Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
#1
When you thought it couldn't get any worse you can always rely on laff-a-minute happy go lucky (rich Osborne) to kick you in the knackers.
It would appear ,according to newspaper reports, that he is preparing to levy a full rate of 20% vat on fuel bills, currently at 5%, and tax kids' clothes, books and food, which are exempt. That should put up your Aldi bill.
Ahead of new growth figures out this morning, the Chancellor brandished a letter from international finance chiefs at a recent Commons meeting in a bid to justify his savage economic policies which states that he should regularise all his VAT rates.
Be prepared he will sneak and announce this rise along with other bad news on the day of the Royal marriage. A good day to hide bad news as the press will be full of ''Kate loves Willy'' snap shots!.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#2
Surely this cant happen. I heard an expert on finance this very morning on the radio talking about how the VAT rise has taken life out of the recovery. While we are not having a double dip recession, we are still not growing nor creating anything like the levels of jobs needed in the private sector.
Anyone who hides bad news on the day of the wedding will be seen as a political ogre.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#3
I can't see it either Paul, but we'll see. I don't agree with it at all.
I remember how Labour Ministers used to bury bad news on days of National or International major news stories. I doubt if the Conservatives would do the same.
I'm an independant-minded Conservative, like most local Conservatives; I'm not a party-hack, but obviously have similar views and values to other Conservatives.
Three "Conservatives" in one sentence, let's hope for the sake of local people, that there'll be three Conservatives in the M.E.P. ward, come May 6th.
Roger
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#4
This is nonsense.
Personally I would approve of VAT accross the board compensated for by reduced income tax (and certain benefit rises to compensate).
It is far better to tax spending than income. But it wont happen - as I said the report is complete nonsense as are the comments Marek about 'savage economic policies' - he is in fact not being tough enough and should be cutting more, a lot more.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
#5
BarryW
Unsure how you can call the reports nonsense unless you have some form of direct line to Ozzy Osborne?.
But it is nonsensical of you not to call or admit the recent cuts are not savage enough and he should be cutting more. Yeah on second thoughts lets cut
1.Bankers Bonuses
2.House of Lords
3.The £21 million wasted in setting up a quango to introduce ''free schools''
4.Overseas aid especially to India and China
5.Judges perks and expenses
just to name a few in the news that I have covered this week alone!
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#6
The main reason for Britain's relative economic decline is the intolerable burden that the state poses on business. If we want a more prosperous economy with more better paid jobs in which it is British companies are buyng up overseas businesses, rather than the other way round, then the burden of the State is a problem that must be addressed.
As that burden has increased gradually over the 20th century our economic fortunes have withered and we seem to be going from one economic crisis to another. In the UK state spending is at 53% of GDP compared even to (nominally Communist) China where, amazingly it is only around 28%.
All of public sector spending (including that on the secondary public sector, companies that wholly or partly get their income from the State) ultimately depends on the private sector to generate the wealth and income of this country. So the higher public spending is the bigger the burden the private sector carries.
If we want to compete in the world economy and to alleviate the regular financial crisis, then we must respond by reducing the public sector burden to under 30% of GDP and, once there, there should be legislation to link public sector spending to GDP preventing it from ever going above 30%, so in that way governments that want to increase spending will have to get it out of increased economic success and not just by putting up taxes or borrowing.
Lets be clear though - some public sector spending is essential for a healthy economy, it is not all bad. We need a healthy and well educated workforce, good transport infrastructure, we need law and order and a strong voice in the world with powerful armed forces. Needless to say that we do need to look after the long-term sick and elderly too.
But is must come from more efficient spending and from an overall lower level of spending. Not all of that neither should fall on the taxpayer and it would be more efficient long term for more use to be made of insurance based provision rather than state benefits.
Thats enough for now. But the case is simple Marek - the government, even with Osborne's rather mild cuts that return public spending to 2007 levels, government will still be spending far too much.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#7
roger
the blues have already used that ruse with the andy coulson affair.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#8
I thought that it wasn't secretely let out Howard I seem to remember it was just published as normal.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#9
not secretly roger but released on a day where there was another big story that eclipsed it.
for the life of me i cannot remember what the story was, another member may know.
Unregistered User
#10
That's it Marek , you're quoting Ozzy Osbourne. What did you expect.
Watty
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#11
I heard a few talking heads yesterday on this woeful revelation that we're flatlining on growth. is it hardly surprising..we have been cut so tight that none of us have any money left to spend in the High St or anywhere else. VAT at 20% was a mistake as it has just taken money out of peoples pockets. According to one report yesterday people have 6% less in their pockets, 6% less spending power than they had at the same time last year.
This has cut demand as people cannot spend what they dont have. If there is no demand, no new jobs will therefore be created. Jobs are only created when the demand is there. So as a consequnce there will be no increase in private sector jobs or nothing on a significant scale.
We are only a tiny percentage point above re-entering recession.
As Ed Miliband said yesterday in The House...Cameron has been in charge for a year now and cant blame anyone else. This rattled the PM while his deputy gazed soporifically into the distance.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#12
My blog to be uploaded today will be about the latest economic news. Osborne has actually had a rather good week (George not Ozzy....).