Current Affairs

[oldbluefox]

I can't say I would miss him. As a Minister he always came across as weak and indecisive. He hardly inspired confidence.

[Mervyn and Trish]

He should go but I do wish the opposition would start discussing policy.

[Kendhni]

The one thing that I have noticed with that program is that without exception they all have "baggage" in their lives.

Is that not the way television is these days, whether it is x-factor, The Repair Shop, Quiz shows or whatever, it is about who has the biggest sob story or carries the most baggage.

[screwy]

He should go but I do wish the opposition would start discussing policy.

I guess they would if they had some.

[david63]

So Ed Davy's latest bright idea is that the Government should give £300 a month to those whose mortgage's have gone up - why? It never happened in my day - can I claim it retrospectively?

[david63]

A contentious point.

It is claimed that some nurses in NHS England are going to be going on strike for more pay. They are asking for 5% over the current rate of inflation which would be around 17%. I suspect that not many would disagree with this in principle - but the question is "Where does this money come from?" Unlike the train drivers whose pay increase would be paid for by the train users the nurses pay rise has to come out of taxation, under the current funding model.

Just done some calculations.

The staffing costs (all staff I know) is currently £56bn a year - 17% is £9.5bn.

There are 56million potential users of the NHS in England (population of England) so that would equate to every man, woman and child paying £3 a week to fund this wage claim.

Personally I would not object to paying £3 a week just as long as it was going directly to the HNS - but how many others would be willing to pay, and more to the point how many would refuse on any number of grounds to pay their share?

[Onelife]

The one thing that I have noticed with that program is that without exception they all have "baggage" in their lives.

Is that not the way television is these days, whether it is x-factor, The Repair Shop, Quiz shows or whatever, it is about who has the biggest sob story or carries the most baggage.

I’m surprised you included “The repair shop” Ken, ... you should book yourself on one of my “how to spot a Drama Queen course” It teaches you how to understand... what truly comes from your heart cannot be faked.

[Mervyn and Trish]

So Ed Davy's latest bright idea is that the Government should give £300 a month to those whose mortgage's have gone up - why? It never happened in my day - can I claim it retrospectively?

He is incredibly stupid. Mortgage rates have been artificially low for years at the expense of savers. How about £300 a month for those of us who saved for retirement to see our investment income crash on the altar of low rates. I reckon I've been around £5k a year worse off for more than 12 years now.

[Onelife]

I thought Ed Davy’s interview was a car crash this morning…he needs to be replaced if his party wants to make any impact at the next GE.

I actually don’t understand the Lib-dem election strategy... if I was advising them, my focus would be on trying to highlight Labours flaws instead of concentrating on what the conservative party have got wrong…it’s going to be a long way back to where they were when on the fringe of becoming the opposition party….alas, Clegg jumping into bed with Cameron put pay to that, and if Ed thinks jumping into bed with Keir will end any better he is mistaken.

[Kendhni]

The one thing that I have noticed with that program is that without exception they all have "baggage" in their lives.

Is that not the way television is these days, whether it is x-factor, The Repair Shop, Quiz shows or whatever, it is about who has the biggest sob story or carries the most baggage.

I’m surprised you included “The repair shop” Ken, ... you should book yourself on one of my “how to spot a Drama Queen course” It teaches you how to understand... what truly comes from your heart cannot be faked.

Don't get me wrong, I like the show, but I watch it to see the skills of the craftspeople at work ... not to listen to how somebody's great aunt's third gerbil once heard of someone who may have used the item before they accidentally knocked the item off a box as they cleared out some dark recess of their attic ... that is why I always record it so that I can zoom through the boring waffly bits.

[Kendhni]

Personally I would not object to paying £3 a week just as long as it was going directly to the HNS - but how many others would be willing to pay, and more to the point how many would refuse on any number of grounds to pay their share?

The Hazardous and Noxious Substances convention will be proud for you to champion their funding.

I would have no problem with the NHS getting a 17% rise if it is reciprocated on a couple of fronts
1. at least one third is funded through savings and removal of waste within the system
2. the DB pension scheme is closed to all and converted into a DC scheme (based on industry average contributions)

[Onelife]

Is that not the way television is these days, whether it is x-factor, The Repair Shop, Quiz shows or whatever, it is about who has the biggest sob story or carries the most baggage.

I’m surprised you included “The repair shop” Ken, ... you should book yourself on one of my “how to spot a Drama Queen course” It teaches you how to understand... what truly comes from your heart cannot be faked.

Don't get me wrong, I like the show, but I watch it to see the skills of the craftspeople at work ... not to listen to how somebody's great aunt's third gerbil once heard of someone who may have used the item before they accidentally knocked the item off a box as they cleared out some dark recess of their attic ... that is why I always record it so that I can zoom through the boring waffly bits.

That’s the difference between me and you…I love a good cry, anyone got a tissue

[towny44]

Personally I would not object to paying £3 a week just as long as it was going directly to the HNS - but how many others would be willing to pay, and more to the point how many would refuse on any number of grounds to pay their share?

The Hazardous and Noxious Substances convention will be proud for you to champion their funding.

I would have no problem with the NHS getting a 17% rise if it is reciprocated on a couple of fronts
1. at least one third is funded through savings and removal of waste within the system
2. the DB pension scheme is closed to all and converted into a DC scheme (based on industry average contributions)

Well you're not trying to be very popular with the nurses then Ken?

[Gill W]

So Ed Davy's latest bright idea is that the Government should give £300 a month to those whose mortgage's have gone up - why? It never happened in my day - can I claim it retrospectively?

To an extent, it did used to happen.

Mortgage holders used to get tax relief on their mortgage payments, paid via their tax code. This changed in 1983, when MIRAS came in (Mortgage interest relief at source) when the tax relief was paid via a reduction in the mortgage payment. MIRAS ended in 2000, so most people have forgotten about it.

[Kendhni]

I would have no problem with the NHS getting a 17% rise if it is reciprocated on a couple of fronts
1. at least one third is funded through savings and removal of waste within the system
2. the DB pension scheme is closed to all and converted into a DC scheme (based on industry average contributions)

Well you're not trying to be very popular with the nurses then Ken?

It has nothing to do with popularity ... it is about affordability, removing archaic systems and getting value for tax payers money.
If there is no reciprocation, on any deal, then it opens the flood gates to rest of the public sector ... then that may well lead to more strikes throughout the private sector (which I would fully support), and todays inflation rate will start to look like a mere blip on the chart.

Given my suggestion provides what they have asked for, maybe you have a better idea?

[david63]

To an extent, it did used to happen.

Mortgage holders used to get tax relief on their mortgage payments, paid via their tax code.

Not to the tune of the equivalent of £300 per month they didn't - or at least I didn't!

[towny44]

I would have no problem with the NHS getting a 17% rise if it is reciprocated on a couple of fronts
1. at least one third is funded through savings and removal of waste within the system
2. the DB pension scheme is closed to all and converted into a DC scheme (based on industry average contributions)

Well you're not trying to be very popular with the nurses then Ken?

It has nothing to do with popularity ... it is about affordability, removing archaic systems and getting value for tax payers money.
If there is no reciprocation, on any deal, then it opens the flood gates to rest of the public sector ... then that may well lead to more strikes throughout the private sector (which I would fully support), and todays inflation rate will start to look like a mere blip on the chart.

Given my suggestion provides what they have asked for, maybe you have a better idea?

No, you're preaching to the converted when it comes to public sector pay, it has to have reciprocal advantages to the employer, otherwise I agree with everything you say.
I would also expect train drivers to concede a lot of the cost savings the train companies want, if they are to succeed with their pay demands.

[screwy]

It amazes me that Nurses are allowed to strike when Police and Prison Officers are Banned by Law. !

[Ray B]

To an extent, it did used to happen.

Mortgage holders used to get tax relief on their mortgage payments, paid via their tax code.

Not to the tune of the equivalent of £300 per month they didn't - or at least I didn't!

Could not have been much of a relief as it didn't make a lasting impression on me. Somehow when rates reached 17.5%/18% we were fortunate enough to keep up payments and keep the top payments going as mortgages began to fall. Not on big wages then but made up with overtime, one bad winters weekend working 72 hours straight off..
We just bit the bullet and got on with it. I'm sure in them days the focus was on the savers more than mortgage payers, we didn't like the high rates but it did mean that those who struggled had the opportunity the spread payments over longer years as the average was 20/25 when taken out the loan. That was after the bank manager had scrutinized that you could afford the mortgage and not overstretched yourself. Today, overstretching may be the problem.
Don't expect me to shed a tear for today's mortgage payers who set up house with everything new from the start.

[Ray B]

screwy, I thought the police and prison officers were on a tidy sum unlike the nurses who seem to be paid below the inflation rates. As an ex screw you must be in a good position to enlighten me.

[CaroleF]

I remember when interest rates were about 13% and I wasn't sure I could manage the monthly payments on the new Wimpey house I bought in about 1976. I did manage it thank goodness. I remember I had a bank account, can't remember its name, whereby I totalled up my monthly payments, mortgage, utilities etc. and then was able to pay a twelfth each month so some months I was in arrears but the bank covered it and it evened up at the end of the year - I remember, a budget account. It saved me. When I married John and I had a three piece suite from my aunt, a bed from my parents etc. The only thing I remember that was new was a cooker that I managed to buy from my school as the cookery department was installing new cookers so I got it at a discount as it was second hand. Things have changed, times have changed.

I was a nurse in the 60s. People said then that the nurses should strike for better wages. Neither I nor any of my friends would have dreamed of striking. When I became a teacher I joined a union really as insurance but took care to join one that didn't believe in striking - and there was one.

Carole

[screwy]

screwy, I thought the police and prison officers were on a tidy sum unlike the nurses who seem to be paid below the inflation rates. As an ex screw you must be in a good position to enlighten me.

Hi Ray.
Unfortunately Prison Officers average pay ( outside London) is approximately £26k.This is for new starters,under new terms and conditions and I understand this is after 4 yrs service.I believe starting pay is around £21k. These are the latest figures from the POA.

A Police Officer after 4 yrs is around £37k. again according to the POA.

When I retired after 26 yrs service ( 2016 ) I was on £29k as a basic grade. Last year the pay review body recommended a£3k uplift, they got £350.

Who would want to do the job.?

Staff retention is at an all time low,hardly surprising.

[Kendhni]

When looking at any salary you also have to take into account the full benefits package.

[Kendhni]

Well you're not trying to be very popular with the nurses then Ken?

It has nothing to do with popularity ... it is about affordability, removing archaic systems and getting value for tax payers money.
If there is no reciprocation, on any deal, then it opens the flood gates to rest of the public sector ... then that may well lead to more strikes throughout the private sector (which I would fully support), and todays inflation rate will start to look like a mere blip on the chart.

Given my suggestion provides what they have asked for, maybe you have a better idea?

No, you're preaching to the converted when it comes to public sector pay, it has to have reciprocal advantages to the employer, otherwise I agree with everything you say.
I would also expect train drivers to concede a lot of the cost savings the train companies want, if they are to succeed with their pay demands.

Similar with the Post Office, if they are to survive then pay rises may need to be funded through cost savings and productivity gains.

[Kendhni]

To an extent, it did used to happen.

Mortgage holders used to get tax relief on their mortgage payments, paid via their tax code. This changed in 1983, when MIRAS came in (Mortgage interest relief at source) when the tax relief was paid via a reduction in the mortgage payment. MIRAS ended in 2000, so most people have forgotten about it.

Was MIRAS really worth much? I remember it but not in a way that it made a huge difference.