Without wanting to make a party political broadcast (bit late for that) it is quite clear that Gordon is in fact a moron. Having made the Bank of England in charge of interest rates in his first day of power (good move), I fail to see a single good thing he has done since.

He has managed to tie business up in red tape, increase the tax burden with 66 different stealth taxes, and increase spending massively creating a considerable black hole, which means that taxes will have to rise further. The only jobs he has created are in the public sector (the least productive and most expensive to fund) and money has been poured into the NHS with no discernable benefits.

Even his sideline issues have been hopeless. He sold the Bank of England Gold reserves almost as they touched their low point (gold prices have subsequently soared)and has completely decimated pensions with his 5 billion yearly tax take.

So the question is, what can Gordon fcuk up next? I know, lets give him the top job so he can completely knacker the country.

After all, we probably deserve him!!

rgrds
gk

at last, humour!!!
we will agree to disagree on the way round of the uneconomic industries. Just to add substance to my point though, we watched as multi-million pound machines were sunk into pits already deemed unworkable, and the costs placed on the balance sheet of the rest of the mines in that field, making several mines unprofitable at a stroke.
On assemblies, it depends if you are a lumper or a splitter. If the argument is followed through to its logical conclusion, each ward would have its own mini parliament and I am not convinced that would either reduce waste or lead to better government. Do we really want regional assemblies for all areas? I am sure the Cornish do but in the North east and Yorkshire, referenda produced a resounding NO.
Can't throw a bone to the whippets, They've all hijacked my pigeons for hang gliding practice.
Got to go. Trouble at mill.
Alan

What mill?? Did we miss one
Loadsa

Alan,

Respect. The tranny comment had me in fits.

:o)

Anyway, I'm not going to alter your political persuasions just the same as you're not going to alter mine. I do happen to think that some of Brown's decisions will return to haunt him during this current term but, obviously, only time will tell. Also some of the issues are cyclical and would present a problem to whoever was in power.

In essense, the only issue that I do feel really strongly about is that of greater harmony with the EU and joining a single currency. Hopefully the French will themselves vote Non on the Constitution and the Labour blushes will then be spared. In that respect, I am quite concerned that Kenneth Clarke might sneak back in to control the Tories. That would be seriously bad news.

Not Minx for once, but the other half who occasionally looks in on htis bulletin board. From one who was born in London, married in Newcastle, lived as far apart as houston and singapore and presently live in Yorkshire I am often amused at the North / South perspective. The southerners are generally misguided and one only has to read the evening standard to see the narrow perception of the North (especially from that moron who looks like a black haired sheepdog whose name escapes me). I moved to Newcastle firstly in 1984, expecting whippets and brown ale and was quickly shut up when I saw more ferraris, porsches and disposable income than I had ever seen before. Different attitudes I suppose, fur coat and no knickers - or live life and enjoy - make your own mind up as to which area each relates.

Anyway - at least some of us poor Northerners still own chunks of Yorkshire -see you in the tent at Ascot in June - it's in York this year.

I agree wholeheartedly regarding the single currency, but a bigger nightmare may yet await. If the Euro does attain/maintain a powerful presence in world trade terms, and the dollar continues to rule as far asoil and the like are concerned, may we be on the brink of another trading bloc single currency to compete? may the pacific nations of asia and australasia find there currency too soft to compete and create an asian-dollar?
I know it may be some distance off but I would hate to be the chancellor left to choose between swimming alone with sterling becoming less and less of a player in the world, or joining a single currency trading bloc.
That really would be bad news. As our "frank exchange of views" has ably demonstrated, economic policy cannot be geographically right for a tiny island like this, for the whole of Europe it would be (and is) impossible.
Regards
Alan

Alan,

I think the "swimming alone" argument is all part of the spin that Boney Liar would have us believe.

All the time that the ECB is managed by a bunch of nambypambies who need permission to sit on the loo, the Euro will not attain a powerful presence in world trade terms. Too many countries, too many economies and too many needs ...... one size will never fit all and that is what has rendered the ECB as a totally ineffective body.

We will always be better equiped to compete against the US by maintaining our current status, be it the BoE or the Chancellor who is controlling interest rates. The Cable carry trade is nowhere near as attractive as it was this time last year and if the Fed hike rates once more and we cut our rates plus if oil holds around the $50 level through the driving season, you could easily see Cable back to $1.60 by year end. It is obviously far too early yet to call.

But hasn't the whole import/export argument been around for donkey's years anyway? A win-win scenario is totally impossible and one side will always be bleating.

I am certain the fed will up rates and ours will drop but I think oil has a little way to fall yet.
With very few exceptions the win-win scenario being impossible is impossible in any economic argument, there is no free lunch and that kind of gets to the heart of how this (and many other threads discussing economic policy) start.
I was merely postulating that no matter how ineffective the ECB is at present, economies of scale will kick in and the winner will not necessarily be the fittest, but the biggest bully on the block. We have watched America bully smaller nations using the might of the dollar (or guns if that doesn't work!!) and my theory goes that if the asian countries start to get a good economic kicking from TWO bullies, they might decide on a safety in numbers reply and all get behind a new pacific currency, or adopt the yen as a trading standard. My point then is, more bullies and less countries to be bullied. Do we go against our natural desires and join a gang of big boys, or do we try and hide away from them? There are no teachers to go and tell in this playground, and sterling sure as hell won't be big enough to fight back!!
Alan

Glad to see the stone throwing has stopped and humour is restored!! and no one mentioned ferrets-lol!
It's very interesting to follow the North / South debate and understand where some views begin--I still favour Hilary's points but I now understand that if you live through turmoil and change the bitterness can run deep for years.
I live in the far South West and we are forgotten completely unless someone wants a seaside break--the world ends at Bristol for most politicians!

I think everyone on social should be made to work for the tax payer free of charge whether it be litter picking, cleaning hospitals or running youth clubs or day care centres and if they dont tur up then their benefit should be reduced. why shouldn't they work when there is lots they could be doing an dare being payed to do nothing.

Then we can save a lot of money on our tax bills !