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Something to track over the next few weeks – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 12,604
edited March 16 in General
Something to track over the next few weeks – politicalbetting.com

People don’t usually vote on foreign policy issues but wonder if Starmer’s sure-footed work at the centre of the international stage this week may start to shift public opinion towards him https://t.co/RczCMJMXqk

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Comments

  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 56,035
    edited March 3
    I'll believe it when I see it (people voting on foreign policy) said doubting Thomas.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,790
    The comparison between him and Trump won't hurt either.
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 20,758
    Looks like the Government is trying to ban new leasehold flats again. Good news I think.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 56,035
    Gallowgate said:

    Looks like the Government is trying to ban new leasehold flats again. Good news I think.

    We had a feudal system in Scotland which involved the payment of feu duty to "superiors" by the owners of the dominium utile (it was a weird collation of medieval English and Latin). This was a fixed amount and by the 1970s inflation had turned it into more of a nuisance than anything else so the system was abolished. I think its long past time England did the same.
  • TazTaz Posts: 20,040
    People will be paying their increased water bills and council tax shortly. We also have the impact of the upcoming budget at the start of April.

    None of which will be positive for people.

    I’d be amazed if Starmers, so far, sterling perfomance on the world stage can translate to much in moving the dial when up and down the country people face a cost of living crisis.
  • TazTaz Posts: 20,040
    I noticed in the tweet from Ben Wallace he mis spells Keir. That would trigger Anabobazina if he was still here.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 15,405
    Gallowgate said:

    Looks like the Government is trying to ban new leasehold flats again. Good news I think.

    As a first step towards completely abolishing the freehold system.
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 66,293
    DavidL said:

    On topic, Starmer has looked like a PM for the first time over the last few days and has generally done well. I am sure his personal ratings will improve as a result. I am less sure voting intentions will change all that much.

    Agreed and the only real loser is Farage

    Let's see if it dents Reform polling
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 33,408
    edited March 3
    Taz said:

    People will be paying their increased water bills and council tax shortly. We also have the impact of the upcoming budget at the start of April.

    None of which will be positive for people.

    I’d be amazed if Starmers, so far, sterling perfomance on the world stage can translate to much in moving the dial when up and down the country people face a cost of living crisis.

    I thought it notable he didn't address concerns over WFA and Farmer's Inheritance Tax. Have you seen how the price of eggs has increased since 1/20/2025?
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 33,408
    DavidL said:

    On topic, Starmer has looked like a PM for the first time over the last few days and has generally done well. I am sure his personal ratings will improve as a result. I am less sure voting intentions will change all that much.

    If they have an adverse effect on Putin's little helper's party both Labour and the Tories could benefit. RedWall voters are very patriotic.
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 9,245
    In the US, I see that Vance's odds of being next President are lengthening a bit to 4.1. As are the odds on the Republicans being the winning party. Though they are still favourites at 1.83. They were 1.75 not long ago.

    I wait in anticipation for the next US opinion polls.

  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 55,538
    bondegezou said:

    Gallowgate said:

    Looks like the Government is trying to ban new leasehold flats again. Good news I think.

    As a first step towards completely abolishing the freehold system.
    There might be some bargain short leases if they do!
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 44,532
    A good piece on the difficulties of military decoupling, written in an..err..vernacular style comprehensible to numpties, eg me.

    ‘How to leave your abusive international warplane supplying partner and start a new life’

    https://x.com/hush_kit/status/1896323281252409368?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q
  • TheValiantTheValiant Posts: 2,023
    FPT
    StillWaters said:

    From the daily mail, so treat with appropriate respect, but this is a very interesting quote from Rubio.

    US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has declared the Ukrainian PM should 'apologise for turning this thing into the fiasco for him that it became'.

    Is that the Mail or Rubio blaming the "Ukrainian PM"?

    Ukraine does have a Prime Minister I believe. Is Rubio blaming someone not at the meeting for the way the meeting turned out?
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 33,408
    edited March 3
    Nigelb said:

    I'd forgotten that Vance has been a sarcy little shit about Zelensky for quite some time.

    Look I know Schumer changed the dress code but letting someone in the senate chamber dressed like this really crosses the line.
    https://x.com/JDVance/status/1704905884173037620

    A bit like @williamglenn without the redeeming wit.

    Yet Musk is allowed to wield his child and his chainsaw across government in his, wait for it, tee shirt.

    Whatever one's view on Zelensky and his sartorial elegance or lack thereof, complaining about it is a piss poor put down.
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 9,245
    Big_G_NorthWales said:

    Barnesian said:

    In the US, I see that Vance's odds of being next President are lengthening a bit to 4.1. As are the odds on the Republicans being the winning party. Though they are still favourites at 1.83. They were 1.75 not long ago.

    I wait in anticipation for the next US opinion polls.

    The real and scary fear is not only 4 more years of this but just what Trump and his bullies change that will take decades to overcome
    My real and scary fear is that Vance is elected in 2028 so we have 8 years of this! Currently he is the favourite to be next President, albeit a 25% probability.
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 66,293
    edited March 3
    Barnesian said:

    Big_G_NorthWales said:

    Barnesian said:

    In the US, I see that Vance's odds of being next President are lengthening a bit to 4.1. As are the odds on the Republicans being the winning party. Though they are still favourites at 1.83. They were 1.75 not long ago.

    I wait in anticipation for the next US opinion polls.

    The real and scary fear is not only 4 more years of this but just what Trump and his bullies change that will take decades to overcome
    My real and scary fear is that Vance is elected in 2028 so we have 8 years of this! Currently he is the favourite to be next President, albeit a 25% probability.
    Liked but do not like !!!!!
  • BatteryCorrectHorseBatteryCorrectHorse Posts: 4,967
    Why has @Anabobazina been banned yet other users are welcomed back?
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 33,408
    BatteryCorrectHorse said:

    Why has @Anabobazina been banned yet other users are welcomed back?

    I thought it was a self imposed exile.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 60,870
    Barnesian said:

    In the US, I see that Vance's odds of being next President are lengthening a bit to 4.1. As are the odds on the Republicans being the winning party. Though they are still favourites at 1.83. They were 1.75 not long ago.

    I wait in anticipation for the next US opinion polls.

    I would back Vance, but sell the Republicans. Those two numbers should be a lot closer.

    Simply, if the US is doing well, the Sitting Vice President will be the next presidential candidate.

    And if it is not, a change at the top is unlikely to benefit the incumbent sufficiently.

    I would suggest there should be no more than 0.4-0.6 between the two prices.
  • BattlebusBattlebus Posts: 1,279
    DavidL said:

    Gallowgate said:

    Looks like the Government is trying to ban new leasehold flats again. Good news I think.

    We had a feudal system in Scotland which involved the payment of feu duty to "superiors" by the owners of the dominium utile (it was a weird collation of medieval English and Latin). This was a fixed amount and by the 1970s inflation had turned it into more of a nuisance than anything else so the system was abolished. I think its long past time England did the same.
    Then the peppercorn rent. Once came across a property in Tunbridge Wells where the peppercorn was replaced by a red rose on Midsummer's day.
  • BatteryCorrectHorseBatteryCorrectHorse Posts: 4,967
    For me what has done for Farage and Reform is they’ve had all weekend and decided that Brexit is the way they will communicate Starmer’s diplomacy skills.

    This to me suggests they think Brexit is still a winning issue. I do not.
  • BatteryCorrectHorseBatteryCorrectHorse Posts: 4,967
    That steely, serious look from Starmer works well at times like these. I am still less convinced he’s found the ability to communicate other things yet.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 33,408
    BatteryCorrectHorse said:

    For me what has done for Farage and Reform is they’ve had all weekend and decided that Brexit is the way they will communicate Starmer’s diplomacy skills.

    This to me suggests they think Brexit is still a winning issue. I do not.

    That and small boats is all he has left in the tank after Friday I would have thought.
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 24,968
    BatteryCorrectHorse said:

    Why has @Anabobazina been banned yet other users are welcomed back?

    I assume he may be struggling with the preferred bribery method of the moderators.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 11,364
    edited March 3
    DavidL said:

    Gallowgate said:

    Looks like the Government is trying to ban new leasehold flats again. Good news I think.

    We had a feudal system in Scotland which involved the payment of feu duty to "superiors" by the owners of the dominium utile (it was a weird collation of medieval English and Latin). This was a fixed amount and by the 1970s inflation had turned it into more of a nuisance than anything else so the system was abolished. I think its long past time England did the same.
    That's not say the Scottish system is perfect. Shared repairs are a nightmare, and part of the reason tenements are in such terrible condition. For newer flats, factor fees are getting out of hand and can easily cost you £1000+ a year.

    (note that Scotland has about 35% of households in flats, versus 20% in England. You'd want to copy whatever they do in Spain (60%) or Germany (50%).)
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 79,778
    The latest insanity.
    Apologies to any economists for the early morning shock.

    The Trump administration may exclude government spending from GDP, obscuring the impact of DOGE cuts
    https://apnews.com/article/trump-gdp-economy-government-spending-lutnick-7414ba1bd441bd4bf64620bfd66923b2
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 24,968
    Lots of talk about how the Ukraine and Trump fallout will damage the Refukkers. I'm not so sure, once people see tax rises, as we will before the next GE, there will be a decent size slice of the voter pie that will be saying we should focus domestically not on Ukraine.

    With a divided FPTP set up, and Reform the only one after that slice of the vote, it could be a win for them rather than a negative.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 79,778
    We're renaming it Great American Domestic Product
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,400
    @EmporersNewC

    The problem with Trumpism is it's like a mass Jedi mind trick. With a wave of his hand Trump can get people to repeat all sorts of nonsense they don't really believe, but it only works on the weak minded.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 33,408
    edited March 3
    ...
    Nigelb said:

    The latest insanity.
    Apologies to any economists for the early morning shock.

    The Trump administration may exclude government spending from GDP, obscuring the impact of DOGE cuts
    https://apnews.com/article/trump-gdp-economy-government-spending-lutnick-7414ba1bd441bd4bf64620bfd66923b2

    Good ruse! Perhaps people won't notice when eggs are ten bucks a dozen.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 44,532
    Is it time for the term ‘special relationship’ to be taken out the back and shot?
    Its use is definitely a signifier of low wattage sock puppets like the Lab assistant under minister on R4 just now, so I suppose it has its uses.

    Uh oh, he’s just done a ‘war fighting’.
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 24,968
    Barnesian said:

    Big_G_NorthWales said:

    Barnesian said:

    In the US, I see that Vance's odds of being next President are lengthening a bit to 4.1. As are the odds on the Republicans being the winning party. Though they are still favourites at 1.83. They were 1.75 not long ago.

    I wait in anticipation for the next US opinion polls.

    The real and scary fear is not only 4 more years of this but just what Trump and his bullies change that will take decades to overcome
    My real and scary fear is that Vance is elected in 2028 so we have 8 years of this! Currently he is the favourite to be next President, albeit a 25% probability.
    The most likely leader of the US in 2029 is Trump. He may be King or Emperor by then, or perhaps still a mere President.
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 24,968
    Scott_xP said:

    @EmporersNewC

    The problem with Trumpism is it's like a mass Jedi mind trick. With a wave of his hand Trump can get people to repeat all sorts of nonsense they don't really believe, but it only works on the weak minded.

    Why do you think they don't like education?
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 19,314
    Big_G_NorthWales said:

    DavidL said:

    On topic, Starmer has looked like a PM for the first time over the last few days and has generally done well. I am sure his personal ratings will improve as a result. I am less sure voting intentions will change all that much.

    Agreed and the only real loser is Farage

    Let's see if it dents Reform polling
    Even if it doesn't seriously dent it, it surely pushes its ceiling down a bit more. And I don't know how Farage finesses the problem that half his coalition are straightforward patriots and the other half are Putinists.

    As for Starmer, Foreign Affairs don't really help him. Indeed the best thing for his government is to fold the conflict and unclog the global economy. But looking the part helps. And having an obvious question to answer (rather than having to define the question for himself) probably plays to his strengths.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 33,408
    noneoftheabove said:

    Lots of talk about how the Ukraine and Trump fallout will damage the Refukkers. I'm not so sure, once people see tax rises, as we will before the next GE, there will be a decent size slice of the voter pie that will be saying we should focus domestically not on Ukraine.

    With a divided FPTP set up, and Reform the only one after that slice of the vote, it could be a win for them rather than a negative.

    Does Farage get a seat at cabinet during the war coalition years?
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,400
    Mexicanpete said:

    Does Farage get a seat at cabinet during the war coalition years?

    Did Lord Haw Haw?
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 14,681
    noneoftheabove said:

    Lots of talk about how the Ukraine and Trump fallout will damage the Refukkers. I'm not so sure, once people see tax rises, as we will before the next GE, there will be a decent size slice of the voter pie that will be saying we should focus domestically not on Ukraine.

    With a divided FPTP set up, and Reform the only one after that slice of the vote, it could be a win for them rather than a negative.

    Fukker voters don't like Farage because of his opinions. They have opinions because they like Farage. If he tells them Trump is right on Ukraine then that's what their opinion will be.
  • Daveyboy1961Daveyboy1961 Posts: 4,749
    Battlebus said:

    DavidL said:

    Gallowgate said:

    Looks like the Government is trying to ban new leasehold flats again. Good news I think.

    We had a feudal system in Scotland which involved the payment of feu duty to "superiors" by the owners of the dominium utile (it was a weird collation of medieval English and Latin). This was a fixed amount and by the 1970s inflation had turned it into more of a nuisance than anything else so the system was abolished. I think its long past time England did the same.
    Then the peppercorn rent. Once came across a property in Tunbridge Wells where the peppercorn was replaced by a red rose on Midsummer's day.
    I suspect it's the service charges rather than the peppercorns...
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 79,778
    Scott_xP said:

    @EmporersNewC

    The problem with Trumpism is it's like a mass Jedi mind trick. With a wave of his hand Trump can get people to repeat all sorts of nonsense they don't really believe, but it only works on the weak minded.

    You mean Jedi mindless trick.
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 24,968
    Mexicanpete said:

    noneoftheabove said:

    Lots of talk about how the Ukraine and Trump fallout will damage the Refukkers. I'm not so sure, once people see tax rises, as we will before the next GE, there will be a decent size slice of the voter pie that will be saying we should focus domestically not on Ukraine.

    With a divided FPTP set up, and Reform the only one after that slice of the vote, it could be a win for them rather than a negative.

    Does Farage get a seat at cabinet during the war coalition years?
    No, he can be Junior Minister for Pubs.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,400
    Interesting perspective

    @Simon_Nixon

    Europeans underestimated the degree to which an Ukraine surrender is central to both Trump’s economic and foreign policy. That makes their attempt to frustrate his goals with their own peace plan even higher risk.

    https://x.com/Simon_Nixon/status/1896470145293590870
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 33,408
    Stuartinromford said:

    Big_G_NorthWales said:

    DavidL said:

    On topic, Starmer has looked like a PM for the first time over the last few days and has generally done well. I am sure his personal ratings will improve as a result. I am less sure voting intentions will change all that much.

    Agreed and the only real loser is Farage

    Let's see if it dents Reform polling
    Even if it doesn't seriously dent it, it surely pushes its ceiling down a bit more. And I don't know how Farage finesses the problem that half his coalition are straightforward patriots and the other half are Putinists.

    As for Starmer, Foreign Affairs don't really help him. Indeed the best thing for his government is to fold the conflict and unclog the global economy. But looking the part helps. And having an obvious question to answer (rather than having to define the question for himself) probably plays to his strengths.
    A war dividend of military hardware jobs across the nation is a positive. If this had happened last year perhaps Starmer would have kept the blast furnaces at Port Talbot open.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 55,538
    noneoftheabove said:

    Barnesian said:

    Big_G_NorthWales said:

    Barnesian said:

    In the US, I see that Vance's odds of being next President are lengthening a bit to 4.1. As are the odds on the Republicans being the winning party. Though they are still favourites at 1.83. They were 1.75 not long ago.

    I wait in anticipation for the next US opinion polls.

    The real and scary fear is not only 4 more years of this but just what Trump and his bullies change that will take decades to overcome
    My real and scary fear is that Vance is elected in 2028 so we have 8 years of this! Currently he is the favourite to be next President, albeit a 25% probability.
    The most likely leader of the US in 2029 is Trump. He may be King or Emperor by then, or perhaps still a mere President.
    Vance has to get past the Trump siblings, who will want to inherit their father's throne. Truly enthralling drama ahead with that lot...
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 19,314
    Scott_xP said:

    @EmporersNewC

    The problem with Trumpism is it's like a mass Jedi mind trick. With a wave of his hand Trump can get people to repeat all sorts of nonsense they don't really believe, but it only works on the weak minded.

    Not quite.

    It also works on the greedy (whether that greed is for money, power or glory) and dishonest.

    One of the things about doublethink is how much processing power it requires.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 55,538
    Mexicanpete said:

    noneoftheabove said:

    Lots of talk about how the Ukraine and Trump fallout will damage the Refukkers. I'm not so sure, once people see tax rises, as we will before the next GE, there will be a decent size slice of the voter pie that will be saying we should focus domestically not on Ukraine.

    With a divided FPTP set up, and Reform the only one after that slice of the vote, it could be a win for them rather than a negative.

    Does Farage get a seat at cabinet during the war coalition years?
    Make him Minister for Mine Clearance.

    Out in the field...
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 79,778
    Trump today announced a plan for the United States government to buy exactly the five cryptocurrencies that his crypto advisor, David Sachs, holds. naked corruption
    https://x.com/ArmandDoma/status/1896293021798515006
  • kamskikamski Posts: 6,470
    edited March 3
    Mexicanpete said:

    ...

    Nigelb said:

    The latest insanity.
    Apologies to any economists for the early morning shock.

    The Trump administration may exclude government spending from GDP, obscuring the impact of DOGE cuts
    https://apnews.com/article/trump-gdp-economy-government-spending-lutnick-7414ba1bd441bd4bf64620bfd66923b2

    Good ruse! Perhaps people won't notice when eggs are ten bucks a dozen.
    Easily solved. Replace the old weak woke USD with a new currency the Trump Dollar worth 10 old USD. Eggs now only 1 dollar a dozen.

    Foreigners have to pay 20 USD per Trump Dollar before the USD is discontinued.
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 24,968
    bondegezou said:

    Gallowgate said:

    Looks like the Government is trying to ban new leasehold flats again. Good news I think.

    As a first step towards completely abolishing the freehold system.
    Any of the lawyers or otherwise informed have a view on how the transition would work? Is there potential for a decent windfall for leaseholders here? Opposite for freeholders?
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 55,538
    Mexicanpete said:

    ...

    Nigelb said:

    The latest insanity.
    Apologies to any economists for the early morning shock.

    The Trump administration may exclude government spending from GDP, obscuring the impact of DOGE cuts
    https://apnews.com/article/trump-gdp-economy-government-spending-lutnick-7414ba1bd441bd4bf64620bfd66923b2

    Good ruse! Perhaps people won't notice when eggs are ten bucks a dozen.
    More likely to be a Presidential Decree to change the definition of "dozen" to five.

    "Behold, I have cut the price of eggs to five dollars a dozen!"
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 24,968
    Nigelb said:

    Trump today announced a plan for the United States government to buy exactly the five cryptocurrencies that his crypto advisor, David Sachs, holds. naked corruption
    https://x.com/ArmandDoma/status/1896293021798515006

    The corruption is out in the open now, no-one really cares. The Trumpite viewpoint is effectively if their leaders are not getting rich, they must be muppets, and we don't want muppets in charge, do we.........yes really.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 44,532
    Nigelb said:

    Trump today announced a plan for the United States government to buy exactly the five cryptocurrencies that his crypto advisor, David Sachs, holds. naked corruption
    https://x.com/ArmandDoma/status/1896293021798515006

    Trump is all about the 9 figure checks and bulging bank balances.
  • geoffwgeoffw Posts: 9,185
    Nigelb said:

    The latest insanity.
    Apologies to any economists for the early morning shock.

    The Trump administration may exclude government spending from GDP, obscuring the impact of DOGE cuts
    https://apnews.com/article/trump-gdp-economy-government-spending-lutnick-7414ba1bd441bd4bf64620bfd66923b2

    It'll be interesting to see how the production- and income- based measures of GDP are reconciled with the expenditure-based measure

  • pm215pm215 Posts: 1,306
    Eabhal said:

    DavidL said:

    Gallowgate said:

    Looks like the Government is trying to ban new leasehold flats again. Good news I think.

    We had a feudal system in Scotland which involved the payment of feu duty to "superiors" by the owners of the dominium utile (it was a weird collation of medieval English and Latin). This was a fixed amount and by the 1970s inflation had turned it into more of a nuisance than anything else so the system was abolished. I think its long past time England did the same.
    That's not say the Scottish system is perfect. Shared repairs are a nightmare, and part of the reason tenements are in such terrible condition. For newer flats, factor fees are getting out of hand and can easily cost you £1000+ a year.

    (note that Scotland has about 35% of households in flats, versus 20% in England. You'd want to copy whatever they do in Spain (60%) or Germany (50%).)
    Mmm, some of the problems with shared buildings are just inherent. If you have a building with ten flats in it, and the roof needs replacing at great expense, and one flat owner refuses to pay their share of common expenses, then the other nine owners are going to have a bad time regardless of the legal setup. (If the building has been able to build up a decent fund for emergencies then that can help with the short term roof funding problem, but it won't work forever, and one flat not paying makes it hard to build up and keep that emergency fund.)
  • MattWMattW Posts: 28,793
    edited March 3
    Big_G_NorthWales said:

    Barnesian said:

    In the US, I see that Vance's odds of being next President are lengthening a bit to 4.1. As are the odds on the Republicans being the winning party. Though they are still favourites at 1.83. They were 1.75 not long ago.

    I wait in anticipation for the next US opinion polls.

    The real and scary fear is not only 4 more years of this but just what Trump and his bullies change that will take decades to overcome
    TBH I think they have already done 25-50 years worth of damage (measured as time to recover materially) in abolishing USAID with no run out whatsoever, and all the rest. The USA won't be trusted internationally in my lifetime. To recover in terms of trust will take half a century or more, and will require the USA to become a robust democracy so a recurrence can be excluded as far as possible; they still will not be able to be trusted.

    Their own country will suffer similar damage from the destruction of medical research, Trump's cabal's assault on the checks and balances in the democratic system, and the rest. When national Government expenditure is cut by 30% without any effort to identify what is actually worthwhile, supervised by a collection of expertise-free yes-men, then it is hell-in-a-handcart territory.

    In the most recent fiscal year (from October 2023 to September 2024) the US federal government spent $6.75 trillion (£5.3 trillion) according to the US Treasury, external.

    This means Musk’s proposed cuts of $2 trillion would represent around a cut of around 30% of total federal government spending — also known as national spending in other countries.
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdj38mekdkgo

    AFAICS the only hopes of stopping the process are those Courts which are not suborned, civil society, and Trump voters when the impact hits them.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 19,314
    geoffw said:

    Nigelb said:

    The latest insanity.
    Apologies to any economists for the early morning shock.

    The Trump administration may exclude government spending from GDP, obscuring the impact of DOGE cuts
    https://apnews.com/article/trump-gdp-economy-government-spending-lutnick-7414ba1bd441bd4bf64620bfd66923b2

    It'll be interesting to see how the production- and income- based measures of GDP are reconciled with the expenditure-based measure

    Prediction: they won't bother.

    Think Winston Smith in 1984, substituting one made-up number for another.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 129,240
    Starmer has certainly looked more statesman like bringing together non US NATO leaders yesterday to reaffirm their support and funding for Zelensky.

    Truman was of course re elected against the odds in 1948
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 129,240
    Yet another out of touch Oscars ceremony. Not a single winner in the main categories broke $100 million at the box office.

    Have the odd independent or art house win by all means but don't ignore films viewers watch or Oscars ratings will decline yet further
  • MattWMattW Posts: 28,793
    edited March 3
    Gallowgate said:

    Looks like the Government is trying to ban new leasehold flats again. Good news I think.

    Good morning everyone.

    The problem that still exists will be how to manage such developments after occupation - expertise has to come from somewhere, and:

    1 - Up front payments (ie commuted sums) are a major source of future maintenance money money for local authorities.
    2 - If leasehold is abolished prices may rise because it is a source of revenue for some developer companies - either the payments, or selling the leases on.
    3 - How to set up a structure that works equally well in both Cobham, Clerkenwell and Clacton.

    Behind this is that the people buying the new properties are expected to pay for the cost of all the infrastructure, through increased new prices - rather than it being rolled into Council tax.

    I think that developers may quite like to be out of this cycle; it would let them walk away cleanly after building and selling the properties.

    Making it all add up is the question.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 33,408
    HYUFD said:

    Starmer has certainly looked more statesman like bringing together non US NATO leaders yesterday to reaffirm their support and funding for Zelensky.

    Truman was of course re elected against the odds in 1948

    But Churchill wasn't in '45. I suppose the silver lining for patriots was Moseley didn't become PM on that occasion. Maybe this time he does.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 60,870
    Stuartinromford said:

    geoffw said:

    Nigelb said:

    The latest insanity.
    Apologies to any economists for the early morning shock.

    The Trump administration may exclude government spending from GDP, obscuring the impact of DOGE cuts
    https://apnews.com/article/trump-gdp-economy-government-spending-lutnick-7414ba1bd441bd4bf64620bfd66923b2

    It'll be interesting to see how the production- and income- based measures of GDP are reconciled with the expenditure-based measure

    Prediction: they won't bother.

    Think Winston Smith in 1984, substituting one made-up number for another.
    As an aside, that makes inflation linked Treasury bonds an incredibly bad investment.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 60,870
    geoffw said:

    Nigelb said:

    The latest insanity.
    Apologies to any economists for the early morning shock.

    The Trump administration may exclude government spending from GDP, obscuring the impact of DOGE cuts
    https://apnews.com/article/trump-gdp-economy-government-spending-lutnick-7414ba1bd441bd4bf64620bfd66923b2

    It'll be interesting to see how the production- and income- based measures of GDP are reconciled with the expenditure-based measure

    You are thinking too rationally.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 129,240
    Barnesian said:

    Big_G_NorthWales said:

    Barnesian said:

    In the US, I see that Vance's odds of being next President are lengthening a bit to 4.1. As are the odds on the Republicans being the winning party. Though they are still favourites at 1.83. They were 1.75 not long ago.

    I wait in anticipation for the next US opinion polls.

    The real and scary fear is not only 4 more years of this but just what Trump and his bullies change that will take decades to overcome
    My real and scary fear is that Vance is elected in 2028 so we have 8 years of this! Currently he is the favourite to be next President, albeit a 25% probability.
    Trump's tariffs come in tomorrow on Canadian and Mexican and maybe EU imports as well as increased on Chinese imports.

    Whether they increase US manufacturing jobs or increase cost of living likely decide whether Vance wins or not.

    The omens aren't great, last time a Republican President signed such huge tariffs was Hoover in 1930 and the Democrats won Congress and the White House in 1932. The Republicans didn't win a presidential election again until Eisenhower in 1952
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 67,139
    Luke Tryl
    @LukeTryl


    Meanwhile Starmer’s net approval is up from -39 to -28 this weekend. Still under water but his best score since November. Those saying he’s doing a good job are up 5 and bad job down 6.

    https://x.com/LukeTryl/status/1896470872963350871
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 52,593
    HYUFD said:

    Barnesian said:

    Big_G_NorthWales said:

    Barnesian said:

    In the US, I see that Vance's odds of being next President are lengthening a bit to 4.1. As are the odds on the Republicans being the winning party. Though they are still favourites at 1.83. They were 1.75 not long ago.

    I wait in anticipation for the next US opinion polls.

    The real and scary fear is not only 4 more years of this but just what Trump and his bullies change that will take decades to overcome
    My real and scary fear is that Vance is elected in 2028 so we have 8 years of this! Currently he is the favourite to be next President, albeit a 25% probability.
    Trump's tariffs come in tomorrow on Canadian and Mexican and maybe EU imports as well as increased on Chinese imports.

    Whether they increase US manufacturing jobs or increase cost of living likely decide whether Vance wins or not.

    The omens aren't great, last time a Republican President signed such huge tariffs was Hoover in 1930 and the Democrats won Congress and the White House in 1932. The Republicans didn't win a presidential election again until Eisenhower in 1952
    They're wavering as to whether they will be as high as originally announced, however
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 9,245
    HYUFD said:

    Barnesian said:

    Big_G_NorthWales said:

    Barnesian said:

    In the US, I see that Vance's odds of being next President are lengthening a bit to 4.1. As are the odds on the Republicans being the winning party. Though they are still favourites at 1.83. They were 1.75 not long ago.

    I wait in anticipation for the next US opinion polls.

    The real and scary fear is not only 4 more years of this but just what Trump and his bullies change that will take decades to overcome
    My real and scary fear is that Vance is elected in 2028 so we have 8 years of this! Currently he is the favourite to be next President, albeit a 25% probability.
    Trump's tariffs come in tomorrow on Canadian and Mexican and maybe EU imports as well as increased on Chinese imports.

    Whether they increase US manufacturing jobs or increase cost of living likely decide whether Vance wins or not.

    The omens aren't great, last time a Republican President signed such huge tariffs was Hoover in 1930 and the Democrats won Congress and the White House in 1932. The Republicans didn't win a presidential election again until Eisenhower in 1952
    I've laid the GOP winning the next presidential election at 1.84.
    I think it is much less than a 54% chance.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 129,240
    bondegezou said:

    Gallowgate said:

    Looks like the Government is trying to ban new leasehold flats again. Good news I think.

    As a first step towards completely abolishing the freehold system.
    Well universal council and social housing would increase the Labour vote but really would guarantee a Labour defeat before they got there
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 56,076
    kamski said:

    Mexicanpete said:

    ...

    Nigelb said:

    The latest insanity.
    Apologies to any economists for the early morning shock.

    The Trump administration may exclude government spending from GDP, obscuring the impact of DOGE cuts
    https://apnews.com/article/trump-gdp-economy-government-spending-lutnick-7414ba1bd441bd4bf64620bfd66923b2

    Good ruse! Perhaps people won't notice when eggs are ten bucks a dozen.
    Easily solved. Replace the old weak woke USD with a new currency the Trump Dollar worth 10 old USD. Eggs now only 1 dollar a dozen.

    Foreigners have to pay 20 USD per Trump Dollar before the USD is discontinued.


    As promoted in the greatest political speech ever -

    https://youtu.be/XEECxN5P1nw?si=I_z42twRz9uc_gxg
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 35,416
    Barnesian said:

    HYUFD said:

    Barnesian said:

    Big_G_NorthWales said:

    Barnesian said:

    In the US, I see that Vance's odds of being next President are lengthening a bit to 4.1. As are the odds on the Republicans being the winning party. Though they are still favourites at 1.83. They were 1.75 not long ago.

    I wait in anticipation for the next US opinion polls.

    The real and scary fear is not only 4 more years of this but just what Trump and his bullies change that will take decades to overcome
    My real and scary fear is that Vance is elected in 2028 so we have 8 years of this! Currently he is the favourite to be next President, albeit a 25% probability.
    Trump's tariffs come in tomorrow on Canadian and Mexican and maybe EU imports as well as increased on Chinese imports.

    Whether they increase US manufacturing jobs or increase cost of living likely decide whether Vance wins or not.

    The omens aren't great, last time a Republican President signed such huge tariffs was Hoover in 1930 and the Democrats won Congress and the White House in 1932. The Republicans didn't win a presidential election again until Eisenhower in 1952
    I've laid the GOP winning the next presidential election at 1.84.
    I think it is much less than a 54% chance.
    Barnesian said:

    HYUFD said:

    Barnesian said:

    Big_G_NorthWales said:

    Barnesian said:

    In the US, I see that Vance's odds of being next President are lengthening a bit to 4.1. As are the odds on the Republicans being the winning party. Though they are still favourites at 1.83. They were 1.75 not long ago.

    I wait in anticipation for the next US opinion polls.

    The real and scary fear is not only 4 more years of this but just what Trump and his bullies change that will take decades to overcome
    My real and scary fear is that Vance is elected in 2028 so we have 8 years of this! Currently he is the favourite to be next President, albeit a 25% probability.
    Trump's tariffs come in tomorrow on Canadian and Mexican and maybe EU imports as well as increased on Chinese imports.

    Whether they increase US manufacturing jobs or increase cost of living likely decide whether Vance wins or not.

    The omens aren't great, last time a Republican President signed such huge tariffs was Hoover in 1930 and the Democrats won Congress and the White House in 1932. The Republicans didn't win a presidential election again until Eisenhower in 1952
    I've laid the GOP winning the next presidential election at 1.84.
    I think it is much less than a 54% chance.
    With a bit of luck they’ll lose the House in 2036 and just possibly the Senate.
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 66,293
    Barnesian said:

    I'm feeling a bit smug this morning.
    I switched a big chunk of my ISA into Rolls Royce and BAE just before Starmer announced the increase in UK defence spending.
    They are now nearly 25% up.

    Well done
  • RogerRoger Posts: 20,804
    edited March 3
    HYUFD said:

    Yet another out of touch Oscars ceremony. Not a single winner in the main categories broke $100 million at the box office.

    Have the odd independent or art house win by all means but don't ignore films viewers watch or Oscars ratings will decline yet further

    I enjoy small independent films and have in recent years found more quality and originality in the Cannes winners than the vastly over CGId big budget ones usually favoured at the Oscars. 'Anora' though was not in my opinion one of the good Cannes winners. An X rated 'Carry On' film was the best I can say about it. A good performance by the leading actress but so uneven as a film I'm sure it will be quickly forgotten.
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 20,758
    MattW said:

    Gallowgate said:

    Looks like the Government is trying to ban new leasehold flats again. Good news I think.

    Good morning everyone.

    The problem that still exists will be how to manage such developments after occupation - expertise has to come from somewhere, and:

    1 - Up front payments (ie commuted sums) are a major source of future maintenance money money for local authorities.
    2 - If leasehold is abolished prices may rise because it is a source of revenue for some developer companies - either the payments, or selling the leases on.
    3 - How to set up a structure that works equally well in both Cobham, Clerkenwell and Clacton.

    Behind this is that the people buying the new properties are expected to pay for the cost of all the infrastructure, through increased new prices - rather than it being rolled into Council tax.

    I think that developers may quite like to be out of this cycle; it would let them walk away cleanly after building and selling the properties.

    Making it all add up is the question.
    I am a construction solicitor so I know this area reasonably well. At the end of the day, the rest of the world manages without leasehold. It seems to me that the industry is already preparing for this by building and selling BTR blocks rather than depending on revenue from ground rent and/or service charge kick backs.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 28,793
    Theuniondivvie said:

    A good piece on the difficulties of military decoupling, written in an..err..vernacular style comprehensible to numpties, eg me.

    ‘How to leave your abusive international warplane supplying partner and start a new life’

    https://x.com/hush_kit/status/1896323281252409368?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q

    It's a lot of limbo and hoops to read the rest of it.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 15,734
    JosiasJessop said:

    Anyway, in personal news, we discovered this morning that our son got into his first-choice secondary school.

    That's a relief.

    What part of the world are you in JJ? One of my pet frustations is policy makers in London - where school places are plentiful - assuming that school places are plentiful everywhere. Because in Greater Manchester they are not, and getting a place at your closest school is not a given.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 46,383
    Theuniondivvie said:

    A good piece on the difficulties of military decoupling, written in an..err..vernacular style comprehensible to numpties, eg me.

    ‘How to leave your abusive international warplane supplying partner and start a new life’

    https://x.com/hush_kit/status/1896323281252409368?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q

    hush-kit is a really, really good site. A professional in the aviation industry I know is very fond of it, in the same way he is not fond of Air Forces Monthly and Aviation Week.

    (I also like Air Forces Monthly...)
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 56,076
    MattW said:

    Gallowgate said:

    Looks like the Government is trying to ban new leasehold flats again. Good news I think.

    Good morning everyone.

    The problem that still exists will be how to manage such developments after occupation - expertise has to come from somewhere, and:

    1 - Up front payments (ie commuted sums) are a major source of future maintenance money money for local authorities.
    2 - If leasehold is abolished prices may rise because it is a source of revenue for some developer companies - either the payments, or selling the leases on.
    3 - How to set up a structure that works equally well in both Cobham, Clerkenwell and Clacton.

    Behind this is that the people buying the new properties are expected to pay for the cost of all the infrastructure, through increased new prices - rather than it being rolled into Council tax.

    I think that developers may quite like to be out of this cycle; it would let them walk away cleanly after building and selling the properties.

    Making it all add up is the question.
    Getting rid of leasehold will be good.

    However, there are a large number of Magic Moneytree types who seem to think that maintenance on communal structures should be zero cost. Or not exist.

    In my former block of flats they now have two such on the board that runs the flats jointly (all freehold).

    They started by demanding that it be wound up and all the money in the accounts given to the home owners. They’ve retreated to allowing the roof to be inspected and repaired on a regular cycle

    But the idea of building up a reserve which is then use to pay for works on a regular basis is beyond them.

    “Look, when we need to fix something, we wait until it is really needed, then take out a loan….”
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 46,383
    Cookie said:

    JosiasJessop said:

    Anyway, in personal news, we discovered this morning that our son got into his first-choice secondary school.

    That's a relief.

    What part of the world are you in JJ? One of my pet frustations is policy makers in London - where school places are plentiful - assuming that school places are plentiful everywhere. Because in Greater Manchester they are not, and getting a place at your closest school is not a given.
    Cambridgeshire. And for the last couple of years, a few kids have been allocated one at least half an hour's drive away in another town. A failing school...

    All three of his choices were oversubscribed to some degree, one heavily. The odds were that he would get in to his first choice, but it was not guaranteed.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 79,778
    rcs1000 said:

    geoffw said:

    Nigelb said:

    The latest insanity.
    Apologies to any economists for the early morning shock.

    The Trump administration may exclude government spending from GDP, obscuring the impact of DOGE cuts
    https://apnews.com/article/trump-gdp-economy-government-spending-lutnick-7414ba1bd441bd4bf64620bfd66923b2

    It'll be interesting to see how the production- and income- based measures of GDP are reconciled with the expenditure-based measure

    You are thinking too rationally.
    This isn't really shocking in today's US, either.

    I'll start really worrying when he's seen with the Football.

    This is beyond outrageous. Elon Musk, his cranky mother Maye, and one of his young kids were chauffeured in Air Force One and Marine One—straight to the White House, where they’re apparently staying.

    WTF is going on? It goes without saying, this is not normal.
    https://x.com/ChrisDJackson/status/1896393185833947335
  • TazTaz Posts: 20,040
    edited March 3
    BatteryCorrectHorse said:

    Why has @Anabobazina been banned yet other users are welcomed back?

    He was upset at labour being criticised, so like a couple of others, flounced.

    Thin skin.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 79,778
    Roger said:

    HYUFD said:

    Yet another out of touch Oscars ceremony. Not a single winner in the main categories broke $100 million at the box office.

    Have the odd independent or art house win by all means but don't ignore films viewers watch or Oscars ratings will decline yet further

    I enjoy small independent films and have in recent years found more quality and originality in the Cannes winners than the vastly over CGId big budget ones usually favoured at the Oscars. 'Anora' though was not in my opinion one of the good Cannes winners. An X rated 'Carry On' film was the best I can say about it. A good performance by the leading actress but so uneven as a film I'm sure it will be quickly forgotten.
    Yes, saw the trailer and thought not for me, either.
    What was the Dylan movie like ?
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 129,240
    Mexicanpete said:

    HYUFD said:

    Starmer has certainly looked more statesman like bringing together non US NATO leaders yesterday to reaffirm their support and funding for Zelensky.

    Truman was of course re elected against the odds in 1948

    But Churchill wasn't in '45. I suppose the silver lining for patriots was Moseley didn't become PM on that occasion. Maybe this time he does.
    By election day in 1945 there was peace in Europe.

    Voters wanted Churchill to win the war and Attlee to deliver the NHS and expanded welfare state in the peace. They never wanted to appease Hitler nor do they want to appease Putin.

  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 79,778
    Theuniondivvie said:

    A good piece on the difficulties of military decoupling, written in an..err..vernacular style comprehensible to numpties, eg me.

    ‘How to leave your abusive international warplane supplying partner and start a new life’

    https://x.com/hush_kit/status/1896323281252409368?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q

    What was the conclusion ?
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 16,719
    How was Ben Wallace Defence Sec when he can't even learn to spell the LOTO's name correctly?
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 60,870
    Malmesbury said:

    MattW said:

    Gallowgate said:

    Looks like the Government is trying to ban new leasehold flats again. Good news I think.

    Good morning everyone.

    The problem that still exists will be how to manage such developments after occupation - expertise has to come from somewhere, and:

    1 - Up front payments (ie commuted sums) are a major source of future maintenance money money for local authorities.
    2 - If leasehold is abolished prices may rise because it is a source of revenue for some developer companies - either the payments, or selling the leases on.
    3 - How to set up a structure that works equally well in both Cobham, Clerkenwell and Clacton.

    Behind this is that the people buying the new properties are expected to pay for the cost of all the infrastructure, through increased new prices - rather than it being rolled into Council tax.

    I think that developers may quite like to be out of this cycle; it would let them walk away cleanly after building and selling the properties.

    Making it all add up is the question.
    Getting rid of leasehold will be good.

    However, there are a large number of Magic Moneytree types who seem to think that maintenance on communal structures should be zero cost. Or not exist.

    In my former block of flats they now have two such on the board that runs the flats jointly (all freehold).

    They started by demanding that it be wound up and all the money in the accounts given to the home owners. They’ve retreated to allowing the roof to be inspected and repaired on a regular cycle

    But the idea of building up a reserve which is then use to pay for works on a regular basis is beyond them.

    “Look, when we need to fix something, we wait until it is really needed, then take out a loan….”
    Do they work for DOGE?
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 67,139
    Nigelb said:

    rcs1000 said:

    geoffw said:

    Nigelb said:

    The latest insanity.
    Apologies to any economists for the early morning shock.

    The Trump administration may exclude government spending from GDP, obscuring the impact of DOGE cuts
    https://apnews.com/article/trump-gdp-economy-government-spending-lutnick-7414ba1bd441bd4bf64620bfd66923b2

    It'll be interesting to see how the production- and income- based measures of GDP are reconciled with the expenditure-based measure

    You are thinking too rationally.
    This isn't really shocking in today's US, either.

    I'll start really worrying when he's seen with the Football.

    This is beyond outrageous. Elon Musk, his cranky mother Maye, and one of his young kids were chauffeured in Air Force One and Marine One—straight to the White House, where they’re apparently staying.

    WTF is going on? It goes without saying, this is not normal.
    https://x.com/ChrisDJackson/status/1896393185833947335
    Why shouldn't the president have his kids come and stay with him at the WH?
  • FF43FF43 Posts: 18,238
    It could depend more on whether Farage gets associated with a Trump disaster than how good Starmer is.
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 14,681
    Nigelb said:

    Theuniondivvie said:

    A good piece on the difficulties of military decoupling, written in an..err..vernacular style comprehensible to numpties, eg me.

    ‘How to leave your abusive international warplane supplying partner and start a new life’

    https://x.com/hush_kit/status/1896323281252409368?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q

    What was the conclusion ?
    We're stuck with it and will have to the make the best of it. There is no way the UK will get an Israel style independent F-35 fleet.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 56,314
    OnlyLivingBoy said:

    How was Ben Wallace Defence Sec when he can't even learn to spell the LOTO's name correctly?

    Keir isn't the LOTO anymore!
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 16,719
    williamglenn said:

    OnlyLivingBoy said:

    How was Ben Wallace Defence Sec when he can't even learn to spell the LOTO's name correctly?

    Keir isn't the LOTO anymore!
    Ha ha true, that's probably a bigger deal than not spelling his name right.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 55,538
    Nigelb said:

    Roger said:

    HYUFD said:

    Yet another out of touch Oscars ceremony. Not a single winner in the main categories broke $100 million at the box office.

    Have the odd independent or art house win by all means but don't ignore films viewers watch or Oscars ratings will decline yet further

    I enjoy small independent films and have in recent years found more quality and originality in the Cannes winners than the vastly over CGId big budget ones usually favoured at the Oscars. 'Anora' though was not in my opinion one of the good Cannes winners. An X rated 'Carry On' film was the best I can say about it. A good performance by the leading actress but so uneven as a film I'm sure it will be quickly forgotten.
    Yes, saw the trailer and thought not for me, either.
    What was the Dylan movie like ?
    Very good, even if you don't like Dylan.

    The list of best picture winners since 2000 is a very mixed bag indeed. Not the best adver for a quarter of century of cinema I'd suggest.

    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls528801948/

    Compare with the 70's:

    1970 Patton
    1971 The French Connection
    1972 The Godfather
    1973 The Sting
    1974 The Godfather II
    1975 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
    1976 Rocky
    1977 Annie Hall
    1978 The Deer Hunter
    1979 Kramer v Kramer
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 32,235
    DavidL said:

    On topic, Starmer has looked like a PM for the first time over the last few days and has generally done well. I am sure his personal ratings will improve as a result. I am less sure voting intentions will change all that much.

    Nor should they.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 56,076
    rcs1000 said:

    Malmesbury said:

    MattW said:

    Gallowgate said:

    Looks like the Government is trying to ban new leasehold flats again. Good news I think.

    Good morning everyone.

    The problem that still exists will be how to manage such developments after occupation - expertise has to come from somewhere, and:

    1 - Up front payments (ie commuted sums) are a major source of future maintenance money money for local authorities.
    2 - If leasehold is abolished prices may rise because it is a source of revenue for some developer companies - either the payments, or selling the leases on.
    3 - How to set up a structure that works equally well in both Cobham, Clerkenwell and Clacton.

    Behind this is that the people buying the new properties are expected to pay for the cost of all the infrastructure, through increased new prices - rather than it being rolled into Council tax.

    I think that developers may quite like to be out of this cycle; it would let them walk away cleanly after building and selling the properties.

    Making it all add up is the question.
    Getting rid of leasehold will be good.

    However, there are a large number of Magic Moneytree types who seem to think that maintenance on communal structures should be zero cost. Or not exist.

    In my former block of flats they now have two such on the board that runs the flats jointly (all freehold).

    They started by demanding that it be wound up and all the money in the accounts given to the home owners. They’ve retreated to allowing the roof to be inspected and repaired on a regular cycle

    But the idea of building up a reserve which is then use to pay for works on a regular basis is beyond them.

    “Look, when we need to fix something, we wait until it is really needed, then take out a loan….”
    Do they work for DOGE?
    I think it is a different kind of radicalisation. A portion of Generation Rent has come to believe that *everything* is a rip off.

    That take away coffee should be 1p, that housing should be free etc etc.

    This is from the Corbynite left. But I agree with you that there is an interesting parallel with the mentality behind DOGE.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 56,076
    williamglenn said:

    OnlyLivingBoy said:

    How was Ben Wallace Defence Sec when he can't even learn to spell the LOTO's name correctly?

    Keir isn't the LOTO anymore!
    Has Keir stopped referring to the LOTO as “the Prime Minister”?

    Or did he only do that for Rishi?
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 32,235
    Nigelb said:

    Theuniondivvie said:

    A good piece on the difficulties of military decoupling, written in an..err..vernacular style comprehensible to numpties, eg me.

    ‘How to leave your abusive international warplane supplying partner and start a new life’

    https://x.com/hush_kit/status/1896323281252409368?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q

    What was the conclusion ?
    That we never should have given up the Harriers?

    *I know the Harriers were old and wouldn't have worked today
This discussion has been closed.

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