Current Affairs

[Kendhni]

Truss did make a comment about the cabinet not being consulted about the removal of the highest rate of tax ... and that she was not aware of some of what was announced. I think the Tory party and its membership should be made to pay back the billions that Truss cost this country.

Presumably from their magic money tree?

I think they have shaken it to death over the last 6 years

[towny44]

Truss did make a comment about the cabinet not being consulted about the removal of the highest rate of tax ... and that she was not aware of some of what was announced. I think the Tory party and its membership should be made to pay back the billions that Truss cost this country.

Presumably from their magic money tree?

I think they have shaken it to death over the last 6 years

But the UK gross govt debt is still the 2nd lowest of the G7 countries.

[Kendhni]

Presumably from their magic money tree?

I think they have shaken it to death over the last 6 years

But the UK gross govt debt is still the 2nd lowest of the G7 countries.

You quoted the wrong stat, the gross government debt is 4th lowest in the G7, what you are thinking of is gross government debt as a percentage of GDP. I would be really scared if our debt was the same as the US.
I have less debt than my neighbour, does that make me better off than them?

[towny44]

I think they have shaken it to death over the last 6 years

But the UK gross govt debt is still the 2nd lowest of the G7 countries.

You quoted the wrong stat, the gross government debt is 4th lowest in the G7, what you are thinking of is gross government debt as a percentage of GDP. I would be really scared if our debt was the same as the US.
I have less debt than my neighbour, does that make me better off than them?

I was relying on Mr Google for the information, so I am, as usual, blameless.

[Kendhni]

https://uk.yahoo.com/news/sajid-javid-j ... 47089.html
I can see fault on both sides here. While there is no doubt the car should have stopped, If I had a young child out on a road like that I would have told him to slow down and pull in behind the van.

When I got my first motorbike I remember my father saying to me "It is not good you being in the right, if you are the one lying in the middle of the road in a poll of blood."

[Onelife]

The father is at fault allowing his five-year-old to ride a bike on a busy highway…the van or truck drivers could have pulled out at any time having not seen the child due to the child being out of the driver’s line of sight.

Verdict…Irresponsible father.

[david63]

The problem here is that in the latest version of the Highway Code cyclists have right of way in virtually all scenarios (not that I agree with it) so I wonder if this guy is trying to make a point.

On a similar vein https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-b ... e-63581987 nothing more than he deserved - although I would have banned him for life and his 200 hours should be spent as a cleaner in his local A&E!

[oldbluefox]

You can't help asking what was going through his tiny mind. Why would anyone hold up an emergency vehicle? It's beyond belief.

[Kendhni]

On a similar vein https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-b ... e-63581987 nothing more than he deserved - although I would have banned him for life and his 200 hours should be spent as a cleaner in his local A&E!

I saw that earlier this week and was disgusted ... I had hoped that karma would gave shone through and the ambulance was actually heading to save the lives of one his parents or one of his children. On the other hand, I am pretty sure that someone like him lacks a father and nobody would want his ilk to breed.

[Onelife]

With calm seas today we should exceed yesterday’s figure of 900 illegal immigrant crossings

[towny44]

Tonight's news seems to indicate that Jeremy's main tax increase weapon will be to freeze allowances, strangely I don't mind that process.
I know I will end up paying more, but when I was working I always viewed any increase in allowances as a windfall which helped towards our summer holiday spending money. In the days before computers, and even afterwards, the inland revenue rarely managed to implement the new allowances until June or even July, so we all had a tax rebate in our June or July salary of up to 3 months overpayment.
If that is all he hits the average taxpayer with then I will be greatly relieved.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I agree John. And won't hurt the lower paid as much.

[david63]

One of the "predictions" is that VAT will rise - the point being made that "everyone" will be affected and that is the only tax that everybody pays, unless he brings in a new tax!

Not sure why anyone is surprised by any of this as we (or at least some of us) realised that at some point Covid, amongst other things, would have to be paid for.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Yes I agree. And it's odd that some are saying it's the wrong approach, despite seeing very recently the results of the opposite plan.

[towny44]

I watched Rachel Reeves on Kuensburgs show yesterday, beating the drum that labour would apply tax fairer. One of her hobby horses is Non Doms, she would tax them here and raise an extra £2bn a year. If she did impose tax on them I would imagine the majority would up sticks to somewhere else, so no extra £2bn, plus the lost revenue from local taxes, lost jobs in their households, reduced income for many restaurants etc, etc.
Her ideas to increase taxes on the most highly paid would probably lead to a similar brain drain at the top of the earnings pile, resulting in further lost revenues and a dearth of candidates for the top jobs in industry.
The economic policy of envy never works.

[oldbluefox]

I watched Rachel Reeves on Kuensburgs show yesterday, beating the drum that labour would apply tax fairer. One of her hobby horses is Non Doms, she would tax them here and raise an extra £2bn a year. If she did impose tax on them I would imagine the majority would up sticks to somewhere else, so no extra £2bn, plus the lost revenue from local taxes, lost jobs in their households, reduced income for many restaurants etc, etc.
Her ideas to increase taxes on the most highly paid would probably lead to a similar brain drain at the top of the earnings pile, resulting in further lost revenues and a dearth of candidates for the top jobs in industry.
The economic policy of envy never works.

This is the conundrum. It's ironic that the less you tax the wealthy the more income you get from taxation. As you say, increase their taxes and they will up sticks and leave or alternatively employ their accountants to find loopholes around them.

[david63]

she would tax them here and raise an extra £2bn a year.

I know every little helps but that is just a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed - and probably cost almost as much as that trying to collect it.

[Kendhni]

she would tax them here and raise an extra £2bn a year.

I know every little helps but that is just a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed - and probably cost almost as much as that trying to collect it.

Indeed that wouldn't even cover 4 days of a Liz Truss government

[screwy]

We could offload NI to the republic,that would save a few quid.

[Mervyn and Trish]

And solve the border issue too. Have you considered going into politics? You clearly have a knack.

[screwy]

I’ve been listening to Matt in the Jungle.

[Ray B]

What is it with this guy in the jungle. I would not lose a second of my life watching 3rd rate TV programs like that.

[oldbluefox]

Possibly the nastiest most vindictive programme on the television. I don't see the attraction, some of the trials border on the perverse. Not for me.

No sympathy for Matt Hancock either. He must have known he'd be on a hiding to nothing.

[Stephen]

Sick program.

[Kendhni]

I watched it once, several years back (Peter Andre and Katie Price were in it), to find out what it was about, and never again.
Cheap low brow TV in the same vein as most things Ant & Dec are involved in, x-factor, BGT, masked singer/dancer and (I am sure some will disagree) Strictly Come Dancing.