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.

em surely came out loud and clear and said uthat nless there is a marked shift of further powers to brussels, there will be NO referendum - i.e. labour will NOT give a referendum

for myself, i want to be able to make a considered choice (aka referendum), and confess to currently being a distinct waverer on the issue

i'ld now be rather pleased if this thread reverted to being far more widespread in its discussions instead of the monopoly of tiresome and incessant soapbox politics

Tories biggest threat is not UKIP but an interest rate rise later this year. And one in the spring.

Its nearer than you think.

In fact its the biggest turn off for anyone wanting to take power from the next election imo.

Oh come on, this don't want power cos it's all going to blow up thing is tripe.

Any of the politicians would sell their souls for a chance to be maximum leader.

interest rate rise this year? ...... i would have thought the odds are against it, and even if there is one, another will not follow before the election

Well have you thought what this recovery is built upon.........cheap money and a consumer recovery. A recovery built on sand. (just what got us in the mess in the first place)


Just look at exports, infarastructure spending and construction spending, way down on 2010.

Just a few quid per month will hurt these youngsters who have taken on thease cheap mortgage deals.

I wouldnt underestimate the consequences of rate rises on them and the economy.

Dont forget if we go from a .5% increase to 1% in a year thats a 100% increase in interest they will have to pay back. Think they can afford it or anywhere near like that??.

Cynic did your read Carneys last minutes???????????????????????????? i suggest you do.

God there really is some complete and utter idiots over on ADVFN only go over occasionally to have a look ..I often wonder why they don't invade these boards ?

The interest rate isn't going up anytime soon, regardless of what Carney thinks.


The banks are making huge profits from lending, 50% pa plus. Why ruin a good thing?

any chance we can now move on to other than uk political punch and judy?

Your right cynic shall we have a row instead ?

After the Budget, Labour are now beginning to be seen as really 'up against it' and there's going to be even worse to come too, IMHO.

Let's suppose Labour get to the point where they reject Ed Miliband and Ed Balls too. Who might the replacements be?

My popular replacement for Leader would be Tessa Jowell.

Would they dare to bring back Alistair Darling for Chancellor? I can't really think of anybody else.

I don't really think anything will happen until after the election is lost in 2015. Hmmm?

well at least that would be more fun jimmy :-)
duel with white handbags perhaps or would that be considered racist or picking on essex at best?

I'll slap you with a fish.

as long as it's a fresh cod piece, that will do nicely

The lesser spotted millibandus has problems of his own...



March 25th, 2014


Red on Ed: Mili Faces Labour Revolt





If Ed Miliband keeps his word on his promise to fire anyone who briefs against the party then a full scale shadow cabinet reshuffle is in store today.

Traitors to the revolution Jon Cruddas and Stella Creasy must be first in line for telling the New Statesman:

“The old model of politics where progress depended upon centralising the capacity to act – whether in the market or by top down state intervention – no longer works.”

The Telegraph meanwhile has received a hostile anonymous negative briefing from within the party stirring up talk of revolt:

“Several Labour MPs are this week planning to defy Mr Miliband’s orders by voting against the Coalition’s plans for a cap on welfare spending. Other party figures have demanded Mr Miliband do more to distance Labour from the public sector and appeal more to private sector workers.“


more: http://order-order.com/2014/03/25/red-on-ed-mili-faces-labour-revolt/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+guidofawkes+%28Guy+Fawkes%27+blog+of+parliamentary+plots%2C+rumours+and+conspiracy%29

I was thinking of a big dead carp.

GF.

I agree.
==============

I have had ISAs since the 90s and tuck the allowance into it regularly over those years for wife and some family. Prior to that on accountant’s advice tuck some money into a SIPP, but often questioned the validity of doing so.

Certainly, I am averse to providing a pension pot for oneself, in some form or other.

Very good for me, and it saves much of the complications with Tax declarations etc..
I understand the politics and economics around them.

However, I would like to know what % of the population have ISAs?

Also, how many of the population has £15,000 a year to transfer into ISAs or £30,000 if they are filling their partner's pot as well.

Especially, when the average salary of full time workers is approximately £27,000, before living costs are taken out.

They can't afford to put a deposit down on a house!


Unless Mummy or Daddy gift the sum to them to avoid "death duties".


Ask many members of the general public, what an ISA is and they haven’t a clue, that is one of the disconnects, with the Etonian Club and some members on this thread who are interested in “personal” finance and wealth, or to a certain degree interest in economics.

The same applies to Pensions and Annuities, especially with the rising life expectancy.

Not against, changes entirely and certainly I think they are of benefit to me, but question that the “investments” in them has been and is being used for “tax avoidance”.

Again, I see the advantages for the possible general “national economic gains” of the “investments”, but see the conflict between those who are advantaging themselves due to their incomes, salaries, or family hand downs and those who worked honestly all their lives in low paid jobs.

But, I think when the whooping and glee of the over this “budget” settles down and the price of the bribe is seen, the divide between the haves and the have-nots will be more obvious and less appealing than many think!

There is obviously attempt at character assassination of Ed Miliband by much of the tory media and the tory camp followers.

This has been the increasingly used practice of the torrid party of recent years, especially since the increase in stunted members of the old schools.

However, I have a guess that Miliband is in no hurry and plotting his course up to the next election carefully and watching the torrid party implode, or eviscerate itself.
----

It is strange to me, the polls' given "acceptance levels" of Cameron are said by the tories to be reasonable, even though, when he appears on TV in the pubs, or other venues, there are groans and many referring to him as a "slime ball", or similar.

Even the cartoon figure of Fauxpage seems more acceptable, even if a comical representation of Great Dictator.

----
Perhaps, the polls should be questioned more carefully.

There is a new Populus online poll out today which also shows Labour’s lead over the Conservatives down to just 1%:

Conservative 34% (no change)
Labour 35% (down 3%)
Lib Dem 10% (up 1%)
UKIP 13% (up 1%)

Update - Labour lead at 2
by YouGov in Politics
Tue March 25, 2014 6 a.m. GMT

Latest YouGov / The Sun results 24th March - Con 36%, Lab 38%, LD 10%, UKIP 10%;