Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#1
Over several years now The Telegraph has been steadily alienating its core Tory readers. You need only see comments on conservativehome to see evidence of that.
It did a good job on expenses exposing abuses (though in some cases they did get it wrong and went too far). That gained them more readership and a fair amount of credability.
Then they went for Laws, not without good reason and we must not blame the messenger for what happened.
Then, today, they have gone after Danny Alexander.
Now I hold no brief for Alexander, a LibDem, and would have no problem if a real abuse was exposed but that is not the case.
Alexander is accused of dodging CGT on a second home. But this is a case in which CGT was not liable.
I personally, as will many other normal people, have taken advantage of what Alexander did.
When I bought my present home with Alison, I still owned my previous home, sellling it some time later. You are not liable to Capital Gains Tax in such circumstances if the property is sold within 3 years (I think it was 2 years when I did it, raised to 3 years by Labour).
Alexander was within the CGT free period, hence no liability, nothing done wrong at all.
By going for Alexander like that the Telegraph has simply damaged its own credability and its traditional readership will be further alienated. Very silly and very sad to see what was once one of the great newspapers reduced to this level.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#2
no better than the sun/news of the world then.it looks like a gutter press paper now.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#3
That is my point, the traditional Telegraph readership dont want tabloid jouralism.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#4
if it sells papers why not.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#5
No not at all BarryW the Daily Telegraph has done us all an immense service. It may well have kicked the political classes in the gooleys but then it was badly needed and as a consequence has brought about massive reform which was clearly very badly needed. The public were walking around totally in the dark as to what was going on//but now are enlightened.
Now the latest story about Alexander may be a tad weaker but then you cant hit the bullseye all the time. We owe a great debt in my view to the Daily Telegraph...you only have to see the general publics revulsion at it all to see how successful they were. The political classes, or some of them, are still grumbling that they were found out.
Incidently Danny Alexander has no finance/economics experience whatsoever ( as opposed to Laws who had much)...yet here he is Chief Sec to the TReasury. It sounds bananas...in what other walk of life would this happen.
Hi there Im your doctor..I will be removing your kidney stones later today but I have no experience, last week I was a barman in the Dog and Duck!!
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#6
The Alexander story is not PaulB 'a tad weaker' it is a non-existant scandal, nothing inappropriate done, no tax dodged at all and it does not take an accountant to see that.
In this story the Telegraph have seriously damaged its credability. Consider the traditional readership of this paper, they have already been alienating so many of them and now this nonsense.
#7
Good post Paulb, thanks.
I don't buy newspapers and haven't for over a decade. They rarely bring us the truth and when they do, it is difficult to believe it because of the lies and severe political bias that have preceded it in the name of "selling copy".
Credit to the DT for the "Expenses" work, but even that got caught between exposing the truth and ignoring the rules to which some MP's were adhering. In other words, in their blood-lust they lost sight of what was legally entitled and what was morally wrong, in their opinion.
Far better to rely on an honest internet site such as DoverForum or the BBC methinks, if you want the news that is.
#8
I am with you on this PaulB and Sid. The Telegraph is my paper of choice (much to my Old Mans disgust as he peers at me over his Guardian...) and they did us all a huge favour with this. It was never tabloid journalism, it was honest to goodness investigative journalism, and jolly good too. It matters that it doesn't "fade away" and the good old Torygraph will see that it doesn't.
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
#9
I buy the Telegraph on Saturdays only, and that's for the Prize Crossword plus the Weekend section. Otherwise I find the Torygraph an insufferable Tory mouthpiece that alienated itself from half decent journalism in the 1980s.
I have to say that the Torygraph is by no means alone in political bias, though. There simply isn't a British newspaper that delivers the news without political spin one way or the other, and the Daily Mail is just unreadable for those with high blood pressure. The BBC are always being accused of political bias these days - and insofar as they are so pro-Europe they can't tell the truth, that is true - but at least the news they present is factual, if presented in a patronisingly avuncular manner that gets right up my nose.
Not that I know too much about the press of other countries, but one hears that the British press is among the worst in the world. From what is on offer at the newsagents on a daily basis, it would be hard to argue against that.
True friends stab you in the front.
#10
I too am getting disillusioned with the Telegraph.
Today for example six pages of lifestyle rubbish.
Fashion one page - not interested.
'Wellbeing' - Is seaweed the new superfood? Who cares?
Two pages of health written with the same depth as they used to cover things in Readers Digest.
Two pages of 'Arts' that might interest a Classic F.M. listener.
News coverage O.K. but analysis almost non existent.
I can't bring myself to buy the Times due to an absolute loathing of Rupert Murdoch and am worried about getting a subscription to the Independent in case they fold tomorrow.
SWMBO gets the Guardian but sight any article by the smug trio of Hutton, Toynbee or Monbiot means that I have to lie down in a darkened room until my blood pressure returns to normal.
Thank God for the weekly Spectator and Economist!
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
#11
I'm no fan of the Daily MAIL but understand that although he broke no rules in what he did, it was the Lib Dems under Clegg who were pushing big time to close this loop hole.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#12
I do wonder whether people actually read the original post....
Keith - loop-holes are accidental, this was a simple concession to help the housing market that many of us take advantage of and it was a deliberate move by the Labour Government some years back to in fact increase the period from 2 to 3 years.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#13
bob
spot on mate, i think the gruniad is a good read, but the contributors mention are dire.
in my view the times and independent are the best read for people who do not want to be told what to think.
#14
Paul B,
You are certainly right when you state that David Laws had great experiance in financial matters. Only wish I had known sooner as I could do with some good advice on how to fiddle my council tax. A great opportunity lost, shall have to wait until the madhi stops flying and possibly I will be able to engage his wealth of experie
nce at a reduced cost (fiddled of course)
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#15
I see some new allegations have now arisen about Alexander, this time they actually seem to have some substance unlike the Capital Gains Tax non-story.
It concerns the frequent travels of his wife backwards and forwards to Scotland paid for by the taxpayer.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#16
i notice that nick clegg when asked about the suitability of mr alexander to his new role, he opined that he was determined to deal with the deficit.so am i, but am not qualified to do anything about it.
Alec Sheldon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 18 Aug 2008
- Posts: 1,037
#17
I thought that Alexander lived in Dover.
#18
A big
for Justice Saunders who ruled the obsequious four must stand trial in a Crown Court over the allegations regarding their expense claims.
Although they have the right of appeal against his decision, one hopes they all stand in the dock, sooner rather than later.
#19
Seconded! The narrative ruling was sensible and grown up.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
#20
yep all 4 lovely
but sadly there are still many that acted WITHIN the rules
to rip us off