Current Affairs

[Kendhni]

In reality there is no realistic planet within our reach that could sustain life as we know it, so we best take better care of this planet. Space exploration is about understanding the how’s and why’s and not, as some believe where we will live next.

Maybe not within our current understanding but science fiction has a habit of becoming science fact.

I do however accept that the scientific approach to space exploration does have some bennift to mankind.

There have been a lot of scientific advancements have come out of the space programs around the world.
I am always concerned though at a similar comparison ... a lot of major scientific advances have come out of war.

[barney]

Goonhilly Station is crucial on tracking Artemis rocket.
It’s a big story down here and top story on the local news.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Saw it on BBC national news at 6 tonight.

[Kendhni]

Huge day for the economy as we find out what Sunak/Hunt are going to announce.
If he limits any rises for the bone idle and economically inactive to no more than wage rises, then that would be a win.
Use of (so called) stealth taxes would be a win.
Anything that makes the public sector efficient would be a win.
Windfall taxes would be a win.
Making tory party members pay extra for the huge damage done by their party would be a win (although most unlikely).
Increases in Vat, capital gains and IHT would be win.
Increased taxation on tobacco alcohol and vapers wold be a win.

[Ray B]

Taxing high earners more who call for increased tax on Alcohol.

[oldbluefox]

Closing some of the tax loopholes exploited by creative accountants.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Limiting benefit rises for idlers is of course impossible without also hitting those in genuine need and poverty. More important would be a long term plan to break the culture where anyone chooses benefits as a lifestyle and that's a challenge and a half too.

[Manoverboard]

Wonder if he'll axe our £10 XMas Bonus, do hope not

[Mervyn and Trish]

Should be means tested....

[screwy]

Rise in fuel duty would be catastrophic.!

[screwy]

How about a raid on Union funds, that would put the cat among the pigeons.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Well it worked for me. Can't be bothered to watch Sir Hindsight nit pick it because I have no doubt his response will have been written to use irrespective of what the statement actually said.

[screwy]

Don’t and won’t have an electric car,not arsed about that.

[screwy]

Rachel Reeves epitomises the opposition front bench, boring,turned bargain hunt on.

[barney]

I know that this might sound a bit flippant, but whichever government is in power, it really makes no difference to our lives whatsoever.

I really affects the two ends of the spectrum.

Labour is most certainly better for the poorer and Tories are definitely better for the rich.

Us millions in between ?

Makes no difference, I reckon.

[Ray B]

At least we get a bit on the pension, leading to a bit more to pay back on the tax.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I know that this might sound a bit flippant, but whichever government is in power, it really makes no difference to our lives whatsoever.

I really affects the two ends of the spectrum.

Labour is most certainly better for the poorer and Tories are definitely better for the rich.

Us millions in between ?

Makes no difference, I reckon.

And of course the middle is where most of the voters are and where elections are won and lost.

[towny44]

I imagine that Ken will be very unhappy with the budget, especially the inflation linked pension and benefits increases, there were some minor changes to capital gains and an increase in windfall tax on energy companies and I imagine leaving tax allowances unchanged meets his stealth tax rises, but nothing on VAT, tobacco, IHT or alcohol.
But maybe he will be happy that I will be giving 40% of my pension increase back to Jeremy.

[Onelife]

All in all, there were no shocks or surprises for me, besides, it wasn’t as if we weren’t warned we would all be worse off. I suppose the council tax rise was inevitably but living in the beautiful Shropshire countryside we tend to come bottom of the pile when it comes to seeing any return for our money, no local transport, loads of potholes, blocked drainage ditches, it’s a hard life living in the beautiful Shropshire countryside

[Stephen]

All in all, there were no shocks or surprises for me, besides, it wasn’t as if we weren’t warned we would all be worse off. I suppose the council tax rise was inevitably but living in the beautiful Shropshire countryside we tend to come bottom of the pile when it comes to seeing any return for our money, no local transport, loads of potholes, blocked drainage ditches, it’s a hard life living in the beautiful Shropshire countryside

Caused no doubt by people dumping your choccies.

[Kendhni]

All in all, there were no shocks or surprises for me, besides, it wasn’t as if we weren’t warned we would all be worse off. I suppose the council tax rise was inevitably but living in the beautiful Shropshire countryside we tend to come bottom of the pile when it comes to seeing any return for our money, no local transport, loads of potholes, blocked drainage ditches, it’s a hard life living in the beautiful Shropshire countryside

I am somewhat underwhelmed by it ... nearly everything was as expected and there were no 'bombshells'.
The major disappointment for me is that he has sent a clear message that lazy, feckless and bone idle will be well rewarded in this country ... I would have preferred a message that clearly showed that those who actually contribute to society will reap the rewards.

In a way he has been quite shrewd in that some things announced will only take effect, or carry on, after the end of the current parliamentary term ... possibly tying the hands of the next chancellor (a bit of a buck pass).

[Manoverboard]

At the start of Covid I predicted an immediate 1% rise in Income Tax once the worst was over, Towny (I think) said rubbish and opted for 2% but it seems that we were both wrong. One of us, I believe, should have been right.

[Onelife]

All in all, there were no shocks or surprises for me, besides, it wasn’t as if we weren’t warned we would all be worse off. I suppose the council tax rise was inevitably but living in the beautiful Shropshire countryside we tend to come bottom of the pile when it comes to seeing any return for our money, no local transport, loads of potholes, blocked drainage ditches, it’s a hard life living in the beautiful Shropshire countryside

I am somewhat underwhelmed by it ... nearly everything was as expected and there were no 'bombshells'.
The major disappointment for me is that he has sent a clear message that lazy, feckless and bone idle will be well rewarded in this country ... I would have preferred a message that clearly showed that those who actually contribute to society will reap the rewards.

In a way he has been quite shrewd in that some things announced will only take effect, or carry on, after the end of the current parliamentary term ... possibly tying the hands of the next chancellor (a bit of a buck pass).

I may be wrong Ken but I think I heard it mentioned that quite a lot of money was being allocated to combat the long term unemployed.

[Kendhni]

I may be wrong Ken but I think I heard it mentioned that quite a lot of money was being allocated to combat the long term unemployed.

Is that one of those 'stop me if you have heard it before' scenarios?
A bit like civil servants saying 'lessons will be learned' ... they rarely are!

[Onelife]

I may be wrong Ken but I think I heard it mentioned that quite a lot of money was being allocated to combat the long term unemployed.

Is that one of those 'stop me if you have heard it before' scenarios?
A bit like civil servants saying 'lessons will be learned' ... they rarely are!

Hi Ken, this is what I was referring to while acknowledging this doesn’t answer your lazy and feckless question.

To help tackle the barriers to progression faced by individuals on lower earnings, the government will bring forward the nationwide rollout of the In-Work Progression offer, starting with a phased rollout from September 2023. This will mean that over 600,000 Universal Credit claimants that are in work will be required to meet with a dedicated work coach so that they have support to increase their hours or earnings. This is in addition to the government’s recent announcement to raise the Administrative Earnings Threshold from January 2023, from the equivalent of 12 hours to 15 hours at the National Living Wage, which will bring more claimants in-work and on low earnings into a more intensive regime of work coach support.