Winter fuel payment

[oldbluefox]

But there is a lot of difference with Reform - for one thing they have an experienced advisor in Liz Truss

Well that's the kiss of death. Best to keep it quiet.

[Onelife]

I was watching “Newsnight” last night and one of the guest speakers was Mohamed A, El-Erian (The Chief Economists Allianz Advisor. President, Queens' College, Cambridge Uni. Gramercy Chair. Wharton Prof. Lauder Sr Fellow. Chair of UnderArmour Board. Former Pimco CEO/co-CiO.)

His view on Rachel Reeves spending review was in the main positive…could it possibly be that she has more about her than some give her credit for?

[david63]

I was watching “Newsnight” last night and one of the guest speakers was Mohamed A, El-Erian (The Chief Economists Allianz Advisor. President, Queens' College, Cambridge Uni. Gramercy Chair. Wharton Prof. Lauder Sr Fellow. Chair of UnderArmour Board. Former Pimco CEO/co-CiO.)

His view on Rachel Reeves spending review was in the main positive…could it possibly be that she has more about her than some give her credit for?

Most commentators are saying that the spending review is positive - it is just a matter of time to see what happens as "actions speak louder than words".

One thing that I can guarantee is that it will not all come to pass as outlined yesterday. Projects will overrun, projects will cost more, some money will be diverted, unforeseen events will happen.

[Onelife]

It is a political certainty (irrespective of which party in power) that what is promised today will be different come the time of delivery. The best we can hope for is that the courier delivers with as less damage as possible.

I like you David don’t know if her economic policies will work, but I do in her see some joined up thinking about how it could work…. for the sake of our country, I do hope so.

[poole boy]

onelife but at least the conservatives never lied about every thing before the election like the labour party

[Onelife]

onelife but at least the conservatives never lied about every thing before the election like the labour party

Indeed, pooleboy and most of them are still suffering with amnesia.

[poole boy]

very much like you onlife and the labour party as I cannot remember one thing they promised before the election that they have done since

[david63]

Looks as if Rachel from accounts is having problems with balancing the books https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy5e6ly9qq3o - Oh sorry forgot there is a £22bn black hole to fill!

[Mervyn and Trish]

Rachel from Accounts didn't see today's "growth" figures coming

[oldbluefox]

When they were better than expected she took the credit. Now she describes them as "volatile".

[Onelife]

I don’t think a government can be criticised for poor quarters growth figures, especially when set against market uncertainty…I mean who wants to invest in their bossiness when there is such trade volatility around the world.

I’m sticking with Racheal she at least is trying to invest for the future.

I do love a strong women

[david63]

I don’t think a government can be criticised for poor quarters growth figures

They cannot necessarily be criticised for the figures but what they can be criticised for is not being on top of the figures and know what is happening. If the Treasury are not constantly monitoring this, and all other, data and reporting it upwards then there is something wrong - unless, of course, that the data that is being reported up the chain but is being ignored because it is not what Rachel wants to hear.

[towny44]

I don’t think a government can be criticised for poor quarters growth figures, especially when set against market uncertainty…I mean who wants to invest in their bossiness when there is such trade volatility around the world.

I’m sticking with Racheal she at least is trying to invest for the future.

I do love a strong women

Not sure who would be the worst Chancellor, Rachel from accounts , or one of your other favourites Meghan from Netflix.

[Onelife]

Both possess qualities I like in a woman but on this occasion, I don’t have to choose because I married the woman who has them all.

[oldbluefox]

She deserves a medal

[Onelife]

She deserves a medal

What’ for good behaviour

[Mervyn and Trish]

…I mean who wants to invest in their bossiness when there is such trade volatility around the world.

Or when the government is burdening them with extra costs

[Onelife]

…I mean who wants to invest in their bossiness when there is such trade volatility around the world.

Or when the government is burdening them with extra costs

Which burdening policies are you referring to, those of Liz Trust, Richi Sunak, or Racheal Reeves?

[towny44]

…I mean who wants to invest in their bossiness when there is such trade volatility around the world.

Or when the government is burdening them with extra costs

Which burdening policies are you referring to, those of Liz Trust, Richi Sunak, or Racheal Reeves?

If you check with any business I believe you will find that Rachel from accounts employers NI grab was by far the worst tax hike they have experienced in 15 years.

[Onelife]

Difficult choices are rarely palatable but neither are the lack of public services…

[Mervyn and Trish]

Agreed. But those choices were made by Rachel and neither you nor she can' pretend after nearly a year in office that it's somebody else's fault.

[towny44]

Difficult choices are rarely palatable but neither are the lack of public services…

The lack of public services is purely down to the increase in population from 59m in 2000 to nearly 70m in 2025. The majority of this is due to immigration, into low paid jobs whose families are nett recipients of benefits, and contribute nothing to the exchequer.
Whilst I fully understand and sympathise as to why they want to come to Europe to enjoy a safer and higher standard of living, successive govts have, in my opinion, mislead the electorate about why we needed them to fill our jobs vacancies. This was solely to ensure our economy continued to grow, but unfortunately that growth has done nothing to increase our standard of living, in fact it is the major cause of its decline.

[Onelife]

Difficult choices are rarely palatable but neither are the lack of public services…

The lack of public services is purely down to the increase in population from 59m in 2000 to nearly 70m in 2025. The majority of this is due to immigration, into low paid jobs whose families are nett recipients of benefits, and contribute nothing to the exchequer.
Whilst I fully understand and sympathise as to why they want to come to Europe to enjoy a safer and higher standard of living, successive govts have, in my opinion, mislead the electorate about why we needed them to fill our jobs vacancies. This was solely to ensure our economy continued to grow, but unfortunately that growth has done nothing to increase our standard of living, in fact it is the major cause of its decline.

Whilst immigration has certainly had an impact let’s not lose sight of the incompetent way in which the conservative party played in the decline of public services. While we may not agree, I want to believe Rachel is concentrating on long term fixes as opposed to the short-term fixes of the last Government.

[towny44]

Whilst immigration has certainly had an impact let’s not lose sight of the incompetent way in which the conservative party played in the decline of public services. While we may not agree, I want to believe Rachel is concentrating on long term fixes as opposed to the short-term fixes of the last Government.

But the problem is that tax revenues have not increased in line with population growth. So whilst you could just blame the govt, the main problem for the last 15 years has been the deficit in the treasury's income, versus the increasing demands of the govt departments. We really have to learn to live within our means and stop chasing growth, because the last 15 plus years have shown that growth in the economy alone is not going to solve the financial shortfall alone. This can only happen if we limit, or preferably, reduce the demands on those services, which means stabilising or preferably reducing the population.

[Onelife]

Whilst I agree on certain points you are making (living within our means) being one of them, it is growth, amongst other things that can help the deficit from getting any worse… not guaranteed of course, but the complexities of finding that magic bullet that meets a consensus are about the same chances as I have of picking 10 winners at Ascot next week. No Government wants to increase taxes or borrow more but both are the reality of the predicament this country is in today…so best not keep harping on about tax increases and put your faith in a government that at least shows initiative in wanting to do the right thing. The simple fact remains, this country couldn’t carry on with a party that destroyed itself from within.