Why Hunt’s cuts to national insurance might not boost the Tories – politicalbetting.com
Comments
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But with the backdrop of a plunge of 19% in business investment in 2020 and a second one of 9% on the turn of 2021, just before (coincidence?) the original posted graph starts.Malmesbury said:
Remember dating effects - people spending on equipment in anticipation of claiming etc.TimS said:
It seems to suggest the two tax measures didn't really have an effect, which is a shame but not entirely surprising because the effect should take a couple of years to filter through given investment time horizons.williamglenn said:Is the narrative about the UK economy wrong?
Whether we're in a boom or not rather depends on what happened in the couple of years previous to 2021. If investment shrank more than others during Covid (as seems to have been the case with GDP) then the starting point may mask a simple rebound.
What that shows is investment increasing over a period and appearing to level off around 125% of the previous level.
https://tradingeconomics.com/united-kingdom/private-investment
The original superdeduction was implemented to stop people holding back spending until the CT rate rise to 25%. IN that I think it succeeded. Full expensing - on paper less generous but combined with 25% CT the same value - has not noticeably impacted most large businesses' capex plans yet. I hope it will do - I am in favour of the measure although sceptical about how big an impact it will have, especially as many of the big spenders quickly run into tax losses if they use all their CAs.
Supercharging full expensing by adding a superdeduction and making that a qualifying refundable tax credit would I think have a much bigger effect, but that would be more expensive.0 -
I watched The Hangover with my Gen Z eldest son last night. A completely alien world for him: there were no common reference points at all.BartholomewRoberts said:
My stupidest ever night drinking was with Jagerbombs when I was already old enough to know better. A group at a bar said they'd give £100 to the charity of my choice (the neonatal unit at the hospital my own daughter was born) if I could down 12 Jagerbombs in half an hour after I said it wouldn't be a problem for me.No_Offence_Alan said:
I am a lightweight. At a 40th birthday party recently (one of my son's year at school),Leon said:God, ayahuasca is brilliant. Maybe I will do it again. Fuck it
But not for a few years
I drank my first, and probably my last, "Jager bomb" (Jagermeister and Red Bull).
Five minutes later when those were done it was stretched to £10 per extra bomb I drank in the half hour.
A few days later I sheepishly walked in to the hospital with £330 to donate to them. They asked how I'd done the fundraising and they'd say something to say thank you for it. I said I didn't want any credit, they insisted and my wife (who was annoyed) insisted I tell them the story. After I did, the lady taking the donation said that she agrees it best they not promote how that fundraising was done.0 -
Could have been worse.Cookie said:
Ed Davey anecdote: I was at a pub quiz a few weeks back. Ed Davey featured in a picture round. Only one person out of 80-odd recognised him. It wasn't even a particularly obscure photo of him.TimS said:Davey out and about:
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has been visiting the Chancellor’s constituency in Surrey - a big LD 🎯 target. He ended up pulling pints in The Star in Witley.
https://x.com/peter_henley/status/1765021488107630657?s=46
79 could have said "It's that f*cker from the Post Office scandal...."1 -
That's nothing - sometimes when eating out, I will order "soup of the day" without asking what it is!GIN1138 said:
Go you! Live dangerously!No_Offence_Alan said:
I am a lightweight. At a 40th birthday party recently (one of my son's year at school),Leon said:God, ayahuasca is brilliant. Maybe I will do it again. Fuck it
But not for a few years
I drank my first, and probably my last, "Jager bomb" (Jagermeister and Red Bull).
6 -
On topic, there is an angle here for the Tories that national insurance cuts > promote employment > promote growth > promote more funds for public services. And they're doing it in a balanced way within the fiscal rules.
But, I don't see much sign of them making it. Nor how long it would take to bear fruit - it won't be before the election.3 -
I wouldn't say I'm spiritual, so much as curious/hopeful. There's nothing like having a brush with Cancer (as I did in 2022) to make you think about life, death and everything in between.Leon said:
The boffin I am talking of - absolutely a world expert - has become convinced through his research that there is a further deeper “spiritual reality” and that psychedelics genuinely allow us to access it. They take off the blinkers, they remove the filtersGIN1138 said:
Perhaps the chemicals the brain gives off as it's dying makes the final moments of life, the most pleasurable?Leon said:I don’t think I’m revealing too much if I say one of the authors of this seminal study was with me during the trip
“New Clues Found in Understanding Near-Death Experiences
Research finds parallels to certain psychoactive drugs”
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-clues-found-in-understanding-near-death-experiences/
In fact he was sitting right next to me
But I still hope it's not ALL just down to simple chemistry and there is actually something spiritual waiting, beyond...
They are also weirdly good for curing things like depression and addiction - no one knows why - tho of course they can also be very dangerous
So if you’re of a spiritual bent take some solace in that. The actual scientists are taking it seriously - and are open to a spiritual explanation
Gosh, we've got deep on PB this afternoon! Time to get back to Brexit, Sunak and AV. 0 -
You get credit for acknowledging that alcohol is a drug, something a lot of "Drugs are bad mmmm'kay" people don't.No_Offence_Alan said:
I am a lightweight. At a 40th birthday party recently (one of my son's year at school),Leon said:God, ayahuasca is brilliant. Maybe I will do it again. Fuck it
But not for a few years
I drank my first, and probably my last, "Jager bomb" (Jagermeister and Red Bull).2 -
LOL!No_Offence_Alan said:
That's nothing - sometimes when eating out, I will order "soup of the day" without asking what it is!GIN1138 said:
Go you! Live dangerously!No_Offence_Alan said:
I am a lightweight. At a 40th birthday party recently (one of my son's year at school),Leon said:God, ayahuasca is brilliant. Maybe I will do it again. Fuck it
But not for a few years
I drank my first, and probably my last, "Jager bomb" (Jagermeister and Red Bull). 0 -
Alcohol is probably the worst drug there is (outside of opioids, anyway)CatMan said:
You get credit for acknowledging that alcohol is a drug, something a lot of "Drugs are bad mmmm'kay" people don't.No_Offence_Alan said:
I am a lightweight. At a 40th birthday party recently (one of my son's year at school),Leon said:God, ayahuasca is brilliant. Maybe I will do it again. Fuck it
But not for a few years
I drank my first, and probably my last, "Jager bomb" (Jagermeister and Red Bull).1 -
Perhaps “Phil” will tell me how to spend the extra 25p each week I will receive with my State Pension when I reach the age of 80.
Do tell him that 8% or 10% of little is still very little.0 -
Although its possible that he has just fallen for the experience and is attributing more to it than is there. Without going all fresher at Uni and asking if what I see as red is that same for everyone else, as a hard core materialist scientist who is sadly completely non-spiritual, I cannot get away from the idea that the mind makes sense of the sensory inputs it gets to generate the world we experience. Drugs like this are interfering with how that interpretation occurs, with the results you know so well. I suspect if you go into it with a bent for spirituality, that will help your outcome.Leon said:
The boffin I am talking of - absolutely a world expert - has become convinced through his research that there is a further deeper “spiritual reality” and that psychedelics genuinely allow us to access it. They take off the blinkers, they remove the filtersGIN1138 said:
Perhaps the chemicals the brain gives off as it's dying makes the final moments of life, the most pleasurable?Leon said:I don’t think I’m revealing too much if I say one of the authors of this seminal study was with me during the trip
“New Clues Found in Understanding Near-Death Experiences
Research finds parallels to certain psychoactive drugs”
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-clues-found-in-understanding-near-death-experiences/
In fact he was sitting right next to me
But I still hope it's not ALL just down to simple chemistry and there is actually something spiritual waiting, beyond...
They are also weirdly good for curing things like depression and addiction - no one knows why - tho of course they can also be very dangerous
So if you’re of a spiritual bent take some solace in that. The actual scientists are taking it seriously - and are open to a spiritual explanation
I often ask why I have never seen a ghost when so many people have. I may just have never been in the right place right time. But it may be because I don't believe in ghosts... A believer is way more likely to ascribe something on the edge of the senses as a ghost than I ever would. I see a barn owl, you see a little old lady in a white shawl crossing the road (genuine occurence for me and my true believer Aussie aunt).1 -
I took hallucinogenics once in a pub in Fulham. I did get a 'trip' but it wasn't one you'd call either good or bad. It was a bit of both really.1
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Alternatively, in your dying moments you find yourself thinking, "how boring; I already did this".Leon said:
The boffin I am talking of - absolutely a world expert - has become convinced through his research that there is a further deeper “spiritual reality” and that psychedelics genuinely allow us to access it. They take off the blinkers, they remove the filtersGIN1138 said:
Perhaps the chemicals the brain gives off as it's dying makes the final moments of life, the most pleasurable?Leon said:I don’t think I’m revealing too much if I say one of the authors of this seminal study was with me during the trip
“New Clues Found in Understanding Near-Death Experiences
Research finds parallels to certain psychoactive drugs”
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-clues-found-in-understanding-near-death-experiences/
In fact he was sitting right next to me
But I still hope it's not ALL just down to simple chemistry and there is actually something spiritual waiting, beyond...
They are also weirdly good for curing things like depression and addiction - no one knows why - tho of course they can also be very dangerous
So if you’re of a spiritual bent take some solace in that. The actual scientists are taking it seriously - and are open to a spiritual explanation
1 -
And yet Leon, who has done them all, is still a user.GIN1138 said:
Alcohol is probably the worst drug there is (outside of opioids, anyway)CatMan said:
You get credit for acknowledging that alcohol is a drug, something a lot of "Drugs are bad mmmm'kay" people don't.No_Offence_Alan said:
I am a lightweight. At a 40th birthday party recently (one of my son's year at school),Leon said:God, ayahuasca is brilliant. Maybe I will do it again. Fuck it
But not for a few years
I drank my first, and probably my last, "Jager bomb" (Jagermeister and Red Bull).0 -
Unemployment is basically as low as its been in the past 50 years, very little room to fall further.Casino_Royale said:On topic, there is an angle here for the Tories that national insurance cuts > promote employment > promote growth > promote more funds for public services. And they're doing it in a balanced way within the fiscal rules.
But, I don't see much sign of them making it. Nor how long it would take to bear fruit - it won't be before the election.
What is a big problem is the economically inactive. That would also take a long time to solve, but requires a healthier population, increased investment in health and public health.0 -
New candidate for world's oldest person.
117 years young.
California-born woman is the oldest person in the world
https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/longevity/4507292-california-born-woman-is-the-oldest-person-in-the-world/0 -
The trick with showing trends you want to see is to carefully pick the start year.Selebian said:
Ah yes. When was that again? 2016?GIN1138 said:
But Brexit...williamglenn said:Is the narrative about the UK economy wrong?
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1274832/uk-business-investment/
(not clear, but I think this is nominal)
In this case I think the graph is showing the UK rebounding from a pandemic low. The right hand of a V curve. Unlike the UK, business investment in the EU remained mostly steady through the pandemic, for whatever reason.
There is other evidence showing UK business investment being negatively impacted since the referendum.0 -
My impression from a first-hand experience is that it's indeed very likely that there's something beyond what we see in the here and now.
Our science is still young, and littered with overconfident predictions.1 -
NEVER order "The Special"GIN1138 said:
LOL!No_Offence_Alan said:
That's nothing - sometimes when eating out, I will order "soup of the day" without asking what it is!GIN1138 said:
Go you! Live dangerously!No_Offence_Alan said:
I am a lightweight. At a 40th birthday party recently (one of my son's year at school),Leon said:God, ayahuasca is brilliant. Maybe I will do it again. Fuck it
But not for a few years
I drank my first, and probably my last, "Jager bomb" (Jagermeister and Red Bull).
https://youtu.be/otJ2rXMuLno?si=xT_zT6oCx0YJL-4j&t=884 -
However, the 4p NI cut is actually real money in people's pocket that they will feel. As long as it isn't funded with extra borrowing then they will get away with it.Casino_Royale said:On topic, there is an angle here for the Tories that national insurance cuts > promote employment > promote growth > promote more funds for public services. And they're doing it in a balanced way within the fiscal rules.
But, I don't see much sign of them making it. Nor how long it would take to bear fruit - it won't be before the election.2 -
I want him to keep it at triple lock OKC but doing income tax cuts and not exclude us by using NI.OldKingCole said:malcolmg said:
Scandalous he is neglecting pensioners.eek said:I have to ask - wtf is Hunt giving tax cuts to people who aren’t likely to vote Tory
I don’t get how a reduction in employee NI will convince anyone to vote Tory - it’s a complete and utter waste of money
You mean you want him to cut our next rise?malcolmg said:
Scandalous he is neglecting pensioners.eek said:I have to ask - wtf is Hunt giving tax cuts to people who aren’t likely to vote Tory
I don’t get how a reduction in employee NI will convince anyone to vote Tory - it’s a complete and utter waste of money0 -
According to the Death Clock half of you will be challenging for that trophy in a few years. Except me, with my death clock set at the age of 73.Nigelb said:New candidate for world's oldest person.
117 years young.
California-born woman is the oldest person in the world
https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/longevity/4507292-california-born-woman-is-the-oldest-person-in-the-world/0 -
Not when they are working twice as hard as the lazy youngsters who think they should get everything handed to them on a plate. Get out of their beds in teh morning and get working and less whining like spoilt babies.Phil said:
Pensioners are getting a state pension rise of 8.5% in April, more than inflation over the previous year. In 2023, they received a 10.1% rise in a year when everyone else saw their incomes rise by 5.8%, so a 4% pay cut in real terms.malcolmg said:
Think of the poor pensioners , that is 2 NI cuts and nothing for the pensioners. Tories are on a death wish.eek said:
So it’s dumb and not targeting potential Tory voters so it’s doubly dumbIanB2 said:
Reducing taxes now is dumb, but if it has to be done for electoral reasons, reducing tax for those who are economically active is clearly more sensible than just giving a bung to the retired and others living on unearned income. Hunt is trying to square the circle between what his party wants for electoral reasons and what is economically sensible.eek said:I have to ask - wtf is Hunt giving tax cuts to people who aren’t likely to vote Tory
I don’t get how a reduction in employee NI will convince anyone to vote Tory - it’s a complete and utter waste of money
If pensioners were in their 20s they would be being excoriated by the right-wing press for sponging off the rest of the country.0 -
Bollox GIN, the water of life.GIN1138 said:
Alcohol is probably the worst drug there is (outside of opioids, anyway)CatMan said:
You get credit for acknowledging that alcohol is a drug, something a lot of "Drugs are bad mmmm'kay" people don't.No_Offence_Alan said:
I am a lightweight. At a 40th birthday party recently (one of my son's year at school),Leon said:God, ayahuasca is brilliant. Maybe I will do it again. Fuck it
But not for a few years
I drank my first, and probably my last, "Jager bomb" (Jagermeister and Red Bull).0 -
I’m sure death will be an awfully big adventureNigelb said:
Alternatively, in your dying moments you find yourself thinking, "how boring; I already did this".Leon said:
The boffin I am talking of - absolutely a world expert - has become convinced through his research that there is a further deeper “spiritual reality” and that psychedelics genuinely allow us to access it. They take off the blinkers, they remove the filtersGIN1138 said:
Perhaps the chemicals the brain gives off as it's dying makes the final moments of life, the most pleasurable?Leon said:I don’t think I’m revealing too much if I say one of the authors of this seminal study was with me during the trip
“New Clues Found in Understanding Near-Death Experiences
Research finds parallels to certain psychoactive drugs”
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-clues-found-in-understanding-near-death-experiences/
In fact he was sitting right next to me
But I still hope it's not ALL just down to simple chemistry and there is actually something spiritual waiting, beyond...
They are also weirdly good for curing things like depression and addiction - no one knows why - tho of course they can also be very dangerous
So if you’re of a spiritual bent take some solace in that. The actual scientists are taking it seriously - and are open to a spiritual explanation
I have a very good old friend dying right now. Probably got a few weeks at most. Liver failure leading to massive organ failure - he’s a huge boozer and smoker. No exercise. Poor diet
He’s also a brilliantly funny guy and I had some of my best adventures with him - one of them a gazette official road trip around Vietnam where we had to invent a floating red light distract and ended up with terrible opium habits and a couple of “souvenir girlfriends”
When I heard the news - about 3 days ago - I was obviously distressed. But his partner said “don’t be too sad. He said to me the other day ‘ive had a wonderful life and ive lived it entirely on my own terms, I don’t regret a thing’
Which was and is quite heartening. I hope I show the same sanguine acceptance2 -
Is she running for the Democrats or the GOP?Nigelb said:New candidate for world's oldest person.
117 years young.
California-born woman is the oldest person in the world
https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/longevity/4507292-california-born-woman-is-the-oldest-person-in-the-world/6 -
You say “interfering” I say “expanding”turbotubbs said:
Although its possible that he has just fallen for the experience and is attributing more to it than is there. Without going all fresher at Uni and asking if what I see as red is that same for everyone else, as a hard core materialist scientist who is sadly completely non-spiritual, I cannot get away from the idea that the mind makes sense of the sensory inputs it gets to generate the world we experience. Drugs like this are interfering with how that interpretation occurs, with the results you know so well. I suspect if you go into it with a bent for spirituality, that will help your outcome.Leon said:
The boffin I am talking of - absolutely a world expert - has become convinced through his research that there is a further deeper “spiritual reality” and that psychedelics genuinely allow us to access it. They take off the blinkers, they remove the filtersGIN1138 said:
Perhaps the chemicals the brain gives off as it's dying makes the final moments of life, the most pleasurable?Leon said:I don’t think I’m revealing too much if I say one of the authors of this seminal study was with me during the trip
“New Clues Found in Understanding Near-Death Experiences
Research finds parallels to certain psychoactive drugs”
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-clues-found-in-understanding-near-death-experiences/
In fact he was sitting right next to me
But I still hope it's not ALL just down to simple chemistry and there is actually something spiritual waiting, beyond...
They are also weirdly good for curing things like depression and addiction - no one knows why - tho of course they can also be very dangerous
So if you’re of a spiritual bent take some solace in that. The actual scientists are taking it seriously - and are open to a spiritual explanation
I often ask why I have never seen a ghost when so many people have. I may just have never been in the right place right time. But it may be because I don't believe in ghosts... A believer is way more likely to ascribe something on the edge of the senses as a ghost than I ever would. I see a barn owl, you see a little old lady in a white shawl crossing the road (genuine occurence for me and my true believer Aussie aunt).
And I think I’m right
0 -
It does make a certain amount of sense - but since they introduced it in the first place, it's all a bit Grand Old Duke.MaxPB said:
However, the 4p NI cut is actually real money in people's pocket that they will feel. As long as it isn't funded with extra borrowing then they will get away with it.Casino_Royale said:On topic, there is an angle here for the Tories that national insurance cuts > promote employment > promote growth > promote more funds for public services. And they're doing it in a balanced way within the fiscal rules.
But, I don't see much sign of them making it. Nor how long it would take to bear fruit - it won't be before the election.0 -
In other news my old job has been filled by one of the existing team members, it's the first director level post held by a woman under 40 for this part of the business so really happy she got it. She was part of my drive to recruit more women into junior and mid level roles 5 years ago on the basis that they would then be able to go on to get senior and director level roles later in their careers. Happily it seems to have played out that way. When I took up the job as lead for that division we had 12 men and 2 women, when I left it was 17 men and 13 women with most of the women hired into junior and mid level roles but 5 years later one of them becomes unit director and two of them are team leads.
It never made sense to me to exclude 50% of the population's skillset and I think I was proved right despite opposition from a lot of people suggesting if I hired women into just junior and mid level roles it would be a bad look for the business. I pointed out at the time that the women who got the jobs wouldn't give any fucks about it and would prefer to have the opportunity rather than not qualify for senior roles due to lack of experience at mid level but apparently hiring under experienced women and letting them struggle in senior roles and quit was preferable to the potential for embarrassment of my hiring policy.
Anyway, just thought it was a positive update and hopefully the company won't backslide on it and pull the ladder up again by shit canning junior and mid level hiring.5 -
You're as bad as all those people they interviewed for that BBC article, malc.malcolmg said:
I want him to keep it at triple lock OKC but doing income tax cuts and not exclude us by using NI.OldKingCole said:malcolmg said:
Scandalous he is neglecting pensioners.eek said:I have to ask - wtf is Hunt giving tax cuts to people who aren’t likely to vote Tory
I don’t get how a reduction in employee NI will convince anyone to vote Tory - it’s a complete and utter waste of money
You mean you want him to cut our next rise?malcolmg said:
Scandalous he is neglecting pensioners.eek said:I have to ask - wtf is Hunt giving tax cuts to people who aren’t likely to vote Tory
I don’t get how a reduction in employee NI will convince anyone to vote Tory - it’s a complete and utter waste of money
1 -
BBC presenter suggest BBC viewers represent Britain. That's a touch MRDA is it not?northern_monkey said:
Today's The Rest is Entertainment podcast, helmed by Richard Osman and Marina Hyde, talks about GB News. Their highest rated show last week, in terms of viewership, was one of Farage's 7pm slots, with, I think off the top of my head, 126,000 viewers.GIN1138 said:
Hopefully the chronic loss-making GB News will follow.TheScreamingEagles said:Murdoch's TalkTV to close down television channel and go online only
After two years of dismal ratings, Talk TV is to close as a traditional TV channel and its content will run online only
A repeat of Midsomer Murders or something on some obscure channel was getting 200k+ viewers.
But beyond those raw, very low, numbers, they both agree that that channel's reach is huge. Hyde puts that down to clips circulating on social media, Osman leans more towards an incestuous media giving them excess column inches.
Whatever you think, it's certainly punching above its weight. Hyde said it aims to be the biggest news channel by 2028 and she thinks they'll get there - albeit the news channels have low numbers.
Presumably the deep-pocketed citizens of nowhere who fund it see benefits in its influence and are happy to splurge the cash to keep the channel running in the expectation it will help deliver a more unequal, right-wing UK with poor public services, increased inequality and lax regulation in a wide range of areas. It's simply right-wing propaganda.
The podcast looked at TV viewership in the UK more generally - last week 97% of the top 100 viewed programmes (on the overnight figs, not including catch up on streaming) were on BBC1 or ITV1. 67% of TV is consumed as its broadcast live. Which, Osman said, gives lie to the notion that everyone just streams everything now and live linear TV is dead - although its declining there's life in the old dog yet.
Can't remember the top three programmes but it was something like Antiques Roadshow, Midsomer Murders and Death in Paradise.
EastEnders is down to 2.something million people watching it live, Corrie on 3.something million. So the soaps are struggling.
Local news, across the country in total, gets massive viewing figures.
As Osman says, if you want to understand the UK, understand that it isn't people streaming Succession, it's people watching the One Show live on BBC1. It's a deeply unfashionable Britain that simply doesn't catch the attention of the chattering classes.
An interesting episode, worth a listen.
Britain is a diverse country, if you want to understand Britain you need to understand that. There is no single representative of what Britain looks like?
What percentage of the UK sits and watches the One Show live? 70%? 50%+1? Or more like 10%?0 -
I thought we'd settled that we're about to embark on the second of Biden's six terms ?SandyRentool said:
Is she running for the Democrats or the GOP?Nigelb said:New candidate for world's oldest person.
117 years young.
California-born woman is the oldest person in the world
https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/longevity/4507292-california-born-woman-is-the-oldest-person-in-the-world/0 -
Hard done by Nigel, be worse when those dodgy Labour gits get their hands in the till as well. Poverty beckons.Nigelb said:
You're as bad as all those people they interviewed for that BBC article, malc.malcolmg said:
I want him to keep it at triple lock OKC but doing income tax cuts and not exclude us by using NI.OldKingCole said:malcolmg said:
Scandalous he is neglecting pensioners.eek said:I have to ask - wtf is Hunt giving tax cuts to people who aren’t likely to vote Tory
I don’t get how a reduction in employee NI will convince anyone to vote Tory - it’s a complete and utter waste of money
You mean you want him to cut our next rise?malcolmg said:
Scandalous he is neglecting pensioners.eek said:I have to ask - wtf is Hunt giving tax cuts to people who aren’t likely to vote Tory
I don’t get how a reduction in employee NI will convince anyone to vote Tory - it’s a complete and utter waste of money1 -
Worth noting too that live TV is particularly watched by older folk, or in other words voters.turbotubbs said:
I think its quite hard for people who are fully into streaming their TV that others (and typically older viewers) don't so this, and do still look to see 'what's on now?'. I tend to do it myself although we will stream stuff too and use it to watch stuff, as with a 1 year old, getting to watch an hours TV must be done when he is in bed.northern_monkey said:
Today's The Rest is Entertainment podcast, helmed by Richard Osman and Marina Hyde, talks about GB News. Their highest rated show last week, in terms of viewership, was one of Farage's 7pm slots, with, I think off the top of my head, 126,000 viewers.GIN1138 said:
Hopefully the chronic loss-making GB News will follow.TheScreamingEagles said:Murdoch's TalkTV to close down television channel and go online only
After two years of dismal ratings, Talk TV is to close as a traditional TV channel and its content will run online only
A repeat of Midsomer Murders or something on some obscure channel was getting 200k+ viewers.
But beyond those raw, very low, numbers, they both agree that that channel's reach is huge. Hyde puts that down to clips circulating on social media, Osman leans more towards an incestuous media giving them excess column inches.
Whatever you think, it's certainly punching above its weight. Hyde said it aims to be the biggest news channel by 2028 and she thinks they'll get there - albeit the news channels have low numbers.
Presumably the deep-pocketed citizens of nowhere who fund it see benefits in its influence and are happy to splurge the cash to keep the channel running in the expectation it will help deliver a more unequal, right-wing UK with poor public services, increased inequality and lax regulation in a wide range of areas. It's simply right-wing propaganda.
The podcast looked at TV viewership in the UK more generally - last week 97% of the top 100 viewed programmes (on the overnight figs, not including catch up on streaming) were on BBC1 or ITV1. 67% of TV is consumed as its broadcast live. Which, Osman said, gives lie to the notion that everyone just streams everything now and live linear TV is dead - although its declining there's life in the old dog yet.
Can't remember the top three programmes but it was something like Antiques Roadshow, Midsomer Murders and Death in Paradise.
EastEnders is down to 2.something million people watching it live, Corrie on 3.something million. So the soaps are struggling.
Local news, across the country in total, gets massive viewing figures.
As Osman says, if you want to understand the UK, understand that it isn't people streaming Succession, it's people watching the One Show live on BBC1. It's a deeply unfashionable Britain that simply doesn't catch the attention of the chattering classes.
An interesting episode, worth a listen.
My parents don't have access to streaming, but do use Sky+ still.
Its not unlike a certain user banging on about no longer needing cash. Live TV is still useful to many many people.1 -
Or it requires making work pay by addressing the draconianly high real tax rates people face if they move from benefits to work so too many don't bother.rkrkrk said:
Unemployment is basically as low as its been in the past 50 years, very little room to fall further.Casino_Royale said:On topic, there is an angle here for the Tories that national insurance cuts > promote employment > promote growth > promote more funds for public services. And they're doing it in a balanced way within the fiscal rules.
But, I don't see much sign of them making it. Nor how long it would take to bear fruit - it won't be before the election.
What is a big problem is the economically inactive. That would also take a long time to solve, but requires a healthier population, increased investment in health and public health.0 -
I have every faith in your survival skills.malcolmg said:
Hard done by Nigel, be worse when those dodgy Labour gits get their hands in the till as well. Poverty beckons.Nigelb said:
You're as bad as all those people they interviewed for that BBC article, malc.malcolmg said:
I want him to keep it at triple lock OKC but doing income tax cuts and not exclude us by using NI.OldKingCole said:malcolmg said:
Scandalous he is neglecting pensioners.eek said:I have to ask - wtf is Hunt giving tax cuts to people who aren’t likely to vote Tory
I don’t get how a reduction in employee NI will convince anyone to vote Tory - it’s a complete and utter waste of money
You mean you want him to cut our next rise?malcolmg said:
Scandalous he is neglecting pensioners.eek said:I have to ask - wtf is Hunt giving tax cuts to people who aren’t likely to vote Tory
I don’t get how a reduction in employee NI will convince anyone to vote Tory - it’s a complete and utter waste of money1 -
Here is President Reagan (in 30 seconds) making a case for the BBC World Service.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7Y_Ds0go-lc0 -
I did my PhD with someone studying polydrug users. He showed me this great research paper where they asked a bunch of polydrug users how good different drugs were (+ also sex, for comparison).GIN1138 said:
Alcohol is probably the worst drug there is (outside of opioids, anyway)CatMan said:
You get credit for acknowledging that alcohol is a drug, something a lot of "Drugs are bad mmmm'kay" people don't.No_Offence_Alan said:
I am a lightweight. At a 40th birthday party recently (one of my son's year at school),Leon said:God, ayahuasca is brilliant. Maybe I will do it again. Fuck it
But not for a few years
I drank my first, and probably my last, "Jager bomb" (Jagermeister and Red Bull).
They should show the results to kids in school. Basically, a spliff or a bonk are better than nearly anything. Alcohol came out quite well. Sniffing glue, which is one of the most dangerous drugs, rated worse than chocolate.0 -
Another NI cut, from a narrow political POV, is a mistake. If the Treasury really thinks it can't justify the affordability of a 2p income tax cut, it would still be better off cutting it by a penny. Politically disengaged voters have a better grasp of income tax than NI, and the Tory core vote of better off olds would share the benefit.2
-
The problem is that young people become voters as they get older.Foxy said:
Worth noting too that live TV is particularly watched by older folk, or in other words voters.turbotubbs said:
I think its quite hard for people who are fully into streaming their TV that others (and typically older viewers) don't so this, and do still look to see 'what's on now?'. I tend to do it myself although we will stream stuff too and use it to watch stuff, as with a 1 year old, getting to watch an hours TV must be done when he is in bed.northern_monkey said:
Today's The Rest is Entertainment podcast, helmed by Richard Osman and Marina Hyde, talks about GB News. Their highest rated show last week, in terms of viewership, was one of Farage's 7pm slots, with, I think off the top of my head, 126,000 viewers.GIN1138 said:
Hopefully the chronic loss-making GB News will follow.TheScreamingEagles said:Murdoch's TalkTV to close down television channel and go online only
After two years of dismal ratings, Talk TV is to close as a traditional TV channel and its content will run online only
A repeat of Midsomer Murders or something on some obscure channel was getting 200k+ viewers.
But beyond those raw, very low, numbers, they both agree that that channel's reach is huge. Hyde puts that down to clips circulating on social media, Osman leans more towards an incestuous media giving them excess column inches.
Whatever you think, it's certainly punching above its weight. Hyde said it aims to be the biggest news channel by 2028 and she thinks they'll get there - albeit the news channels have low numbers.
Presumably the deep-pocketed citizens of nowhere who fund it see benefits in its influence and are happy to splurge the cash to keep the channel running in the expectation it will help deliver a more unequal, right-wing UK with poor public services, increased inequality and lax regulation in a wide range of areas. It's simply right-wing propaganda.
The podcast looked at TV viewership in the UK more generally - last week 97% of the top 100 viewed programmes (on the overnight figs, not including catch up on streaming) were on BBC1 or ITV1. 67% of TV is consumed as its broadcast live. Which, Osman said, gives lie to the notion that everyone just streams everything now and live linear TV is dead - although its declining there's life in the old dog yet.
Can't remember the top three programmes but it was something like Antiques Roadshow, Midsomer Murders and Death in Paradise.
EastEnders is down to 2.something million people watching it live, Corrie on 3.something million. So the soaps are struggling.
Local news, across the country in total, gets massive viewing figures.
As Osman says, if you want to understand the UK, understand that it isn't people streaming Succession, it's people watching the One Show live on BBC1. It's a deeply unfashionable Britain that simply doesn't catch the attention of the chattering classes.
An interesting episode, worth a listen.
My parents don't have access to streaming, but do use Sky+ still.
Its not unlike a certain user banging on about no longer needing cash. Live TV is still useful to many many people.
They don't start watching live TV as they get older.
Live TV is dead, it's just a matter of time.1 -
Couldn't disagree more.pigeon said:Another NI cut, from a narrow political POV, is a mistake. If the Treasury really thinks it can't justify the affordability of a 2p income tax cut, it would still be better off cutting it by a penny. Politically disengaged voters have a better grasp of income tax than NI, and the Tory core vote of better off olds would share the benefit.
Cutting NI is the right thing to do. Cutting the burden of taxes on people who actually work for a living is the right thing to do.
If anyone's upset they're not covered by the cut on taking jobs, maybe they should start by going out and getting a job then?1 -
73? Shit.TimS said:
According to the Death Clock half of you will be challenging for that trophy in a few years. Except me, with my death clock set at the age of 73.Nigelb said:New candidate for world's oldest person.
117 years young.
California-born woman is the oldest person in the world
https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/longevity/4507292-california-born-woman-is-the-oldest-person-in-the-world/
Time to improve the diet? I recommend Zoe.0 -
Politically a mistake, maybe, but economically it's far better than a 1p income tax cut. Giving working age people a 2p tax cut on working incomes will have a significantly better multiplier than 1p cut for all classes of income. Basically, it's much less likely to end up in some low yield savings bond.pigeon said:Another NI cut, from a narrow political POV, is a mistake. If the Treasury really thinks it can't justify the affordability of a 2p income tax cut, it would still be better off cutting it by a penny. Politically disengaged voters have a better grasp of income tax than NI, and the Tory core vote of better off olds would share the benefit.
4 -
Hopefully they can fix the lag problem that afflicts all ‘live’ sports online: typically 90-120 minutes behind real time. Awful for bettors and rather useless when someone I in the pub has the Live Scores appMalmesbury said:
All broadcast TV is dying. In a few years the switch off will begin. It will all go online.GIN1138 said:
Hopefully the chronic loss-making GB News will follow.TheScreamingEagles said:Murdoch's TalkTV to close down television channel and go online only
After two years of dismal ratings, Talk TV is to close as a traditional TV channel and its content will run online only0 -
Cheer up. You can always claim Pension Credit once you're down to £200pw income and all your savings are gone.malcolmg said:
Hard done by Nigel, be worse when those dodgy Labour gits get their hands in the till as well. Poverty beckons.Nigelb said:
You're as bad as all those people they interviewed for that BBC article, malc.malcolmg said:
I want him to keep it at triple lock OKC but doing income tax cuts and not exclude us by using NI.OldKingCole said:malcolmg said:
Scandalous he is neglecting pensioners.eek said:I have to ask - wtf is Hunt giving tax cuts to people who aren’t likely to vote Tory
I don’t get how a reduction in employee NI will convince anyone to vote Tory - it’s a complete and utter waste of money
You mean you want him to cut our next rise?malcolmg said:
Scandalous he is neglecting pensioners.eek said:I have to ask - wtf is Hunt giving tax cuts to people who aren’t likely to vote Tory
I don’t get how a reduction in employee NI will convince anyone to vote Tory - it’s a complete and utter waste of money0 -
Seconds not minutes surely?Anabobazina said:
Hopefully they can fix the lag problem that afflicts all ‘live’ sports online: typically 90-120 minutes behind real time. Awful for bettors and rather useless when someone I in the pub has the Live Scores appMalmesbury said:
All broadcast TV is dying. In a few years the switch off will begin. It will all go online.GIN1138 said:
Hopefully the chronic loss-making GB News will follow.TheScreamingEagles said:Murdoch's TalkTV to close down television channel and go online only
After two years of dismal ratings, Talk TV is to close as a traditional TV channel and its content will run online only1 -
I think we end up with a statement that a lot of people are supposedly economically inactive without a clue as to why that is the case and the reason behind itBartholomewRoberts said:
Or it requires making work pay by addressing the draconianly high real tax rates people face if they move from benefits to work so too many don't bother.rkrkrk said:
Unemployment is basically as low as its been in the past 50 years, very little room to fall further.Casino_Royale said:On topic, there is an angle here for the Tories that national insurance cuts > promote employment > promote growth > promote more funds for public services. And they're doing it in a balanced way within the fiscal rules.
But, I don't see much sign of them making it. Nor how long it would take to bear fruit - it won't be before the election.
What is a big problem is the economically inactive. That would also take a long time to solve, but requires a healthier population, increased investment in health and public health.0 -
I thought it was made from Juniper berries?malcolmg said:
Bollox GIN...GIN1138 said:
Alcohol is probably the worst drug there is (outside of opioids, anyway)CatMan said:
You get credit for acknowledging that alcohol is a drug, something a lot of "Drugs are bad mmmm'kay" people don't.No_Offence_Alan said:
I am a lightweight. At a 40th birthday party recently (one of my son's year at school),Leon said:God, ayahuasca is brilliant. Maybe I will do it again. Fuck it
But not for a few years
I drank my first, and probably my last, "Jager bomb" (Jagermeister and Red Bull).
0 -
If the Government really cared about the economy and incomes for your average worker, it would unfreeze the thresholds and hike taxation on assets as well. But it doesn't.MaxPB said:
Politically a mistake, maybe, but economically it's far better than a 1p income tax cut. Giving working age people a 2p tax cut on working incomes will have a significantly better multiplier than 1p cut for all classes of income. Basically, it's much less likely to end up in some low yield savings bond.pigeon said:Another NI cut, from a narrow political POV, is a mistake. If the Treasury really thinks it can't justify the affordability of a 2p income tax cut, it would still be better off cutting it by a penny. Politically disengaged voters have a better grasp of income tax than NI, and the Tory core vote of better off olds would share the benefit.
0 -
In fairness that’s a poor example because a bang average episode of the One Show is more interesting than Succession, which is one of the most boring shows ever made.northern_monkey said:
Today's The Rest is Entertainment podcast, helmed by Richard Osman and Marina Hyde, talks about GB News. Their highest rated show last week, in terms of viewership, was one of Farage's 7pm slots, with, I think off the top of my head, 126,000 viewers.GIN1138 said:
Hopefully the chronic loss-making GB News will follow.TheScreamingEagles said:Murdoch's TalkTV to close down television channel and go online only
After two years of dismal ratings, Talk TV is to close as a traditional TV channel and its content will run online only
A repeat of Midsomer Murders or something on some obscure channel was getting 200k+ viewers.
But beyond those raw, very low, numbers, they both agree that that channel's reach is huge. Hyde puts that down to clips circulating on social media, Osman leans more towards an incestuous media giving them excess column inches.
Whatever you think, it's certainly punching above its weight. Hyde said it aims to be the biggest news channel by 2028 and she thinks they'll get there - albeit the news channels have low numbers.
Presumably the deep-pocketed citizens of nowhere who fund it see benefits in its influence and are happy to splurge the cash to keep the channel running in the expectation it will help deliver a more unequal, right-wing UK with poor public services, increased inequality and lax regulation in a wide range of areas. It's simply right-wing propaganda.
The podcast looked at TV viewership in the UK more generally - last week 97% of the top 100 viewed programmes (on the overnight figs, not including catch up on streaming) were on BBC1 or ITV1. 67% of TV is consumed as its broadcast live. Which, Osman said, gives lie to the notion that everyone just streams everything now and live linear TV is dead - although its declining there's life in the old dog yet.
Can't remember the top three programmes but it was something like Antiques Roadshow, Midsomer Murders and Death in Paradise.
EastEnders is down to 2.something million people watching it live, Corrie on 3.something million. So the soaps are struggling.
Local news, across the country in total, gets massive viewing figures.
As Osman says, if you want to understand the UK, understand that it isn't people streaming Succession, it's people watching the One Show live on BBC1. It's a deeply unfashionable Britain that simply doesn't catch the attention of the chattering classes.
An interesting episode, worth a listen.
But, generally, point taken. I watch mostly cable but that’s because I watch mostly sport: useless online because it’s so far behind real time.0 -
Hear, hear. It's not going to help me but it's definitely better than an ICT cut. I doubt it's the right thing to do with borrowing and debt repayments so high, and public services in such a dire state.BartholomewRoberts said:
Couldn't disagree more.pigeon said:Another NI cut, from a narrow political POV, is a mistake. If the Treasury really thinks it can't justify the affordability of a 2p income tax cut, it would still be better off cutting it by a penny. Politically disengaged voters have a better grasp of income tax than NI, and the Tory core vote of better off olds would share the benefit.
Cutting NI is the right thing to do. Cutting the burden of taxes on people who actually work for a living is the right thing to do.
If anyone's upset they're not covered by the cut on taking jobs, maybe they should start by going out and getting a job then?
Does anyone know how much a 1p cut in NI costs the Treasury versus a 1p cut in ICT?0 -
By keeping thresholds frozen and cutting NI it is an effective transfer of wealth from non-working people to working people. Unfreezing the thresholds would benefit idle income like pensions, rent and dividends. NI is specifically a tax on work, it is the most pernicious tax we have and setting the trend for cutting it rather than income tax is a win for working people. In an ideal world we would continue this trend until NI is entirely eliminated, funnel threshold freezes into cutting NI for the next decade and equalise tax rates for income from work and income from asset sweating.pigeon said:
If the Government really cared about the economy and incomes for your average worker, it would unfreeze the thresholds and hike taxation on assets as well. But it doesn't.MaxPB said:
Politically a mistake, maybe, but economically it's far better than a 1p income tax cut. Giving working age people a 2p tax cut on working incomes will have a significantly better multiplier than 1p cut for all classes of income. Basically, it's much less likely to end up in some low yield savings bond.pigeon said:Another NI cut, from a narrow political POV, is a mistake. If the Treasury really thinks it can't justify the affordability of a 2p income tax cut, it would still be better off cutting it by a penny. Politically disengaged voters have a better grasp of income tax than NI, and the Tory core vote of better off olds would share the benefit.
4 -
Hmm. “Banging on”. Challenge for you: when did I last bring it up? These days everyone else brings it up and I (occasionally) play ball. It’s almost as if PBers love talking about it!! Note @SandyRentool bringing it up AGAIN above!!turbotubbs said:
I think its quite hard for people who are fully into streaming their TV that others (and typically older viewers) don't so this, and do still look to see 'what's on now?'. I tend to do it myself although we will stream stuff too and use it to watch stuff, as with a 1 year old, getting to watch an hours TV must be done when he is in bed.northern_monkey said:
Today's The Rest is Entertainment podcast, helmed by Richard Osman and Marina Hyde, talks about GB News. Their highest rated show last week, in terms of viewership, was one of Farage's 7pm slots, with, I think off the top of my head, 126,000 viewers.GIN1138 said:
Hopefully the chronic loss-making GB News will follow.TheScreamingEagles said:Murdoch's TalkTV to close down television channel and go online only
After two years of dismal ratings, Talk TV is to close as a traditional TV channel and its content will run online only
A repeat of Midsomer Murders or something on some obscure channel was getting 200k+ viewers.
But beyond those raw, very low, numbers, they both agree that that channel's reach is huge. Hyde puts that down to clips circulating on social media, Osman leans more towards an incestuous media giving them excess column inches.
Whatever you think, it's certainly punching above its weight. Hyde said it aims to be the biggest news channel by 2028 and she thinks they'll get there - albeit the news channels have low numbers.
Presumably the deep-pocketed citizens of nowhere who fund it see benefits in its influence and are happy to splurge the cash to keep the channel running in the expectation it will help deliver a more unequal, right-wing UK with poor public services, increased inequality and lax regulation in a wide range of areas. It's simply right-wing propaganda.
The podcast looked at TV viewership in the UK more generally - last week 97% of the top 100 viewed programmes (on the overnight figs, not including catch up on streaming) were on BBC1 or ITV1. 67% of TV is consumed as its broadcast live. Which, Osman said, gives lie to the notion that everyone just streams everything now and live linear TV is dead - although its declining there's life in the old dog yet.
Can't remember the top three programmes but it was something like Antiques Roadshow, Midsomer Murders and Death in Paradise.
EastEnders is down to 2.something million people watching it live, Corrie on 3.something million. So the soaps are struggling.
Local news, across the country in total, gets massive viewing figures.
As Osman says, if you want to understand the UK, understand that it isn't people streaming Succession, it's people watching the One Show live on BBC1. It's a deeply unfashionable Britain that simply doesn't catch the attention of the chattering classes.
An interesting episode, worth a listen.
My parents don't have access to streaming, but do use Sky+ still.
Its not unlike a certain user banging on about no longer needing cash. Live TV is still useful to many many people.2 -
About £2bn per penny. This will cost ~£10bn per year vs 2p off the basic rate of income tax at ~£14bn per year.Benpointer said:
Hear, hear. It's not going to help me but it's definitely better than an ICT cut. I doubt it's the right thing to do with borrowing and debt repayments so high, and public services in such a dire state.BartholomewRoberts said:
Couldn't disagree more.pigeon said:Another NI cut, from a narrow political POV, is a mistake. If the Treasury really thinks it can't justify the affordability of a 2p income tax cut, it would still be better off cutting it by a penny. Politically disengaged voters have a better grasp of income tax than NI, and the Tory core vote of better off olds would share the benefit.
Cutting NI is the right thing to do. Cutting the burden of taxes on people who actually work for a living is the right thing to do.
If anyone's upset they're not covered by the cut on taking jobs, maybe they should start by going out and getting a job then?
Does anyone know how much a 1p cut in NI costs the Treasury versus a 1p cut in ICT?0 -
Yes seconds - apologies - still way too long!!!Benpointer said:
Seconds not minutes surely?Anabobazina said:
Hopefully they can fix the lag problem that afflicts all ‘live’ sports online: typically 90-120 minutes behind real time. Awful for bettors and rather useless when someone I in the pub has the Live Scores appMalmesbury said:
All broadcast TV is dying. In a few years the switch off will begin. It will all go online.GIN1138 said:
Hopefully the chronic loss-making GB News will follow.TheScreamingEagles said:Murdoch's TalkTV to close down television channel and go online only
After two years of dismal ratings, Talk TV is to close as a traditional TV channel and its content will run online only0 -
Macron apparently arguing for a European nuclear deterrent, without realising it.
But otherwise, quite correct.
Emmanuel Macron being brutally honest in Prague today:
"Who launched the war in Ukraine? Vladimir Putin. Who threatens us, whatever we do whatever we say, with nuclear weapons? President Putin.
If every day we explain what our limits are in the face of someone who has none and launched this war, I can already tell you that the spirit of defeat is there lurking. Not amongst us."
https://twitter.com/JulienHoez/status/1765030569014853696
1 -
Does that account for the public sector pay effect ?MaxPB said:
About £2bn per penny. This will cost ~£10bn per year vs 2p off the basic rate of income tax at ~£14bn per year.Benpointer said:
Hear, hear. It's not going to help me but it's definitely better than an ICT cut. I doubt it's the right thing to do with borrowing and debt repayments so high, and public services in such a dire state.BartholomewRoberts said:
Couldn't disagree more.pigeon said:Another NI cut, from a narrow political POV, is a mistake. If the Treasury really thinks it can't justify the affordability of a 2p income tax cut, it would still be better off cutting it by a penny. Politically disengaged voters have a better grasp of income tax than NI, and the Tory core vote of better off olds would share the benefit.
Cutting NI is the right thing to do. Cutting the burden of taxes on people who actually work for a living is the right thing to do.
If anyone's upset they're not covered by the cut on taking jobs, maybe they should start by going out and getting a job then?
Does anyone know how much a 1p cut in NI costs the Treasury versus a 1p cut in ICT?
A cut in NI directly benefits employees on low incomes more than a 1p cut in tax - and arguably the government should see some slight benefit in the next year's pay negotiations, too.0 -
I will never in my life receive a penny of benefits unless I live till 150Benpointer said:
Cheer up. You can always claim Pension Credit once you're down to £200pw income and all your savings are gone.malcolmg said:
Hard done by Nigel, be worse when those dodgy Labour gits get their hands in the till as well. Poverty beckons.Nigelb said:
You're as bad as all those people they interviewed for that BBC article, malc.malcolmg said:
I want him to keep it at triple lock OKC but doing income tax cuts and not exclude us by using NI.OldKingCole said:malcolmg said:
Scandalous he is neglecting pensioners.eek said:I have to ask - wtf is Hunt giving tax cuts to people who aren’t likely to vote Tory
I don’t get how a reduction in employee NI will convince anyone to vote Tory - it’s a complete and utter waste of money
You mean you want him to cut our next rise?malcolmg said:
Scandalous he is neglecting pensioners.eek said:I have to ask - wtf is Hunt giving tax cuts to people who aren’t likely to vote Tory
I don’t get how a reduction in employee NI will convince anyone to vote Tory - it’s a complete and utter waste of money0 -
Not entirely clear what he means there, but I suspect it's a case of lost in translation.Nigelb said:Macron apparently arguing for a European nuclear deterrent, without realising it.
But otherwise, quite correct.
Emmanuel Macron being brutally honest in Prague today:
"Who launched the war in Ukraine? Vladimir Putin. Who threatens us, whatever we do whatever we say, with nuclear weapons? President Putin.
If every day we explain what our limits are in the face of someone who has none and launched this war, I can already tell you that the spirit of defeat is there lurking. Not amongst us."
https://twitter.com/JulienHoez/status/1765030569014853696
He's become much more hawkish recently, which is a concern, from my point of view, as he was an important counterweight to the other approach, creating something more like a moderate consensus on what to do with Ukraine. I found myself agreeing with part of Simin Jenkins' piece this morming, reminding the West that it has to think carefully about the calculus of its interests.0 -
Not going by GIN description, but a very pleasant summer libationviewcode said:
I thought it was made from Juniper berries?malcolmg said:
Bollox GIN...GIN1138 said:
Alcohol is probably the worst drug there is (outside of opioids, anyway)CatMan said:
You get credit for acknowledging that alcohol is a drug, something a lot of "Drugs are bad mmmm'kay" people don't.No_Offence_Alan said:
I am a lightweight. At a 40th birthday party recently (one of my son's year at school),Leon said:God, ayahuasca is brilliant. Maybe I will do it again. Fuck it
But not for a few years
I drank my first, and probably my last, "Jager bomb" (Jagermeister and Red Bull).1 -
No doubt that booze is up there with the most damaging drugs, vastly worse than ecstasy, mushrooms and - very probably - aychusca (sp?)2
-
Why do you hope that?GIN1138 said:
Hopefully the chronic loss-making GB News will follow.TheScreamingEagles said:Murdoch's TalkTV to close down television channel and go online only
After two years of dismal ratings, Talk TV is to close as a traditional TV channel and its content will run online only0 -
Ever since Truss (from memory) increased the starting point of NI to the same as income tax it doesn’t make that much difference but does better benefit people whose income is not consistent week on werkNigelb said:
Does that account for the public sector pay effect ?MaxPB said:
About £2bn per penny. This will cost ~£10bn per year vs 2p off the basic rate of income tax at ~£14bn per year.Benpointer said:
Hear, hear. It's not going to help me but it's definitely better than an ICT cut. I doubt it's the right thing to do with borrowing and debt repayments so high, and public services in such a dire state.BartholomewRoberts said:
Couldn't disagree more.pigeon said:Another NI cut, from a narrow political POV, is a mistake. If the Treasury really thinks it can't justify the affordability of a 2p income tax cut, it would still be better off cutting it by a penny. Politically disengaged voters have a better grasp of income tax than NI, and the Tory core vote of better off olds would share the benefit.
Cutting NI is the right thing to do. Cutting the burden of taxes on people who actually work for a living is the right thing to do.
If anyone's upset they're not covered by the cut on taking jobs, maybe they should start by going out and getting a job then?
Does anyone know how much a 1p cut in NI costs the Treasury versus a 1p cut in ICT?
A cut in NI directly benefits employees on low incomes more than a 1p cut in tax - and arguably the government should see some slight benefit in the next year's pay negotiations, too.0 -
I think it's more of a criticism of Scholz.Nigelb said:Macron apparently arguing for a European nuclear deterrent, without realising it.
But otherwise, quite correct.
Emmanuel Macron being brutally honest in Prague today:
"Who launched the war in Ukraine? Vladimir Putin. Who threatens us, whatever we do whatever we say, with nuclear weapons? President Putin.
If every day we explain what our limits are in the face of someone who has none and launched this war, I can already tell you that the spirit of defeat is there lurking. Not amongst us."
https://twitter.com/JulienHoez/status/1765030569014853696
Macron asks, "Is it our war or not?" which is a response to Scholz's arm's length approach.0 -
Can you have a delicious small portion of ecstasy with a meal and feel a light buzz and have a nice conversation?Anabobazina said:No doubt that booze is up there with the most damaging drugs, vastly worse than ecstasy, mushrooms and - very probably - aychusca (sp?)
0 -
As ecstasy is an appetite suppressant, I'm going with "no".Luckyguy1983 said:
Can you have a delicious small portion of ecstasy with a meal and feel a light buzz and have a nice conversation?Anabobazina said:No doubt that booze is up there with the most damaging drugs, vastly worse than ecstasy, mushrooms and - very probably - aychusca (sp?)
That said, no one ever took MDMA and beat their wife up. So, it's all swings and roundabouts.1 -
More problems in Germany
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/mar/05/leftwing-vulkan-group-claim-responsibility-tesla-factory-pylon-arson-attack-berlin
Leftwing extremists have claimed responsibility for a dawn arson attack on an electricity pylon at the Tesla car factory in Berlin, which bosses said would halt production until the end of the week.0 -
Thing is, the calculus of our interests needs to reflect what we’ve seen in the last 2 years in the behaviour of Russia, rather than a theoretical model of how it will respond to Western actions.WhisperingOracle said:
Not entirely clear what he means there, but I suspect it's a case of lost in translation.Nigelb said:Macron apparently arguing for a European nuclear deterrent, without realising it.
But otherwise, quite correct.
Emmanuel Macron being brutally honest in Prague today:
"Who launched the war in Ukraine? Vladimir Putin. Who threatens us, whatever we do whatever we say, with nuclear weapons? President Putin.
If every day we explain what our limits are in the face of someone who has none and launched this war, I can already tell you that the spirit of defeat is there lurking. Not amongst us."
https://twitter.com/JulienHoez/status/1765030569014853696
He's become much more hawkish recently, which is a concern, from my point of view, as he was an important counterweight to the other approach, creating something more like a moderate consensus on what to do with Ukraine. I found myself agreeing with part of Simin Jenkins' piece this morming, reminding the West that it has to think carefully about the calculus of its interests.
Every time we have increased the supply of weapons and Ukraine has taken the initiative, Russia has gone more defensive, dialled down the bloodcurdling threats and become more introspective. Every time we’ve visibly wavered or starved Ukraine of support Russia has become more cocky, more threatening and started setting its sights further afield. It seems little coincidence it’s now threatening Moldova just as it starts to get the whip hand in the war.
Deterrence is important with a bully and Russia’s war aims are graphically reinforced by their officials almost daily. They won’t stop until they’ve restored the old Russian empire in full, or someone stops them.5 -
Alcohol doesn't make people beat up their wives, anyone who does that is responsible for their actions.rcs1000 said:
As ecstasy is an appetite suppressant, I'm going with "no".Luckyguy1983 said:
Can you have a delicious small portion of ecstasy with a meal and feel a light buzz and have a nice conversation?Anabobazina said:No doubt that booze is up there with the most damaging drugs, vastly worse than ecstasy, mushrooms and - very probably - aychusca (sp?)
That said, no one ever took MDMA and beat their wife up. So, it's all swings and roundabouts.
Vast majority of people who drink alcohol are perfectly decent.
Contrast with coke which seems to make anyone who gets hooked on that a complete and utter twat.
0 -
Speaking as a pensioner, who this week has had 25p per week ( taxable of course) added to his pension I absolutely support Hunt effectively taking 4p off employee NI, not least because pensioners received a 10.1% increase last year and in April a further 8.5% increase and that is the triple lock which is a lot more than 4p off most peoples NIMaxPB said:
By keeping thresholds frozen and cutting NI it is an effective transfer of wealth from non-working people to working people. Unfreezing the thresholds would benefit idle income like pensions, rent and dividends. NI is specifically a tax on work, it is the most pernicious tax we have and setting the trend for cutting it rather than income tax is a win for working people. In an ideal world we would continue this trend until NI is entirely eliminated, funnel threshold freezes into cutting NI for the next decade and equalise tax rates for income from work and income from asset sweating.pigeon said:
If the Government really cared about the economy and incomes for your average worker, it would unfreeze the thresholds and hike taxation on assets as well. But it doesn't.MaxPB said:
Politically a mistake, maybe, but economically it's far better than a 1p income tax cut. Giving working age people a 2p tax cut on working incomes will have a significantly better multiplier than 1p cut for all classes of income. Basically, it's much less likely to end up in some low yield savings bond.pigeon said:Another NI cut, from a narrow political POV, is a mistake. If the Treasury really thinks it can't justify the affordability of a 2p income tax cut, it would still be better off cutting it by a penny. Politically disengaged voters have a better grasp of income tax than NI, and the Tory core vote of better off olds would share the benefit.
Indeed it needs to be merged with income tax asap for fairness0 -
I'd gladly sell Trident to the EU if they want a nuclear deterrent. I wanted them to have one of our aircraft carriers too.williamglenn said:
I think it's more of a criticism of Scholz.Nigelb said:Macron apparently arguing for a European nuclear deterrent, without realising it.
But otherwise, quite correct.
Emmanuel Macron being brutally honest in Prague today:
"Who launched the war in Ukraine? Vladimir Putin. Who threatens us, whatever we do whatever we say, with nuclear weapons? President Putin.
If every day we explain what our limits are in the face of someone who has none and launched this war, I can already tell you that the spirit of defeat is there lurking. Not amongst us."
https://twitter.com/JulienHoez/status/1765030569014853696
Macron asks, "Is it our war or not?" which is a response to Scholz's arm's length approach.
Give them all the expensive and ultimately worthless defence baubles they want to dangle their EU flag off of, and let us have a proper army, navy, airforce, and suite of tactical nuclear options. Less glamorous, more useful.0 -
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/dan-wootton-fired-gb-news-172753520.htmlLuckyguy1983 said:
Why do you hope that?GIN1138 said:
Hopefully the chronic loss-making GB News will follow.TheScreamingEagles said:Murdoch's TalkTV to close down television channel and go online only
After two years of dismal ratings, Talk TV is to close as a traditional TV channel and its content will run online only0 -
People do realise the parlous state of public finances mean any tax cut will be strictly temporary - a gimmick even?0
-
For those who like military pron:
https://twitter.com/MandyHickson/status/1764918258874949692/photo/1
and
https://twitter.com/eideticeye/status/1764720167810965645/photo/1
(F35, the northern lights, and HMS Prince of Wales)1 -
You think he wants GBNews to close down because they've lost Dan Wooton? Is he a big fan?Sunil_Prasannan said:
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/dan-wootton-fired-gb-news-172753520.htmlLuckyguy1983 said:
Why do you hope that?GIN1138 said:
Hopefully the chronic loss-making GB News will follow.TheScreamingEagles said:Murdoch's TalkTV to close down television channel and go online only
After two years of dismal ratings, Talk TV is to close as a traditional TV channel and its content will run online only0 -
Strange that the usual suspects never say this about new spending commitments.FF43 said:People do realise the parlous state of public finances mean any tax cut will be strictly temporary - a gimmick even?
0 -
Of course they do. Some other questions, because I can't face doing the maths myself?FF43 said:People do realise the parlous state of public finances mean any tax cut will be strictly temporary - a gimmick even?
1 How far is this BIG LOUD NI CUT just recycling the gains from the ongoing threshold freeze?
2 If the move is to lower rates but lower thresholds, doesn't that transfer tax burden to lower paid people?
3 The spending plans underpinning this are a joke, aren't they?0 -
Most Chancellors keep something back as a show stopper but the 2p NI reduction has been so leaked what is it ?
And it will not be a May GE, Sunak announces that and most everyone in the media is calling it for the Autumn with labour supportes the ones promoting May, so they can say Sunak is running scared ( which he may well be)
Labour are such favourites for the next government it will be interesting to see just how confidence rises over the summer, which of course Sunak will claim for his party0 -
I think that Hunt is pointing the way to a slow phase out of NI - use fiscal drag to increase income tax receipts, and abolish NI.Big_G_NorthWales said:
Speaking as a pensioner, who this week has had 25p per week ( taxable of course) added to his pension I absolutely support Hunt effectively taking 4p off employee NI, not least because pensioners received a 10.1% increase last year and in April a further 8.5% increase and that is the triple lock which is a lot more than 4p off most peoples NIMaxPB said:
By keeping thresholds frozen and cutting NI it is an effective transfer of wealth from non-working people to working people. Unfreezing the thresholds would benefit idle income like pensions, rent and dividends. NI is specifically a tax on work, it is the most pernicious tax we have and setting the trend for cutting it rather than income tax is a win for working people. In an ideal world we would continue this trend until NI is entirely eliminated, funnel threshold freezes into cutting NI for the next decade and equalise tax rates for income from work and income from asset sweating.pigeon said:
If the Government really cared about the economy and incomes for your average worker, it would unfreeze the thresholds and hike taxation on assets as well. But it doesn't.MaxPB said:
Politically a mistake, maybe, but economically it's far better than a 1p income tax cut. Giving working age people a 2p tax cut on working incomes will have a significantly better multiplier than 1p cut for all classes of income. Basically, it's much less likely to end up in some low yield savings bond.pigeon said:Another NI cut, from a narrow political POV, is a mistake. If the Treasury really thinks it can't justify the affordability of a 2p income tax cut, it would still be better off cutting it by a penny. Politically disengaged voters have a better grasp of income tax than NI, and the Tory core vote of better off olds would share the benefit.
Indeed it needs to be merged with income tax asap for fairness1 -
Bollox gin? Each to their own taste!malcolmg said:
Not going by GIN description, but a very pleasant summer libationviewcode said:
I thought it was made from Juniper berries?malcolmg said:
Bollox GIN...GIN1138 said:
Alcohol is probably the worst drug there is (outside of opioids, anyway)CatMan said:
You get credit for acknowledging that alcohol is a drug, something a lot of "Drugs are bad mmmm'kay" people don't.No_Offence_Alan said:
I am a lightweight. At a 40th birthday party recently (one of my son's year at school),Leon said:God, ayahuasca is brilliant. Maybe I will do it again. Fuck it
But not for a few years
I drank my first, and probably my last, "Jager bomb" (Jagermeister and Red Bull).
Though perhaps MORE pleasant a libation (summer, fall, winter, spring) than, say, dingleberry wine.0 -
I am old enough to remember when leaking the budget was a resigning matter.Big_G_NorthWales said:Most Chancellors keep something back as a show stopper but the 2p NI reduction has been so leaked what is it ?
And it will not be a May GE, Sunak announces that and most everyone in the media is calling it for the Autumn with labour supportes the ones promoting May, so they can say Sunak is running scared ( which he may well be)
Labour are such favourites for the next government it will be interesting to see just how confidence rises over the summer, which of course Sunak will claim for his party2 -
I am a high income earner and I am fine with my taxes and would understand if I got taxed more given the plight of many of my compatriots and our shared services. I have ZERO interest in tax cuts. For me patriotism is not flags and pint sized champagne. It is investing in our shared destiny. 🤷6
-
If Hunt does use cancellation of non dom status as part of the money raised for the NI cut, then Starmer and Reeves have only about 1 billion left from VAT on private school fees leftFF43 said:People do realise the parlous state of public finances mean any tax cut will be strictly temporary - a gimmick even?
It will require them to review their tax and spend policy0 -
Pah, that is nothing ayahuasca is so potent that it makes people a complete and utter twat for several years before they even try it.BartholomewRoberts said:
Alcohol doesn't make people beat up their wives, anyone who does that is responsible for their actions.rcs1000 said:
As ecstasy is an appetite suppressant, I'm going with "no".Luckyguy1983 said:
Can you have a delicious small portion of ecstasy with a meal and feel a light buzz and have a nice conversation?Anabobazina said:No doubt that booze is up there with the most damaging drugs, vastly worse than ecstasy, mushrooms and - very probably - aychusca (sp?)
That said, no one ever took MDMA and beat their wife up. So, it's all swings and roundabouts.
Vast majority of people who drink alcohol are perfectly decent.
Contrast with coke which seems to make anyone who gets hooked on that a complete and utter twat.8 -
When did any chancellor resign after leaking budgets as it has gone on for decadesMexicanpete said:
I am old enough to remember when leaking the budget was a resigning matter.Big_G_NorthWales said:Most Chancellors keep something back as a show stopper but the 2p NI reduction has been so leaked what is it ?
And it will not be a May GE, Sunak announces that and most everyone in the media is calling it for the Autumn with labour supportes the ones promoting May, so they can say Sunak is running scared ( which he may well be)
Labour are such favourites for the next government it will be interesting to see just how confidence rises over the summer, which of course Sunak will claim for his party0 -
You can volunteer to pay additional tax if you so wishCleitophon said:I am a high income earner and I am fine with my taxes and would understand if I got taxed more given the plight of many of my compatriots and our shared services. I have ZERO interest in tax cuts. For me patriotism is not flags and pint sized champagne. It is investing in our shared destiny. 🤷
1 -
Hugh Dalton in Attlee's Government.Big_G_NorthWales said:
When did any chancellor resign after leaking budgets as it has gone on for decadesMexicanpete said:
I am old enough to remember when leaking the budget was a resigning matter.Big_G_NorthWales said:Most Chancellors keep something back as a show stopper but the 2p NI reduction has been so leaked what is it ?
And it will not be a May GE, Sunak announces that and most everyone in the media is calling it for the Autumn with labour supportes the ones promoting May, so they can say Sunak is running scared ( which he may well be)
Labour are such favourites for the next government it will be interesting to see just how confidence rises over the summer, which of course Sunak will claim for his party
It was a sensible rule.
But I lied, I am not old enough to remember.0 -
That’s why they shouldn’t haven’t ruled out tax increases on the highest earners . The Tories seem intent on trashing public services to offer election bribes .Big_G_NorthWales said:
If Hunt does use cancellation of non dom status as part of the money raised for the NI cut, then Starmer and Reeves have only about 1 billion left from VAT on private school fees leftFF43 said:People do realise the parlous state of public finances mean any tax cut will be strictly temporary - a gimmick even?
It will require them to review their tax and spend policy0 -
You can’t actually. Not possible to volunteer a higher tax liability.Big_G_NorthWales said:
You can volunteer to pay additional tax if you so wishCleitophon said:I am a high income earner and I am fine with my taxes and would understand if I got taxed more given the plight of many of my compatriots and our shared services. I have ZERO interest in tax cuts. For me patriotism is not flags and pint sized champagne. It is investing in our shared destiny. 🤷
0 -
I don’t want to pay more tax but I would prefer to pay tax at the rates I currently pay and get decent services rather than paying less tax while watching more services fall apartBig_G_NorthWales said:
You can volunteer to pay additional tax if you so wishCleitophon said:I am a high income earner and I am fine with my taxes and would understand if I got taxed more given the plight of many of my compatriots and our shared services. I have ZERO interest in tax cuts. For me patriotism is not flags and pint sized champagne. It is investing in our shared destiny. 🤷
0 -
Unless it contains Thiotimoline, of course.noneoftheabove said:
Pah, that is nothing ayahuasca is so potent that it makes people a complete and utter twat for several years before they even try it.BartholomewRoberts said:
Alcohol doesn't make people beat up their wives, anyone who does that is responsible for their actions.rcs1000 said:
As ecstasy is an appetite suppressant, I'm going with "no".Luckyguy1983 said:
Can you have a delicious small portion of ecstasy with a meal and feel a light buzz and have a nice conversation?Anabobazina said:No doubt that booze is up there with the most damaging drugs, vastly worse than ecstasy, mushrooms and - very probably - aychusca (sp?)
That said, no one ever took MDMA and beat their wife up. So, it's all swings and roundabouts.
Vast majority of people who drink alcohol are perfectly decent.
Contrast with coke which seems to make anyone who gets hooked on that a complete and utter twat.0 -
Hunt's constituency office daubed with
'Die Tory scum'
0 -
I think Reeves will probably keep the tax cuts. Too electorally difficult not to. Which means no money left for even basic maintenance of public infrastructureBig_G_NorthWales said:
If Hunt does use cancellation of non dom status as part of the money raised for the NI cut, then Starmer and Reeves have only about 1 billion left from VAT on private school fees leftFF43 said:People do realise the parlous state of public finances mean any tax cut will be strictly temporary - a gimmick even?
It will require them to review their tax and spend policy0 -
I really cannot understand why Labour haven't promised a wealth taxnico679 said:
That’s why they shouldn’t haven’t ruled out tax increases on the highest earners . The Tories seem intent on trashing public services to offer election bribes .Big_G_NorthWales said:
If Hunt does use cancellation of non dom status as part of the money raised for the NI cut, then Starmer and Reeves have only about 1 billion left from VAT on private school fees leftFF43 said:People do realise the parlous state of public finances mean any tax cut will be strictly temporary - a gimmick even?
It will require them to review their tax and spend policy
Indeed a higher rare tax band of 50% on £250,000 pa income including investments2 -
Leaving aside how hateful and ridiculous that is, I question what it is even worth to the target audience. Who is it impressing who was not on board with the message? Is it worth potentially getting arrested for making death threats to politicians when you could just have written 'Tory scum' instead?Big_G_NorthWales said:Hunt's constituency office daubed with
'Die Tory scum'0 -
Maybe it will be a tax band of 50% on more than £100,000pa???Big_G_NorthWales said:
I really cannot understand why Labour haven't promised a wealth taxnico679 said:
That’s why they shouldn’t haven’t ruled out tax increases on the highest earners . The Tories seem intent on trashing public services to offer election bribes .Big_G_NorthWales said:
If Hunt does use cancellation of non dom status as part of the money raised for the NI cut, then Starmer and Reeves have only about 1 billion left from VAT on private school fees leftFF43 said:People do realise the parlous state of public finances mean any tax cut will be strictly temporary - a gimmick even?
It will require them to review their tax and spend policy
Indeed a higher rare tax band of 50% on £250,000 pa income including investments0 -
In the modern world, a chancellor not leaking the critical bits of the budget would be attacked viciously in the commentariat.Big_G_NorthWales said:
When did any chancellor resign after leaking budgets as it has gone on for decadesMexicanpete said:
I am old enough to remember when leaking the budget was a resigning matter.Big_G_NorthWales said:Most Chancellors keep something back as a show stopper but the 2p NI reduction has been so leaked what is it ?
And it will not be a May GE, Sunak announces that and most everyone in the media is calling it for the Autumn with labour supportes the ones promoting May, so they can say Sunak is running scared ( which he may well be)
Labour are such favourites for the next government it will be interesting to see just how confidence rises over the summer, which of course Sunak will claim for his party
If nothing else, otherwise on budget day, the talking heads would be required to understand economics and the economy, in order to comment on it.1 -
Proscribe the Labour Party and call an election.Big_G_NorthWales said:Hunt's constituency office daubed with
'Die Tory scum'0
