Brown's spend, spend, spend during his Chancellor's days has brought us into the current economy we are facing today. His appeal at a Downing Street meeting for the lenders to pass on cuts appeared to fall on deaf ears with HBOS, which owns the Halifax, increasing its rate on some mortgages from 6.09 to 6.59 per cent. Borrowers taking out this type of deal will now pay 46 more a month. On a two-year tracker, the rate will increase from 1.49 points above base rate to 1.99 points, giving a current rate of 6.99 per cent.

Other lenders are expected to follow Halifaxs lead.

If the Government wants the banks to lower mortgage rates to home owners - why not just offer them through Northern Rock? Everyone would rush to the Rock to get the loans forcing banks to match the rates or lose the business? Or maybe the government would then run into bigger credit crunch?

EXODUS AS UK SAVERS SWITCH TO IRISH SAFE HAVEN

Thousands of UK bank customers are withdrawing their savings and seeking to open accounts in Ireland to benefit from the unlimited deposit protection recently introduced by the Irish government. According to price comparison website moneysupermarket.com, Irish banks accounted for 25 percent of all its savings-related traffic in the first three days of this week -- three times the normal level. A spokesman for the site said the number of inquiries was into the 'tens of thousands'.

I often ask "how much is something?", rarely do I buy.

The problem with the Irish escape is possibly the cost of exchange rate.

I think the likely hood of the major banks going broke is minimal for deposits. The shareholders have taken a pasting and they will take time to recover. I hold three banks for their yields whether they are as shares or cash, don't mind.

But the latest move of Mandy back to the fold is interesting.

Pholden, The Belgrano. Do your own homework and form your own opinion.

The Fauklands was an unnecessary war in my opinion. In my opinion, many lost their lives and others were maimed for Maggie's conceit. (A cynical political move.)

I noticed none of her family were in the front line!

The Falkland islanders who consider themselves british might strongly disagree with you Fred.

Wasn’t the Belgrano about 50 miles outside the 200 mile exclusion zone… and was it not direct instructions from Mrs Thatcher to sink it anyway… who‘s going to quibble over 50 miles?…the moral of the story even if you are short…you can still be sunk!
Her son Mark who couldn’t cut it as a Burger boy made his 60 million selling arms[stinger missiles] to whoever the highest bidder was Arab/Iraqis…with his Mums knowledge! Nice young lad…good job the daughter turned out ok…other than pissing on the grass will being filmed!…good stock!

Looks like the US economy will further deteriorate as they have passed the 700 billion taxpayer money to pay the banking fatcats. And the Dow Jones has realised now - it is in further negative territory.

Well, Fred, I don't need to do any 'homework' because I already know quite a lot about the conflict. Yes, the conflict (not a war) was unnecessary, if the Argentinians had not invaded British sovereign territory no Argentinians, Chinese, British or persons of any other nationality would have lost their lives.

I think before you start on your Conservative hobby horse you should take a look at the actions of your own political party in embroiling the UK in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Perhaps I have a selective memory but I don't recall the families of lost ones castigating the Thatcher administration for their losses in the Falklands conflict. Compare that with the anguish and anger expressed against the Labour party and in particular Tony Blair today. Whilst nominating yourself as the 'appointed' speaker for the maimed, you should have a chat with Simon Weston to see how he feels.

Unlike you Fred, Simon Weston moved on. The quote is from an article found at:

Welsh Heroes

"The circumstances surrounding the attack on the Sir Galahad that day at Fitzroy have been the subject of much controversy, but he has never been unduly interested in the apportioning of blame."

Former Home Secretary David Blunkett, who like Mr Mandelson had to quit the Government twice, described Mr Mandelson's appointment as a "masterstroke".

I am sure the conservatives agree with this statement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! must have gone for Friday drinkies very happy

PH. I don't have or belong to any political party, but do recognise rubbish when I see it. I also thought that the invasion of Iraq before it occurred would be stupid and criminal action.

I do have leanings to the Labour and Lib/Dem parties, as I think they are striving towards a more humitarian society, although many policies of both parties bewilder me and labour have made many mistakes.

I think the Iraq war was a completely unjustifiable and unnecessary war. I think Blair and Bush were criminal in their actions prior to, during and subsequent to the invasion of Iraq.
I think the foreign USA led Bush and his clique and followed as a poodle Blair
The American description of colatteral damage, as a price that others have to pay disgusts me.

I also think the repercussions of the American and to a certain degree British behaviour in Iraq and Afghanistan will be ongoing.

People have long memories and as one can see the economic pendulum is swinging away from America to the less organised and developed countries. They may demand their pound of flesh.

Long term conversions and friendships are made through their bellies not the barrel of a gun.

Bringing back Mandelson, as an advisor in the current economic climate, seems to me, to be an intelligent decision. His international and EU knowledge of economics will be advantageous for some of the negotiations which will be necessary if Europe is to avoid a severe economic depression.

Again, I thought some of the policies he advocated in the past, had little appeal, but at least he does think and form policies, which is more than can be said for the present pack of tories.

Fred I had to laugh out loud at your reaction to the Mandelson decision, we really will never agree on anything will we?

Whatever his abilities, he forfeited the right to use them twice over. I am staggered he's being invited back, perhaps it's the clearest indication yet that GB is running around in ever decreasing desperate circles to reverse the fortunes of his party. I think he's gonna disappear up his own arse in a frenzied panic before too long.

I see Cherie Blair thinks Tony will go down in history alongside W Churchill. Jeez.

Mandelson is great guy and one day will be the best Chancellor of the UK replacing old ideas Brown who is as palatable as a stale haggis.

Is Mandy going over to the Conservatives then?

Could well do I heard he swings both ways..lol..

No seriously Boris after this weeks events looks to be the true leader of the conservatives and the next PM..imo.

Go for it Boris, there is no opposition to you attaining that position.

Ph
The transgressions that Mandelson forfeited his previous post were minor and if hadn't been in a public position would not have been of consequence. I think he has paid for those mistakes and wonder if all your dealings have been white as snow.

M. is well thought of in Europe as a negotiator and understanding of the complex EU and international agreements, which will help getting through a catastrophic economic problem created by capitalism at its worse. A system which needs closer overseeing, which Cameron, his cronies and followers have objected to.


I think Blair and Cherie's morality is more in accord with Tory values and thought for many years he could have been a tory mole.

PS. I believe in capitalism as being the basis for a advancing society, but think that there is a need for restraining overseeing and powers to govern it for the overall public good and to protect the weaker from immoral unrestrained greed.

The immoral unrestrained greed in this instance has occurred during Brown's watch over the past 11 years.

Whose unrestrained immoral greed?

The run on the Northern Rock was caused by Brown and Darling. They dithered all over the weekend that the crisis occured. They made requests for people to be sensible and not to withdraw their money. The trouble is that they took days to say that the money was guaranteed. Had they said that at the start the deposits would still be there.

The lack of regulation in the banking sector has hit many of the building societies that became banks. Prior to becoming a bank, a building society had strict regualtion regarding the gearing allowed between investors deposits and reserves and mortgage loan accounts. There was almost no chance of a building society getting into trouble. Once they became banks the building societies borrowed short term overnight money to finance mortgage deals. As soon as the overnight interbank market dried up they were caught short.

There was much advice given at the time of the transformation into banks. One of the main worries was the shortage of senior staff with experience of running a bank. Northen Rock and B&B both ended up being run by chancers who were risking far too much. The business model they were pursuing was fatally flawed.

The government should have seen this situaton coming and reigned them in.

The main driving force in a bank is usually to ensure that they are still in business in 100 years time and most are pretty risk adverse.

I can't see where idea came from that Brown was a good chancellor. He certainly spent a lot of money, but he didn't seem to care where he go it from. Ken Clarke is my candidate for the best chancellor in living memory.

We were at war with Argentinia and if you get a chance to sink a battleship then take it.

And Brown is now bringing back the blind man to help him probably to cross the road!