Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

Manuel,

Without Blair it would possibly be a more peaceful world.

I didn't like him before he was elected PM and liked him less after he was elected.

He had for me the same PR response as Cameron and represented somebody more interested in his own career than what was good for the long term benefit of the UK.

I doubt either have any core morality of value.

=======

I think the tax system needs massive examination, simplifications and reforms.

But also think the our system of government needs reforms with a move to proportional representation and removal of the house of lords and replacement by an elected second chamber, with co-option of "specialist" advisers from Industry, business, legal "trade" Universities erc.

=========

Read Alan Johnson "This Boy" and you may understand the reasons of what the slightly left of centre have strived for since WW2.

All governments make mistakes. But the last labour government in many ways was constructive of social cohesion, while the tories have been destructive for the last five years.

They didn't have to be!

I think the tax system needs massive examination, simplifications and reforms
i thoroughly agree, though these things are never anywhere near as simple as kneejerk suggests

i also concur with the view that some CEO salaries are obscene especially when related to a multiple of their lowest paid employee
their greed at the annual trough is also well documented, and of course it's a complete charade that "it's only as suggested by the remunerations committee and then approved by the shareholders"

cynic good post apart from the last bit private share holders have very little clout the
big share holders buy and sell with inside info so never lose money .the city says it is illegal to give info in a closed room but it does the bog companies always inform the big investors behind closed doors and the fca do nothing they close their ears

exactly my point MrT
it's a total illusion that PIs have any real clout in these matters
the institutional holders, with few exceptions, will always look after their own

btw, i don't really subscribe to your view about insider trading et al, but it is certainly virtually impossible to beat the computer traders, as hilary will confirm

fred - have bought :-)

Greece to be bailed ot and Germany and the uk to pay the cost . uk will have to put around 1.7b more in the pot

"I think the tax system needs massive examination, simplifications and reforms
i thoroughly agree, though these things are never anywhere near as simple as kneejerk suggests"

Agreed. It is not simple but if we are going into a period of coalition government and hopefully over the next 10-15 year proportional representation it may be possible to re-examined the TAX SYSTEM and make it simpler and representative of the needs of a developing society.

Salaries and incomes and differentials etc. I am not against and although I see salaries have become a form of status symbol.

The purses having become so big they can't be carried any longer.

I think multi-layered tax system utilising "take home" pay and income may take care of some of the obvious abuses.

Tax dodging has to clamp down on.

But it is equality of opportunity for the younger members of society which has to be improved.
===

PS,

We are being dragged into a period of "Democracy", which mimics the presidential system of the USA and being based more and more on slush funds and journalistic smearing. Cameron, Osborne, Shapps and the tory right winger are in their element.

true or supposition?
markets have not taken any notice

FFS fred!!!!
why do you have to make everything a party political platform????

in theory and for example, it should be very simple to clamp down very effectively on hidden/black (undeclared) o'seas bank accounts, and there is already european legislation in place for this (you should know; you watched panorama), but the swiss and probably the luxemburgers too, only pay it lip service

I thought the bit about the ex HSBC boss becoming a Lord and his new post , was particularly hard to take.

absolutely!
"nuffink to do wiv me; i was just the postboy"

Because politicians are the master of your fate!

Change in the tax system is generated out of what is considered politically sufficiently "acceptable" for one group to remain in "power" and "rule" and satisfy its supporters.

To introduce "change" you need the support of vociferous groups who present "policies" which appeals "in general" to the voters.

==========

Did Cameron say "Welcome to a Britain open for Business", or "Welcome to a Britain where you can dodge your taxes" and we will give you a nod and a wink especially for a small donation into the party funds or a job on the board!

oh yawn fred!

to repeat .......
there is already european legislation in place for this (you should know; you watched panorama), but the swiss and probably the luxemburgers too, only pay it lip service

But the tories want to lead us out of Europe.

Why?

Tories out in force for London fundraising ball

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/678bc932-b084-11e4-9b8e-00144feab7de.html#axzz3RLJnV9sI






. London, UK. NICKY MORGAN and MICHAEL GOVE arriving at the Grosvenor House in central London for the annual Conservative Party Black & White Ball, a Conservative Party fundraiser. Photo credit: Ben Cawthra/LNP©Ben Cawthra/LNP
Nicky Morgan (L) and Michael Gove (R) arrive at the ball

The Conservative party on Monday night auctioned off a shoe shopping trip with Theresa May, home secretary, and dinner at the Carlton Club with Sajid Javid, the culture secretary, at its final big fundraiser gala ahead of the general election.

More than a thousand City figures, business chiefs and entrepreneurs gathered at the Grosvenor House Hotel in central London for the lavish Black & White Ball, where party chiefs hoped to raise up to £3m for their election war chest.

The auction drew in hundreds of thousands of pounds for party coffers, with a night’s hire of private Mayfair club Annabel’s fetching £110,000. Other lots on offer included a trip on a private jet to Santorini, the use of a luxury 12-bed chalet in Verbier, a jogging session with Nicky Morgan, education secretary, and a “hearty weeknight roast chicken dinner” at chief whip Michael Gove’s home.


==-=-====-===

I have always wanted to see Gove sitting on the pavement with cap in hand!

Napoleon.

Put up with the first 20-30 pages, the book then becomes very engaging. (Well it was for me, and reflects the 50s and 60s for many.)

I was born lucky and my guess so were you.

Napoleon.

Put up with the first 20-30 pages, the book then becomes very engaging. (Well it was for me, and reflects the 50s and 60s for many.)

I was born lucky and my guess so were you.

, ,
o
~~

Who would want to go on a jogging session with Nicky Morgan?

I see Sky have won the rights to The Open from I think 2017 . Peter Alliss not happy , shocking decision I think personally. The R & A say it's not the money. Yeh I bet.