said:
Dave and George took the Tory party from fewer than 200 MPs to 331 MPs, some holding back.Mortimer said:
But he is just a regular bloke, right?TheScreamingEagles said:This did make me chuckle
David Cameron reveals he shoots birds he's named after Brexit betrayer Boris Johnson (and Michael Gove)
“I find that when I shoot a few Borises and Michaels I feel a whole lot better," the ex-Prime Minister told the global elite in Davos
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-reveals-shoots-birds-9671616
THIS is the reason why the Tories are now so far ahead in the polls. Cameron/Osborne have clearly been holding them back for 6 years.
Had one of the grammar school lot been in charge, we might well not have needed to involve Cleggy in the apparatus of govt at all.
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Great thread and highlights a key political event in my opinion. If the answer is 'yes' then will the flood gates open?0
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Seeing as i live in Surrey, I dont actually know how i would vote.
My wife told me we couldn't afford it, but i know really we could.0 -
Anecdata:
Spoke to two inhabitants of Surrey yesterday (who happen to have a large network via NCT, school etc). They find the question laughable. 70/30 for No predicted.0 -
Generally, this is an issue that makes me really angry. When are the politicians going to get a grip and propose a solution to this issue?
edit: apart from anything else it is clogging up the NHS0 -
Twitter reaction was hostile but that can hardly be viewed as reliable.
Understatement of the year, not only in general, but specifically the people who vote are more likely to be the ones approaching needs for social care.....0 -
Dave's predecessor was a grammar school boy.Mortimer said:
In two goes.TheScreamingEagles said:
Dave and George took the Tory party from fewer than 200 MPs to 331 MPs, some holding back.Mortimer said:
But he is just a regular bloke, right?TheScreamingEagles said:This did make me chuckle
David Cameron reveals he shoots birds he's named after Brexit betrayer Boris Johnson (and Michael Gove)
“I find that when I shoot a few Borises and Michaels I feel a whole lot better," the ex-Prime Minister told the global elite in Davos
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-reveals-shoots-birds-9671616
THIS is the reason why the Tories are now so far ahead in the polls. Cameron/Osborne have clearly been holding them back for 6 years.
Had one of the grammar school lot been in charge, we might well not have needed to involve Cleggy in the apparatus of govt at all.
Inviting Clegg into government was a clear benefit to the Tories in the long term with Dave's black widow strategy.
62 - The number of Lib Dem MPs when Dave became leader
8 - The number of Lib Dem MPs when Dave retired.0 -
The other aspect of this that will get public attention, the Chancellor and Health Secretary are both Surrey MPs whilst Michael Gove, another Surrey MP, led the Leave campaign that promised an extra £350m per week to the NHS
Awkward for all three.0 -
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TheScreamingEagles said:
Dave's predecessor was a grammar school boy.Mortimer said:
In two goes.TheScreamingEagles said:
Dave and George took the Tory party from fewer than 200 MPs to 331 MPs, some holding back.Mortimer said:
But he is just a regular bloke, right?TheScreamingEagles said:This did make me chuckle
David Cameron reveals he shoots birds he's named after Brexit betrayer Boris Johnson (and Michael Gove)
“I find that when I shoot a few Borises and Michaels I feel a whole lot better," the ex-Prime Minister told the global elite in Davos
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-reveals-shoots-birds-9671616
THIS is the reason why the Tories are now so far ahead in the polls. Cameron/Osborne have clearly been holding them back for 6 years.
Had one of the grammar school lot been in charge, we might well not have needed to involve Cleggy in the apparatus of govt at all.
Inviting Clegg into government was a clear benefit to the Tories in the long term with Dave's black widow strategy.
62 - The number of Lib Dem MPs when Dave became leader
8 - The number of Lib Dem MPs when Dave retired.
I think this should best be filed in the 'Clearing up one's own mess' folder - LDs only needed to be beaten in 2015 because they failed to win a majority in 2010.
The 2010 campaign was, by many accounts, a shambles. What did it have in common with the Brexit campaign? GO as 'master strategist'.0 -
I wouldn’t put a lot on Surrey’s Council Tax payers voting For, but the vote share per district council could be interesting.0
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Make Surrey great again.
FPT: Looks like eating decent roast potatoes is the solution to drowning in your own piss anyway.0 -
Actually 2010 was largely influenced by Lord Ashcroft.Mortimer said:TheScreamingEagles said:
Dave's predecessor was a grammar school boy.Mortimer said:
In two goes.TheScreamingEagles said:
Dave and George took the Tory party from fewer than 200 MPs to 331 MPs, some holding back.Mortimer said:
But he is just a regular bloke, right?TheScreamingEagles said:This did make me chuckle
David Cameron reveals he shoots birds he's named after Brexit betrayer Boris Johnson (and Michael Gove)
“I find that when I shoot a few Borises and Michaels I feel a whole lot better," the ex-Prime Minister told the global elite in Davos
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-reveals-shoots-birds-9671616
THIS is the reason why the Tories are now so far ahead in the polls. Cameron/Osborne have clearly been holding them back for 6 years.
Had one of the grammar school lot been in charge, we might well not have needed to involve Cleggy in the apparatus of govt at all.
Inviting Clegg into government was a clear benefit to the Tories in the long term with Dave's black widow strategy.
62 - The number of Lib Dem MPs when Dave became leader
8 - The number of Lib Dem MPs when Dave retired.
I think this should best be filed in the 'Clearing up one's own mess' folder - LDs only needed to be beaten in 2015 because they failed to win a majority in 2010.
The 2010 campaign was, by many accounts, a shambles. What did it have in common with the Brexit campaign? GO as 'master strategist'.
2015 was Dave and George hiring Sir Lynton and Jim Messina.0 -
It is funny! Borises J and Michaels G are scums.SeanT said:
Cameron really is such a twat. He actually thinks this is funny.TheScreamingEagles said:This did make me chuckle
David Cameron reveals he shoots birds he's named after Brexit betrayer Boris Johnson (and Michael Gove)
“I find that when I shoot a few Borises and Michaels I feel a whole lot better," the ex-Prime Minister told the global elite in Davos
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-reveals-shoots-birds-96716160 -
Clearly Cameron’s jokes hit home there Sean. I think it's quite funny.SeanT said:
Cameron really is such a twat. He actually thinks this is funny.TheScreamingEagles said:This did make me chuckle
David Cameron reveals he shoots birds he's named after Brexit betrayer Boris Johnson (and Michael Gove)
“I find that when I shoot a few Borises and Michaels I feel a whole lot better," the ex-Prime Minister told the global elite in Davos
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-reveals-shoots-birds-96716160 -
I am reaching the pension age myself. But Pensioners are selfish. They want more services as long others pay for them.CarlottaVance said:Twitter reaction was hostile but that can hardly be viewed as reliable.
Understatement of the year, not only in general, but specifically the people who vote are more likely to be the ones approaching needs for social care.....0 -
Morning all
Thank you to OGH for putting up my small contribution. I haven't done many articles over the years but Mike has always been kind enough to indulge my ramblings.
There's a Party political aspect to this - we see Conservatives arguing for more tax and Liberal Democrats/Labour/UKIP all arguing for less or no tax which is a curious juxtaposition.
There are parallels with the EU Referendum - Surrey residents are being asked a serious question about the kind of society they want to live in and the kind of people they want to be and how they want the elderly and other vulnerable adults to be treated.
If we are to throw care of the elderly to the State and then deprive the State of those funds to provide a respectable and dignified level of care for some of the most deserving, what does that say about us as individuals and people and our expectations for our own latter years ?
In a sense, Surrey residents can "take back control" - if you want a dignified level of care for all older people in Surrey, this is the price you will have to pay but it's your choice.
I find myself hoping Hodge gets his mandate.
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It's amusing rather than funny. Calling people "scums" on the other hand is positively Wildean.surbiton said:
It is funny! Borises J and Michaels G are scums.SeanT said:
Cameron really is such a twat. He actually thinks this is funny.TheScreamingEagles said:This did make me chuckle
David Cameron reveals he shoots birds he's named after Brexit betrayer Boris Johnson (and Michael Gove)
“I find that when I shoot a few Borises and Michaels I feel a whole lot better," the ex-Prime Minister told the global elite in Davos
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-reveals-shoots-birds-96716160 -
I see you've gone full Tory Corbynite, Labour won in 1997 in spite of Blair, Tories won in 2010/15 in spite of Dave.Mortimer said:TheScreamingEagles said:
Dave's predecessor was a grammar school boy.Mortimer said:
In two goes.TheScreamingEagles said:
Dave and George took the Tory party from fewer than 200 MPs to 331 MPs, some holding back.Mortimer said:
But he is just a regular bloke, right?TheScreamingEagles said:This did make me chuckle
David Cameron reveals he shoots birds he's named after Brexit betrayer Boris Johnson (and Michael Gove)
“I find that when I shoot a few Borises and Michaels I feel a whole lot better," the ex-Prime Minister told the global elite in Davos
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-reveals-shoots-birds-9671616
THIS is the reason why the Tories are now so far ahead in the polls. Cameron/Osborne have clearly been holding them back for 6 years.
Had one of the grammar school lot been in charge, we might well not have needed to involve Cleggy in the apparatus of govt at all.
Inviting Clegg into government was a clear benefit to the Tories in the long term with Dave's black widow strategy.
62 - The number of Lib Dem MPs when Dave became leader
8 - The number of Lib Dem MPs when Dave retired.
I think this should best be filed in the 'Clearing up one's own mess' folder - LDs only needed to be beaten in 2015 because they failed to win a majority in 2010.
The 2010 campaign was, by many accounts, a shambles. What did it have in common with the Brexit campaign? GO as 'master strategist'.0 -
Did I miss all the posts saying we should get a move on with Brexit rather than trying to delay, defer, and distract from actually Leaving?TheScreamingEagles said:The other aspect of this that will get public attention, the Chancellor and Health Secretary are both Surrey MPs whilst Michael Gove, another Surrey MP, led the Leave campaign that promised an extra £350m per week to the NHS
Awkward for all three.
We. Have. Not. Left. Yet.0 -
On topic, it will be defeated - heavily.
The leader of Surrey County Council knows this, which is why he's gone for such an eye wateringly large rise of 15% rather than, say, a more defensible 5%.
The point of the exercise isn't to get a mandate from local residents for a bit of extra funding to plug a gap, but to influence the national debate on the funding of social care more generally and to embarrass ministers whose seats are in Surrey into action.
He calculates this publicity and political pressure is worth the cost of the referendum.0 -
Excellent header, stodge . Hard to deal with issues that have no easy answers and bleed r interest groups to satisfy (elderly tax payers!) T his is what makes politics most interesting.0
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Scrap the triple lock, and end the trinkets, and use the money for social care.
And encourage smoking and drinking.0 -
I think 'hiring' underplays it a little, no?TheScreamingEagles said:
Actually 2010 was largely influenced by Lord Ashcroft.Mortimer said:TheScreamingEagles said:
Dave's predecessor was a grammar school boy.Mortimer said:
In two goes.TheScreamingEagles said:
Dave and George took the Tory party from fewer than 200 MPs to 331 MPs, some holding back.Mortimer said:
But he is just a regular bloke, right?TheScreamingEagles said:This did make me chuckle
David Cameron reveals he shoots birds he's named after Brexit betrayer Boris Johnson (and Michael Gove)
“I find that when I shoot a few Borises and Michaels I feel a whole lot better," the ex-Prime Minister told the global elite in Davos
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-reveals-shoots-birds-9671616
THIS is the reason why the Tories are now so far ahead in the polls. Cameron/Osborne have clearly been holding them back for 6 years.
Had one of the grammar school lot been in charge, we might well not have needed to involve Cleggy in the apparatus of govt at all.
Inviting Clegg into government was a clear benefit to the Tories in the long term with Dave's black widow strategy.
62 - The number of Lib Dem MPs when Dave became leader
8 - The number of Lib Dem MPs when Dave retired.
I think this should best be filed in the 'Clearing up one's own mess' folder - LDs only needed to be beaten in 2015 because they failed to win a majority in 2010.
The 2010 campaign was, by many accounts, a shambles. What did it have in common with the Brexit campaign? GO as 'master strategist'.
2015 was Dave and George hiring Sir Lynton and Jim Messina.
Agreeing to Crosby taking over the campaign from the chancellor who had made huge political blunders with two of his 6 budgets. Lades and Gents, I give you GO....
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"Most deserving". Is that like the media's "most vulnerable"? A cash spraying opportunity which you would be morally heartless to reject?stodge said:Morning all
Thank you to OGH for putting up my small contribution. I haven't done many articles over the years but Mike has always been kind enough to indulge my ramblings.
There's a Party political aspect to this - we see Conservatives arguing for more tax and Liberal Democrats/Labour/UKIP all arguing for less or no tax which is a curious juxtaposition.
There are parallels with the EU Referendum - Surrey residents are being asked a serious question about the kind of society they want to live in and the kind of people they want to be and how they want the elderly and other vulnerable adults to be treated.
If we are to throw care of the elderly to the State and then deprive the State of those funds to provide a respectable and dignified level of care for some of the most deserving, what does that say about us as individuals and people and our expectations for our own latter years ?
In a sense, Surrey residents can "take back control" - if you want a dignified level of care for all older people in Surrey, this is the price you will have to pay but it's your choice.
I find myself hoping Hodge gets his mandate.0 -
Great thread - pleased to see more coverage of council issues outside elections. Much respect to David Hodge and co for stepping onto the parapet.
Has to be seen in context of delay of Dilnot reforms, with the max cap (£75k?) you pay for care not being implemented until 2020. But it also cuts at the heart of much public funding - how much should "the taxpayer" pay for specialist services? I've had people complaining about paying for schools, special needs provision etc, and asking for council tax discounts because they had to pay a service charge to e.g. collect waste.
For me it reflects a more selfish society, where 'what am I getting for this' is the dominant thread in public debate - which is why I think the referendum will fall and fall badly. But it's more about putting pressure on the Government than anything else, and on that measure it will succeed.
N.B. Technical note on Localism Act 2011 - the referendum will be first Thursday in May, and council must draw up 2 budgets, one with the increase, and a 'fall-back' for if the referendum is lost. As the council year starts before the referendum I assume that the higher budget is applied until the referendum (for about 5 weeks) and then switched to the fall-back if the referendum is lost, but not sure on that point. Can any experts clarify?0 -
If we had left the EU on the 24th June, then the NHS would have received an extra £350m per week since then.Mortimer said:
Did I miss all the posts saying we should get a move on with Brexit rather than trying to delay, defer, and distract from actually Leaving?TheScreamingEagles said:The other aspect of this that will get public attention, the Chancellor and Health Secretary are both Surrey MPs whilst Michael Gove, another Surrey MP, led the Leave campaign that promised an extra £350m per week to the NHS
Awkward for all three.
We. Have. Not. Left. Yet.0 -
Moreover, the Surrey County Council leader will secretly *want* the referendum to fail.
He knows that most people can ill afford an extra tax bill of £200 per year in the current climate, and it'd be electoral suicide once such bills started actually landing on people's mats.0 -
Comments in Times are almost all negative - it's a non story at best and stupid at worst.FrancisUrquhart said:The sky news angle on the missile test is nonsense saying well the government have in the past given out a press's release on a successful test as proof the government always talk about weapons testing, so this was a massive cover up.
Whatever next, by that logic, they expect every SAS mission to be revealed?0 -
What would have been funny is if a Boris then fell from the sky to hit him on the head.SeanT said:
It's just feeble. It's not even close to humour. Oh look, I shot a grouse, and called it Boris.MikeSmithson said:
Clearly Cameron’s jokes hit home there Sean. I think it's quite funny.SeanT said:
Cameron really is such a twat. He actually thinks this is funny.TheScreamingEagles said:This did make me chuckle
David Cameron reveals he shoots birds he's named after Brexit betrayer Boris Johnson (and Michael Gove)
“I find that when I shoot a few Borises and Michaels I feel a whole lot better," the ex-Prime Minister told the global elite in Davos
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-reveals-shoots-birds-9671616
That made you laugh? What, out loud? Really laugh? Did you spill your soup, cough it all over the laptop? Did you stick your thumbs in your waistcoat pockets, and rock rhythmically back and forward letting out mighty bellows of amusement?
Look, he shot a grouse, and called it Boris.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
Jesus. Get a grip. It's like one of those non-funny non-gags on really bad Radio 4 comedy shows. If you actually did laugh, it's the forced laughter of bitterly defeated saddos, invoked by an effete loser with no job.
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Well, I’m well past pension age, and TBH, I’m not sure about this. I’m not rich but I’m reasonably comfortable. I don’t mind giving up my free TV or having my winter fuel allowance taxed. I’m even prepared to pay something for my bus pass....... don’t know how much....... prepared to negotiate, or even pay more income tax, but I do feel that putting extra on the rates is a blunderbuss way of doing things.surbiton said:
I am reaching the pension age myself. But Pensioners are selfish. They want more services as long others pay for them.CarlottaVance said:Twitter reaction was hostile but that can hardly be viewed as reliable.
Understatement of the year, not only in general, but specifically the people who vote are more likely to be the ones approaching needs for social care.....
I’m with Corbyn; this is a national issue and should be dealt with nationally. Many Surrey Council Tax payers can unquestionably afford it; many cannot.0 -
As Sir Lynton would say he had two excellent products to sell to the electorate, Dave's leadership and George's stewardship of the economy.Mortimer said:
I think 'hiring' underplays it a little, no?TheScreamingEagles said:
Actually 2010 was largely influenced by Lord Ashcroft.Mortimer said:TheScreamingEagles said:
Dave's predecessor was a grammar school boy.Mortimer said:
In two goes.TheScreamingEagles said:
Dave and George took the Tory party from fewer than 200 MPs to 331 MPs, some holding back.Mortimer said:
But he is just a regular bloke, right?TheScreamingEagles said:This did make me chuckle
David Cameron reveals he shoots birds he's named after Brexit betrayer Boris Johnson (and Michael Gove)
“I find that when I shoot a few Borises and Michaels I feel a whole lot better," the ex-Prime Minister told the global elite in Davos
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-reveals-shoots-birds-9671616
THIS is the reason why the Tories are now so far ahead in the polls. Cameron/Osborne have clearly been holding them back for 6 years.
Had one of the grammar school lot been in charge, we might well not have needed to involve Cleggy in the apparatus of govt at all.
Inviting Clegg into government was a clear benefit to the Tories in the long term with Dave's black widow strategy.
62 - The number of Lib Dem MPs when Dave became leader
8 - The number of Lib Dem MPs when Dave retired.
I think this should best be filed in the 'Clearing up one's own mess' folder - LDs only needed to be beaten in 2015 because they failed to win a majority in 2010.
The 2010 campaign was, by many accounts, a shambles. What did it have in common with the Brexit campaign? GO as 'master strategist'.
2015 was Dave and George hiring Sir Lynton and Jim Messina.
Agreeing to Crosby taking over the campaign from the chancellor who had made huge political blunders with two of his 6 budgets. Lades and Gents, I give you GO....
Without that no Tory majority or even Tory largest party in a hung parliament0 -
An interesting thread, so thanks to Stodge for it (and OGH for running it). Presumably under the localism Act the only thing that the Council can do is increase Council Tax across the board - there is no mechanism for them to implement a 15% increase on bands F, G and H, 5% on C, D and E, and 0% on the remainder (for instance).
(Edited as I got the bands the wrong way around originally)0 -
The Liverpool council leader was on radio. He said their social services cut was much deeper. However, they did a website poll regarding a similar CT rise. Even that unscientific poll lost. So they decided not to waste several hundred thousands on a referendum.stodge said:Morning all
Thank you to OGH for putting up my small contribution. I haven't done many articles over the years but Mike has always been kind enough to indulge my ramblings.
There's a Party political aspect to this - we see Conservatives arguing for more tax and Liberal Democrats/Labour/UKIP all arguing for less or no tax which is a curious juxtaposition.
There are parallels with the EU Referendum - Surrey residents are being asked a serious question about the kind of society they want to live in and the kind of people they want to be and how they want the elderly and other vulnerable adults to be treated.
If we are to throw care of the elderly to the State and then deprive the State of those funds to provide a respectable and dignified level of care for some of the most deserving, what does that say about us as individuals and people and our expectations for our own latter years ?
In a sense, Surrey residents can "take back control" - if you want a dignified level of care for all older people in Surrey, this is the price you will have to pay but it's your choice.
I find myself hoping Hodge gets his mandate.
The question that is relevant is this: It is all very well to cut taxes. But what are we cutting to fund these tax cuts ?
Sweden, Finland, Denmark always comes across in polls as the happiest countries as well as free countries to do trade. But they also pay the highest taxes. More than 50% in Denmark!0 -
I saw this last night and thought what a berk.SeanT said:
Cameron really is such a twat. He actually thinks this is funny.TheScreamingEagles said:This did make me chuckle
David Cameron reveals he shoots birds he's named after Brexit betrayer Boris Johnson (and Michael Gove)
“I find that when I shoot a few Borises and Michaels I feel a whole lot better," the ex-Prime Minister told the global elite in Davos
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-reveals-shoots-birds-9671616
He was PM FFS - and now talks like this about his own Party? Specifically our Foreign Secretary.0 -
Probably right. But the other issue is that council tax is a rubbish way of generating income - based on property prices in 1991 because no-one's had the courage to either come up with anything better or even revalue houses since. Westminster wusses, the lot of them.Casino_Royale said:Moreover, the Surrey County Council leader will secretly *want* the referendum to fail.
He knows that most people can ill afford an extra tax bill of £200 per year in the current climate, and it'd be electoral suicide once such bills started actually landing on people's mats.0 -
They also have the wit to vote.surbiton said:
Pensioners are selfish.CarlottaVance said:Twitter reaction was hostile but that can hardly be viewed as reliable.
Understatement of the year, not only in general, but specifically the people who vote are more likely to be the ones approaching needs for social care.....
It's not their fault others don't.0 -
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https://www.ft.com/content/0d48300a-de3b-11e6-86ac-f253db7791c6
May’s vision of post-Brexit trade puzzles experts0 -
I am not disagreeing with you. This is a National crisis. And, we are talking about Corporation Tax cuts ?OldKingCole said:
Well, I’m well past pension age, and TBH, I’m not sure about this. I’m not rich but I’m reasonably comfortable. I don’t mind giving up my free TV or having my winter fuel allowance taxed. I’m even prepared to pay something for my bus pass....... don’t know how much....... prepared to negotiate, or even pay more income tax, but I do feel that putting extra on the rates is a blunderbuss way of doing things.surbiton said:
I am reaching the pension age myself. But Pensioners are selfish. They want more services as long others pay for them.CarlottaVance said:Twitter reaction was hostile but that can hardly be viewed as reliable.
Understatement of the year, not only in general, but specifically the people who vote are more likely to be the ones approaching needs for social care.....
I’m with Corbyn; this is a national issue and should be dealt with nationally. Many Surrey Council Tax payers can unquestionably afford it; many cannot.0 -
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I agree with you on this.surbiton said:
I am not disagreeing with you. This is a National crisis. And, we are talking about Corporation Tax cuts ?OldKingCole said:
Well, I’m well past pension age, and TBH, I’m not sure about this. I’m not rich but I’m reasonably comfortable. I don’t mind giving up my free TV or having my winter fuel allowance taxed. I’m even prepared to pay something for my bus pass....... don’t know how much....... prepared to negotiate, or even pay more income tax, but I do feel that putting extra on the rates is a blunderbuss way of doing things.surbiton said:
I am reaching the pension age myself. But Pensioners are selfish. They want more services as long others pay for them.CarlottaVance said:Twitter reaction was hostile but that can hardly be viewed as reliable.
Understatement of the year, not only in general, but specifically the people who vote are more likely to be the ones approaching needs for social care.....
I’m with Corbyn; this is a national issue and should be dealt with nationally. Many Surrey Council Tax payers can unquestionably afford it; many cannot.
Corp tax cuts are politically unpalatable and fiscally unnecessary.
Reintroduce the difference between small business corp tax rate and big business corp tax rate. Would really help those unfortunate small businesses hit by rate hikes in the south of England.0 -
Correct although I think it's much more long-standing than the localism act. The bands are set based on 1991 property values, with Band D being standing and the other bands being expressed in "ninths of the Band D rate" Council's can't add bands or break the ninths formula. They can charge an empty homes premium however or alter the single person's discount.Lennon said:An interesting thread, so thanks to Stodge for it (and OGH for running it). Presumably under the localism Act the only thing that the Council can do is increase Council Tax across the board - there is no mechanism for them to implement a 15% increase on bands F, G and H, 5% on C, D and E, and 0% on the remainder (for instance).
(Edited as I got the bands the wrong way around originally)
Just shows the ridiculous centralisation we already have - if we want to take control why doesn't Government let go of all of this?0 -
I'm not convinced that a society that expects 'the government' to pay for all of their needs is a less selfish one.tpfkar said:
For me it reflects a more selfish society, where 'what am I getting for this' is the dominant thread in public debate
People do however need to develop a greater awareness of the way that their incomes and expenditures will change over the course of their lifetimes, rather than living quite so much for the moment.
0 -
Meanwhile, Macron is set to become President of France. Perfect result for him yesterday.
0 -
The butt hurt towards Gove and Johnson is real.PlatoSaid said:
I saw this last night and thought what a berk.SeanT said:
Cameron really is such a twat. He actually thinks this is funny.TheScreamingEagles said:This did make me chuckle
David Cameron reveals he shoots birds he's named after Brexit betrayer Boris Johnson (and Michael Gove)
“I find that when I shoot a few Borises and Michaels I feel a whole lot better," the ex-Prime Minister told the global elite in Davos
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-reveals-shoots-birds-9671616
He was PM FFS - and now talks like this about his own Party? Specifically our Foreign Secretary.0 -
I wonder if Cameron was just trying to say this in a self-deprecating, rueful, 'I'm a loser' sort of way. I can't see him genuinely thinking this is a joke at the expense of Boris or Gove. If anything it enhances their slightly wobbly stature.0
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It wasn't thought through. Our right to deal direct with other countries and even a "customs arrangement" with the EU is theoretically contradictory.williamglenn said:https://www.ft.com/content/0d48300a-de3b-11e6-86ac-f253db7791c6
May’s vision of post-Brexit trade puzzles experts
I think either her advisers do not understand this, but more likely, this is just a political kite for UK consumption to blame the EU when it cannot come about.0 -
He has emerged from the Brexit referendum as biggest liar, most responsible for division, least principled... and what's worse, he lost!SeanT said:
Yep. Gove and Boris destroyed Cameron's legacy, and turned him into a painful footnote in British history. To be fair, you can see why Dave might hate them, such that he makes banal and asinine "jokes".Sean_F said:
The butt hurt towards Gove and Johnson is real.PlatoSaid said:
I saw this last night and thought what a berk.SeanT said:
Cameron really is such a twat. He actually thinks this is funny.TheScreamingEagles said:This did make me chuckle
David Cameron reveals he shoots birds he's named after Brexit betrayer Boris Johnson (and Michael Gove)
“I find that when I shoot a few Borises and Michaels I feel a whole lot better," the ex-Prime Minister told the global elite in Davos
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-reveals-shoots-birds-9671616
He was PM FFS - and now talks like this about his own Party? Specifically our Foreign Secretary.0 -
*cough*Bollocks*cough*isam said:He has emerged from the Brexit referendum as biggest liar
https://twitter.com/MichaelPDeacon/status/747000584226607104/photo/1-1 -
What a silly little man .PlatoSaid said:
I saw this last night and thought what a berk.SeanT said:
Cameron really is such a twat. He actually thinks this is funny.TheScreamingEagles said:This did make me chuckle
David Cameron reveals he shoots birds he's named after Brexit betrayer Boris Johnson (and Michael Gove)
“I find that when I shoot a few Borises and Michaels I feel a whole lot better," the ex-Prime Minister told the global elite in Davos
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-reveals-shoots-birds-9671616
He was PM FFS - and now talks like this about his own Party? Specifically our Foreign Secretary.
I imagine it had the White's shower in stitches.0 -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG98cwlRqn8Scott_P said:
*cough*Bollocks*cough*isam said:He has emerged from the Brexit referendum as biggest liar
https://twitter.com/MichaelPDeacon/status/747000584226607104/photo/10 -
You seem strangely exercised over all of this. Presumably Dave isn't yet crushed enough for you - he should sink to his knees and weep uncontrollably whenever the heroes of Brexit are mentioned.SeanT said:
Yep. Gove and Boris destroyed Cameron's legacy, and turned him into a painful footnote in British history. To be fair, you can see why Dave might hate them, such that he makes banal and asinine "jokes".Sean_F said:
The butt hurt towards Gove and Johnson is real.PlatoSaid said:
I saw this last night and thought what a berk.SeanT said:
Cameron really is such a twat. He actually thinks this is funny.TheScreamingEagles said:This did make me chuckle
David Cameron reveals he shoots birds he's named after Brexit betrayer Boris Johnson (and Michael Gove)
“I find that when I shoot a few Borises and Michaels I feel a whole lot better," the ex-Prime Minister told the global elite in Davos
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-reveals-shoots-birds-9671616
He was PM FFS - and now talks like this about his own Party? Specifically our Foreign Secretary.0 -
It wouldn't be so bad if the 1991 survey had been accurate. My house is band lower than the house we are attached to (it's in a different street). Our house has twice been extended, theirs is the 1941 original....tpfkar said:
Probably right. But the other issue is that council tax is a rubbish way of generating income - based on property prices in 1991 because no-one's had the courage to either come up with anything better or even revalue houses since. Westminster wusses, the lot of them.Casino_Royale said:Moreover, the Surrey County Council leader will secretly *want* the referendum to fail.
He knows that most people can ill afford an extra tax bill of £200 per year in the current climate, and it'd be electoral suicide once such bills started actually landing on people's mats.0 -
I think a lie has to be about a fact, i.e. the past. This is about the future, so though it could be deceitful in intent, it is not a lie.Scott_P said:
*cough*Bollocks*cough*isam said:He has emerged from the Brexit referendum as biggest liar
https://twitter.com/MichaelPDeacon/status/747000584226607104/photo/1
0 -
Blair and Iraq, surely. Or possibly Chamberlain and Munich.SeanT said:
In terms of personal career miscalculation, Cameron's lost EU referendum is probably without peer in the history of British politics. I cannot think of anything remotely close.isam said:
He has emerged from the Brexit referendum as biggest liar, most responsible for division, least principled... and what's worse, he lost!SeanT said:
Yep. Gove and Boris destroyed Cameron's legacy, and turned him into a painful footnote in British history. To be fair, you can see why Dave might hate them, such that he makes banal and asinine "jokes".Sean_F said:
The butt hurt towards Gove and Johnson is real.PlatoSaid said:
I saw this last night and thought what a berk.SeanT said:
Cameron really is such a twat. He actually thinks this is funny.TheScreamingEagles said:This did make me chuckle
David Cameron reveals he shoots birds he's named after Brexit betrayer Boris Johnson (and Michael Gove)
“I find that when I shoot a few Borises and Michaels I feel a whole lot better," the ex-Prime Minister told the global elite in Davos
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-reveals-shoots-birds-9671616
He was PM FFS - and now talks like this about his own Party? Specifically our Foreign Secretary.0 -
@MrHarryCole: The Chancellor of the Exchequer has this day appointed Jamieson Ronald Reed to be Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead.
@MrHarryCole: Chancellor of the Exchequer has this day appointed Tristram Julian William Hunt to be Steward and Bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern.0 -
And there's more.....
The French government has launched an inquiry after a study by the health authorities revealed that an additive used in toothpaste, sweets, and chewing gum can cause precancerous lesions in laboratory rats.
A report by France’s National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA) from Friday states that the study results show “for the first time that E171 crosses the intestinal barrier in animals and reaches other parts of the body.”
The additive E171, or titanium dioxide, is used for whitening of products and is found in sweets, chocolate products, cookies, chewing gum, and food supplements, as well as in pharmaceutical products and toothpaste.
https://www.rt.com/news/374709-france-toothpaste-cancer-risk/0 -
It's a perfectly choreographed tragedy. Every little success he enjoyed since entering politics was merely part of building his own doomsday machine.SeanT said:
In terms of personal career miscalculation, Cameron's lost EU referendum is probably without peer in the history of British politics. I cannot think of anything remotely close.isam said:
He has emerged from the Brexit referendum as biggest liar, most responsible for division, least principled... and what's worse, he lost!SeanT said:
Yep. Gove and Boris destroyed Cameron's legacy, and turned him into a painful footnote in British history. To be fair, you can see why Dave might hate them, such that he makes banal and asinine "jokes".Sean_F said:
The butt hurt towards Gove and Johnson is real.PlatoSaid said:
I saw this last night and thought what a berk.SeanT said:
Cameron really is such a twat. He actually thinks this is funny.TheScreamingEagles said:This did make me chuckle
David Cameron reveals he shoots birds he's named after Brexit betrayer Boris Johnson (and Michael Gove)
“I find that when I shoot a few Borises and Michaels I feel a whole lot better," the ex-Prime Minister told the global elite in Davos
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-reveals-shoots-birds-9671616
He was PM FFS - and now talks like this about his own Party? Specifically our Foreign Secretary.0 -
In fact it could be argued that it isn't a lie even if we leave the EU and don't give the NHS the 350m. "Let us" is not the same as "we will"geoffw said:
I think a lie has to be about a fact, i.e. the past. This is about the future, so though it could be deceitful in intent, it is not a lie.Scott_P said:
*cough*Bollocks*cough*isam said:He has emerged from the Brexit referendum as biggest liar
https://twitter.com/MichaelPDeacon/status/747000584226607104/photo/1
Although it is very misleading.
It cant be called a lie until we leave and don't do it. Cameron is a proven liar.0 -
Off topic: Some Harry Kellar, Houdini & Titanic memorabilia is going to be auctioned on the 25th January if anyone fancies some0
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As I understand it, the rot in social care started when it was decoupled from the central budget to local authorities. There was then successive reductions in central funding to local authorities making any choices painful.
I'm all in favour of saving costs by eliminating waste and improving efficiency but I think we should have a bit of joined up thinking about how to deal with care for an ageing population. It's not sufficient, or sensible to 'toss the problem over the wall to local authorities' if they can't adequately fund provision.
I join the other voices on here asking for a full fundamental review of how health care is funded and provided in this country, Brexit is a good reason to do this but please forget the silly £350mm/week nonsense. There will be additional money that we don't send to the EU in the future but we don't know how much, or when it will happen.0 -
The lie was that 'the EU takes £350m every week'. The NHS part doesn't come into it.geoffw said:
I think a lie has to be about a fact, i.e. the past. This is about the future, so though it could be deceitful in intent, it is not a lie.Scott_P said:
*cough*Bollocks*cough*isam said:He has emerged from the Brexit referendum as biggest liar
https://twitter.com/MichaelPDeacon/status/747000584226607104/photo/10 -
Wonder if they had a toss up to determine who was getting which job?Scott_P said:@MrHarryCole: The Chancellor of the Exchequer has this day appointed Jamieson Ronald Reed to be Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead.
@MrHarryCole: Chancellor of the Exchequer has this day appointed Tristram Julian William Hunt to be Steward and Bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern.0 -
If I were a moderator of this site, I'd introduce a fine system for every time you post that.Scott_P said:
*cough*Bollocks*cough*isam said:He has emerged from the Brexit referendum as biggest liar
https://twitter.com/MichaelPDeacon/status/747000584226607104/photo/10 -
Would it also cover Sunil's stupid bar charts?Casino_Royale said:
If I were a moderator of this site, I'd introduce a fine system for every time you post that.Scott_P said:
*cough*Bollocks*cough*isam said:He has emerged from the Brexit referendum as biggest liar
https://twitter.com/MichaelPDeacon/status/747000584226607104/photo/10 -
Can’t we have a symbol for it, just to save space? And the annoyance of seeing Johnson?Casino_Royale said:
If I were a moderator of this site, I'd introduce a fine system for every time you post that.Scott_P said:
*cough*Bollocks*cough*isam said:He has emerged from the Brexit referendum as biggest liar
https://twitter.com/MichaelPDeacon/status/747000584226607104/photo/10 -
If anyone is the berk in this tale it's not Cameron.PlatoSaid said:
I saw this last night and thought what a berk.SeanT said:
Cameron really is such a twat. He actually thinks this is funny.TheScreamingEagles said:This did make me chuckle
David Cameron reveals he shoots birds he's named after Brexit betrayer Boris Johnson (and Michael Gove)
“I find that when I shoot a few Borises and Michaels I feel a whole lot better," the ex-Prime Minister told the global elite in Davos
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-reveals-shoots-birds-9671616
He was PM FFS - and now talks like this about his own Party? Specifically our Foreign Secretary.0 -
And I would introduce a fine for every Brexiteer that whines about it. That would raise much more revenue.Casino_Royale said:If I were a moderator of this site, I'd introduce a fine system for every time you post that.
0 -
Sorry, the £350m/week is not going to be forgotten as "silly nonsense". The country chose to make a major and irreversible constitutional change on the back of that claim. If it was nonsense then perhaps the Leave campaign should have said so at the time.Blue_rog said:As I understand it, the rot in social care started when it was decoupled from the central budget to local authorities. There was then successive reductions in central funding to local authorities making any choices painful.
I'm all in favour of saving costs by eliminating waste and improving efficiency but I think we should have a bit of joined up thinking about how to deal with care for an ageing population. It's not sufficient, or sensible to 'toss the problem over the wall to local authorities' if they can't adequately fund provision.
I join the other voices on here asking for a full fundamental review of how health care is funded and provided in this country, Brexit is a good reason to do this but please forget the silly £350mm/week nonsense. There will be additional money that we don't send to the EU in the future but we don't know how much, or when it will happen.0 -
Nice article. And you're quite right that this is a very bold gambit.stodge said:Morning all
Thank you to OGH for putting up my small contribution. I haven't done many articles over the years but Mike has always been kind enough to indulge my ramblings.
There's a Party political aspect to this - we see Conservatives arguing for more tax and Liberal Democrats/Labour/UKIP all arguing for less or no tax which is a curious juxtaposition.
There are parallels with the EU Referendum - Surrey residents are being asked a serious question about the kind of society they want to live in and the kind of people they want to be and how they want the elderly and other vulnerable adults to be treated.
If we are to throw care of the elderly to the State and then deprive the State of those funds to provide a respectable and dignified level of care for some of the most deserving, what does that say about us as individuals and people and our expectations for our own latter years ?
In a sense, Surrey residents can "take back control" - if you want a dignified level of care for all older people in Surrey, this is the price you will have to pay but it's your choice.
I find myself hoping Hodge gets his mandate.
As to the referendum... It seems a tall order.
The voters of Surrey elected all (?) Conservative MPs who cut the central govt money in the first place?0 -
You've made your point multiple times.Scott_P said:
And I would introduce a fine for every Brexiteer that whines about it. That would raise much more revenue.Casino_Royale said:If I were a moderator of this site, I'd introduce a fine system for every time you post that.
It is getting very tedious.0 -
The story paints a disturbing picture of Cameron as a frustrated inadequate venting his spite on wildlife.Chris_A said:
If anyone is the berk in this tale it's not Cameron.PlatoSaid said:
I saw this last night and thought what a berk.SeanT said:
Cameron really is such a twat. He actually thinks this is funny.TheScreamingEagles said:This did make me chuckle
David Cameron reveals he shoots birds he's named after Brexit betrayer Boris Johnson (and Michael Gove)
“I find that when I shoot a few Borises and Michaels I feel a whole lot better," the ex-Prime Minister told the global elite in Davos
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-reveals-shoots-birds-9671616
He was PM FFS - and now talks like this about his own Party? Specifically our Foreign Secretary.0 -
Why? It shows that our foreign secretary who campaigned for the biggest change in the UK in a generation is a lying liar who won the campaign by lying. Post it more Scott!Casino_Royale said:
If I were a moderator of this site, I'd introduce a fine system for every time you post that.Scott_P said:
*cough*Bollocks*cough*isam said:He has emerged from the Brexit referendum as biggest liar
https://twitter.com/MichaelPDeacon/status/747000584226607104/photo/10 -
I think it's pretty disgraceful that people over 90 don't get their care home fees paid for by the government.0
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@michaelsavage: ICM/Guardian: CON lead up to 16 (+2)
CON 42 (-)
LAB 26 (-2)
UKIP 13 (+1)
LD 10 (+1)
GREEN 5 (+1)
Online poll of 2,052 adults, 20-22 Jan.0 -
I agree with you Sean and I would also go further. Both sides came out with blatant lies to try and influence the final vote. Leave won. Is that because their lies were 'better', I don't know. I do know that how people voted was impacted by many things, not least that fact that we hadn't had any meaningful vote on the EU for decades, if at all. There was a reservoir of mistrust and disillusionment that leave found it easy to tap into, the £350mm/week just one example. The remain side were not helped by project fear either, it just added to the mistrust people were feeling as the lies were so blatant.SeanT said:
You want a big fat lie from David Cameron, during the Remain campaign?Scott_P said:
"£350m the EU takes every week" is a flat liegeoffw said:I think a lie has to be about a fact, i.e. the past. This is about the future, so though it could be deceitful in intent, it is not a lie.
Try this. He claimed:
"EU jobseekers have to leave the UK if they can't find work after six months"
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36449974
The BBC is helpfully vague towards Cameron, and can't decide if it is a lie or not. But it is a lie.
See here. There was an ECJ ruling on exactly this in 2015
"However, the ECJ warned that it would be illegal for governments to go beyond this and automatically expel legitimate jobseekers after a set period, saying this would contravene their legal rights."
https://www.ft.com/content/0379858e-5b96-11e5-9846-de406ccb37f2
Cameron lied. Remain lied. The EU is a big fat lie. You're lying now. You're just a bunch of liars. And losers.0 -
Eden and Suez, perhaps. It ended Eden's career, as well as Britain's status as a world power, and seriously harmed relations with the United States (which had strongly opposed Suez).not_on_fire said:
Blair and Iraq, surely. Or possibly Chamberlain and Munich.SeanT said:
In terms of personal career miscalculation, Cameron's lost EU referendum is probably without peer in the history of British politics. I cannot think of anything remotely close.isam said:
He has emerged from the Brexit referendum as biggest liar, most responsible for division, least principled... and what's worse, he lost!SeanT said:
Yep. Gove and Boris destroyed Cameron's legacy, and turned him into a painful footnote in British history. To be fair, you can see why Dave might hate them, such that he makes banal and asinine "jokes".Sean_F said:
The butt hurt towards Gove and Johnson is real.PlatoSaid said:
I saw this last night and thought what a berk.SeanT said:
Cameron really is such a twat. He actually thinks this is funny.TheScreamingEagles said:This did make me chuckle
David Cameron reveals he shoots birds he's named after Brexit betrayer Boris Johnson (and Michael Gove)
“I find that when I shoot a few Borises and Michaels I feel a whole lot better," the ex-Prime Minister told the global elite in Davos
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-reveals-shoots-birds-9671616
He was PM FFS - and now talks like this about his own Party? Specifically our Foreign Secretary.0 -
It certainly helped, but only because it was a way of framing the impact of the large net contributions the UK makes to the EU budget in a way everyday non-politicos could understand.not_on_fire said:
Sorry, the £350m/week is not going to be forgotten as "silly nonsense". The country chose to make a major and irreversible constitutional change on the back of that claim. If it was nonsense then perhaps the Leave campaign should have said so at the time.Blue_rog said:As I understand it, the rot in social care started when it was decoupled from the central budget to local authorities. There was then successive reductions in central funding to local authorities making any choices painful.
I'm all in favour of saving costs by eliminating waste and improving efficiency but I think we should have a bit of joined up thinking about how to deal with care for an ageing population. It's not sufficient, or sensible to 'toss the problem over the wall to local authorities' if they can't adequately fund provision.
I join the other voices on here asking for a full fundamental review of how health care is funded and provided in this country, Brexit is a good reason to do this but please forget the silly £350mm/week nonsense. There will be additional money that we don't send to the EU in the future but we don't know how much, or when it will happen.
But, if the claim had been £100m/week - a realistic and credible promise - that would have had no less electoral impact because to most people it is still a very large number. The reason Leave kept it at £350m is because it was just ambiguous enough to keep a debate going, and all the Remain complaints about it played straight into their hands (do Remain still not realise this?) in forcing the debate onto their ground, and massively raising its salience in the media.
Cynical? Yes, but almost all political campaigns are cynical. Remain had their own exaggerations a plenty.
That's why "Leave" will ultimately get away with it.0 -
I talked about this a few threads back, but I think I'll say it again as it is on topic.
When I was five my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's (though I suspect she'd had it for a lot longer than that). For a time my dad moved in with her to look after her but this wasn't a long term solution. Woking Borough Council gleefully told us to sell her house and give them the money to look after her. Rather than do that, my parents decided to sell her house and we bought a bigger property that we could all live in (this involved me moving school, which I didn't like). My mum had been a nurse and then a child minder after having my sister and then me. She stopped doing the latter to care for my grandmother.
To be fair she did get some help between 1994 and 1997 (when my grandmother succumbed to pneumonia). This included my grandmother being taken to a day centre two days a week. She was also invited to the Alzheimer Society's local centre but was expelled after one visit having behaved very badly. Sometimes I think the do gooders in this world live on a different planet.
Anyway, my parents are now 70 and 68 and it's getting to the stage where I think they live with me rather than the other way round. I know that one day one or both may need caring for and my sister and I probably won't be in a position to provide it so we'll have to pay. What the experience of my grandmother taught me is basically, if you own a home, you have to sell it to pay for care. That was 25 years ago, and I can't believe much has changed.
So that brings me to this referendum. I went out for dinner with my parents, sister and brother-in-law last week and we were all of the view that we could vote for this increase in tax and we'd still have to pay for my parents' care. Furthermore, I have to correct Stodge. It isn't just "a tax rise to fund extra care for the elderly and vulnerable adults." It also covers children's services. That sounds like adequate scope to spend it on a lot of other stuff. With the exception of the TV tax, we don't do hypothecation in this country. And I don't expect this to be any different.
For what it's worth, my friends on Facebook - who are very much to the left (of me, anyway) - are all opposed to this. The fact that Mr Hodge is earning more from being leader of SCC than I get paid for doing my job in Central London is not good. I know that in the grand scheme of things the amount councillors claim in expenses is not very much, but the optics of it are dreadful.
Currently, the Tories hold 58 of the 81 seats on Surrey County Council. They've had control of the council since 1997, but I could see 4 May being a terrrrrrrrrrible night for the Tories in Surrey.0 -
The state pension should probably be frozen, and the extra hypothetical cash increases with the triple lock put toward social care.AndyJS said:I think it's pretty disgraceful that people over 90 don't get their care home fees paid for by the government.
With the rise of the robots, we're moving to an age where more jobs than ever can be done with low physical effort - I mean look at Trump , he is 70 and POTUS !
Perhaps we don't need all the immigration - a system of longer working in today's modern jobs is perhaps the best answer - more tax and less pension expenditure too.
But please, lets provide the care for those that are unable to work. Alzeimers is a horrible awful disease and those that suffer it are due as much dignity as we can muster for them in today's society.0 -
I dont have an FT subscription... And this is all old history a bit...SeanT said:
You want a big fat lie from David Cameron, during the Remain campaign?Scott_P said:
"£350m the EU takes every week" is a flat liegeoffw said:I think a lie has to be about a fact, i.e. the past. This is about the future, so though it could be deceitful in intent, it is not a lie.
Try this. He claimed:
"EU jobseekers have to leave the UK if they can't find work after six months"
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36449974
The BBC is helpfully vague towards Cameron, and can't decide if it is a lie or not. But it is a lie.
See here. There was an ECJ ruling on exactly this in 2015
"However, the ECJ warned that it would be illegal for governments to go beyond this and automatically expel legitimate jobseekers after a set period, saying this would contravene their legal rights."
https://www.ft.com/content/0379858e-5b96-11e5-9846-de406ccb37f2
Cameron lied. Remain lied. The EU is a big fat lie. You're lying now. You're just a bunch of liars. And losers.
But this says:
"Where an EU citizen has not yet worked in the country –
or where the period of six months has elapsed – a jobseeker cannot be expelled from the member state for as long as they can provide evidence that they are continuing to seek employment, and that they have a genuine chance of getting a job. However, in these circumstances, a worker may not be entitled to receive social assistance, the court said."
http://www.duncanlewis.co.uk/immigration_news/ECJ_rules_member_states_can_deny_benefits_to_outofwork_EU_migrants__(17_September_2015).html
So seems to be that job seeker must prove they have genuine chance of getting a job?
I don't know how that is determined but presumably six months of failing to get a job is evidence suggesting they don't have a genuine chance?0 -
Thank you for the kind words and comments and especially to tpfkar for the details on when the Referendum will be held. It won't probably have a huge impact on the local elections themselves but might on the post-election battle within the Conservative group. We'll see.
One or two have raised the huge point about Council Tax and the lack of a revaluation since 1991. Successive Governments have backed off this and consequently our properties are all valued at much less than their actual market value now.
There is no fair method of local Government finance - there's an argument for recognising different house price values in different areas and an argument for creating extra bands at the top end (beyond H) to capture the even more expensive properties.
The problem for local authorities has been how to break clear of the dependence on central Government funding - some have gone into property investment by borrowing large sums at very low rates and living off the rental yields while others have sought other income sources.
That hasn't stopped central Government throwing functions such as public health at local authorities without any resources and then making capital out of "reducing the size of Government" while leaving the Councils high and dry.0 -
If Corbyn's relaunch was a success, I wonder how John McDonnell judges failure.Scott_P said:@michaelsavage: ICM/Guardian: CON lead up to 16 (+2)
CON 42 (-)
LAB 26 (-2)
UKIP 13 (+1)
LD 10 (+1)
GREEN 5 (+1)
Online poll of 2,052 adults, 20-22 Jan.0 -
MonikerDiCanio said:
The story paints a disturbing picture of Cameron as a frustrated inadequate venting his spite on wildlife.Chris_A said:
If anyone is the berk in this tale it's not Cameron.PlatoSaid said:
I saw this last night and thought what a berk.SeanT said:
Cameron really is such a twat. He actually thinks this is funny.TheScreamingEagles said:This did make me chuckle
David Cameron reveals he shoots birds he's named after Brexit betrayer Boris Johnson (and Michael Gove)
“I find that when I shoot a few Borises and Michaels I feel a whole lot better," the ex-Prime Minister told the global elite in Davos
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-reveals-shoots-birds-9671616
He was PM FFS - and now talks like this about his own Party? Specifically our Foreign Secretary.
Very disappointed with Cameron (if that's true). He was PM. He called the referendum at his time. He did the 'negotiation' with the EU.
And now he wants to blame some friends who (as was their right) choose to support the other side?
They didn't betray him. They made their own decisions as he allowed them to do. Cameron takes the majority of responsibility here. If the deal wasn't good enough (it wasn't) he should have supported Leave.
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Not only did Brexit destroy Dave's legacy - it revealed him to be a man whose political instinct was elitist / establishment / paternalist. The country and the world is moving in a direction of less and less trust or respect for our failing politicians. We live in an age of 'No. Screw you. My view matters to me. You're my servant not the other way around'. This is a very GOOD thing. Those stranded on the de-haut-en-bas wrong side of 'we know best' now look like self-serving wankers. Their self conception as morally good or politically / economically literate benefactors of the poor benighted stupid plebs has been exploded. The plebs are alot smarter than Dave. Dave's legacy is not just political failure but moral failure.
That's gonna hurt.0