I see that Boris, who was tough on immigration at the Tory conference, has said this in Japan:
"One of the questions that people in Britain might think about is obviously that [Japan has] very, very low immigration and very, very low, in fact negative, population growth, they have got a shrinking population.That has, of course, contributed to the long period of economic stagnation they are going through..."
I don't know why we bother to keep track of what Boris thinks, really. He seems utterly flexible according to who he's talking to - the ultimate personality politician with no particular views at all. That can be seen as positive - I'd admit that as a Labour supporter I think he's not been that bad a mayor, as he's tried to keep in with London voters. But electing him to anything serious would be a bit unnerving, since there seems literally no way of predicting what he might say or do.
The SNP isn't working. I dare say there's a large emigration of job seekers from the Nat occupied territory that ameliorates those shocking Scottish unemployment figures.
The Indyref forced finance companies to admit they would move out of Scotland
If you dig down a bit further into the sectors, the statistics tell us that finance and insurance contracted more than 1% in the most recent quarter, continuing a decline since the start of last year, and 3.6% over the 12-month period.
Indyref2 is just making it worse
If the Nats are too feart to use their powers they could at least rule out indyref 2 until 2030 - would be a much needed boost for Scottish business.
Tweedledee and tweedledum regaling each other from their CCHQ scripts. Could either find Scotland on a map.
Dunno but I can by looking outside the window.
That is the M25 , look again
Try again - the M is correct - clue I can just about see a large 3D whisky brand in stainless steel.
Mr. 63, venison's delicious. And we have too many deer. These two facts present the obvious course of action of shooting and cooking lots of deer.
Venison may be my favourite meat. Using a George Foreman Grill, there's zero fat produced from cooking a venison burger, compared to a reasonable (though not enormous) quantity from a beef burger.
Mr. Pulpstar, and perhaps more likely to be leftwing, given the divergence between polling and reality ahead of the last election?
That was only a few months ago. Seems bloody ages.
People who are more politically interested (Outside of professional interest) tend to be more leftwing I think. Politicalbetting.com is the exception that proves the rule.
The SNP isn't working. I dare say there's a large emigration of job seekers from the Nat occupied territory that ameliorates those shocking Scottish unemployment figures.
The Indyref forced finance companies to admit they would move out of Scotland
If you dig down a bit further into the sectors, the statistics tell us that finance and insurance contracted more than 1% in the most recent quarter, continuing a decline since the start of last year, and 3.6% over the 12-month period.
Indyref2 is just making it worse
If the Nats are too feart to use their powers they could at least rule out indyref 2 until 2030 - would be a much needed boost for Scottish business.
Tweedledee and tweedledum regaling each other from their CCHQ scripts. Could either find Scotland on a map.
Dunno but I can by looking outside the window.
That is the M25 , look again
Try again - the M is correct - clue I can just about see a large 3D whisky brand in stainless steel.
Are we playing "I Spy" now
Ach no fun malc - you probably never leave your central belt pile anyway.
The SNP isn't working. I dare say there's a large emigration of job seekers from the Nat occupied territory that ameliorates those shocking Scottish unemployment figures.
The Indyref forced finance companies to admit they would move out of Scotland
If you dig down a bit further into the sectors, the statistics tell us that finance and insurance contracted more than 1% in the most recent quarter, continuing a decline since the start of last year, and 3.6% over the 12-month period.
Indyref2 is just making it worse
If the Nats are too feart to use their powers they could at least rule out indyref 2 until 2030 - would be a much needed boost for Scottish business.
Tweedledee and tweedledum regaling each other from their CCHQ scripts. Could either find Scotland on a map.
Dunno but I can by looking outside the window.
That is the M25 , look again
Try again - the M is correct - clue I can just about see a large 3D whisky brand in stainless steel.
It would probably be more helpful to The Malcoholic if you indicate where you are by naming local public houses.
Mr. Pulpstar, the betting aspect is a critical part of that, I think.
Mr. Dair, haven't watched QI habitually for a few years now, and I agree that a large part of that is the rather cheap cock jokes [not that I'm against cock jokes, but just as I don't watch Top Gear for the cars, I don't watch QI for that].
The SNP isn't working. I dare say there's a large emigration of job seekers from the Nat occupied territory that ameliorates those shocking Scottish unemployment figures.
The Indyref forced finance companies to admit they would move out of Scotland
If you dig down a bit further into the sectors, the statistics tell us that finance and insurance contracted more than 1% in the most recent quarter, continuing a decline since the start of last year, and 3.6% over the 12-month period.
Indyref2 is just making it worse
If the Nats are too feart to use their powers they could at least rule out indyref 2 until 2030 - would be a much needed boost for Scottish business.
Tweedledee and tweedledum regaling each other from their CCHQ scripts. Could either find Scotland on a map.
Dunno but I can by looking outside the window.
That is the M25 , look again
Try again - the M is correct - clue I can just about see a large 3D whisky brand in stainless steel.
It would probably be more helpful to The Malcoholic if you indicate where you are by naming local public houses.
I see your such a cretin you have to repeat your moronic supposed wit ad nauseum. What a loser.
The SNP isn't working. I dare say there's a large emigration of job seekers from the Nat occupied territory that ameliorates those shocking Scottish unemployment figures.
The Indyref forced finance companies to admit they would move out of Scotland
If you dig down a bit further into the sectors, the statistics tell us that finance and insurance contracted more than 1% in the most recent quarter, continuing a decline since the start of last year, and 3.6% over the 12-month period.
Indyref2 is just making it worse
If the Nats are too feart to use their powers they could at least rule out indyref 2 until 2030 - would be a much needed boost for Scottish business.
Tweedledee and tweedledum regaling each other from their CCHQ scripts. Could either find Scotland on a map.
Dunno but I can by looking outside the window.
That is the M25 , look again
Try again - the M is correct - clue I can just about see a large 3D whisky brand in stainless steel.
Are we playing "I Spy" now
Ach no fun malc - you probably never leave your central belt pile anyway.
Plastic Scot Malcolm has a lovely view of Bath Abbey and Milsom Street.
The SNP isn't working. I dare say there's a large emigration of job seekers from the Nat occupied territory that ameliorates those shocking Scottish unemployment figures.
The Indyref forced finance companies to admit they would move out of Scotland
If you dig down a bit further into the sectors, the statistics tell us that finance and insurance contracted more than 1% in the most recent quarter, continuing a decline since the start of last year, and 3.6% over the 12-month period.
Indyref2 is just making it worse
If the Nats are too feart to use their powers they could at least rule out indyref 2 until 2030 - would be a much needed boost for Scottish business.
Tweedledee and tweedledum regaling each other from their CCHQ scripts. Could either find Scotland on a map.
Dunno but I can by looking outside the window.
That is the M25 , look again
Try again - the M is correct - clue I can just about see a large 3D whisky brand in stainless steel.
Are we playing "I Spy" now
Ach no fun malc - you probably never leave your central belt pile anyway.
I don't go to the central belt , I am a country boy.
I have camped in some of those remote areas of Scotland...I would hate to be woken up by a very hungry wolf looking for breakfast...with me as the main course.
Those midges feast on tourists already. I would swap them for wolves anyday.
Highland Cows probably pose more risk to campers and walkers than wolves.
Having said that, I'm not in favour of the reintroduction of wolves into the Highlands.
IIRC, reintroduction of wolves was actively considered for Rum [edit:both an island and a National Nature Reserve] in the 1970s-1980s but it was decided that the island was too small to support a reasonably sized population without the normal stochastic variation of population leading to local extinction too soon.
Lynx is much more doable in any case [edit] for Scotland as a whole. Smaller, higher population density, eat smaller prey.
But overpopulation of Red Deer continues to be a worry.
The idea of reintroducing wolves seems quite ridiculous, there is no benefit and only cost. The reintroduction of raptors or lynx which target vermin is a much clearer choice.
The whole business around deer seems bizarre to me and what I don;t get is why the marketplace for consumer venison is still considered (and priced) as a premium product at premium prices when it would appear to be an excellent and healthier alternative to beef and pork.
I'd be interested to know what is preventing such a change as it would seem that if left to the market the overpopulation problem would be solved and provide the country with a huge amount of healthy, cheap meat.
What's preventing it is a society of fat, overfed people who would recoil at the thought of eating Bambi. They'd far prefer a pizza covered in ketchup.
I suspect that it may be a deeper issue than this. I don't know which is likely to be a bigger impact but it is likely that some of it is down to landowners preferring to keep it as a premium product and restricting the amount that is available to the market and/or the Beef and Pork industries exerting a lot of political influence to prevent a sustained government effort (such as setting up a Venison Board and public education campaign to promote venison's taste and health benefits.
The SNP isn't working. I dare say there's a large emigration of job seekers from the Nat occupied territory that ameliorates those shocking Scottish unemployment figures.
The Indyref forced finance companies to admit they would move out of Scotland
If you dig down a bit further into the sectors, the statistics tell us that finance and insurance contracted more than 1% in the most recent quarter, continuing a decline since the start of last year, and 3.6% over the 12-month period.
Indyref2 is just making it worse
If the Nats are too feart to use their powers they could at least rule out indyref 2 until 2030 - would be a much needed boost for Scottish business.
Tweedledee and tweedledum regaling each other from their CCHQ scripts. Could either find Scotland on a map.
Dunno but I can by looking outside the window.
That is the M25 , look again
Try again - the M is correct - clue I can just about see a large 3D whisky brand in stainless steel.
Are we playing "I Spy" now
Ach no fun malc - you probably never leave your central belt pile anyway.
Plastic Scot Malcolm has a lovely view of Bath Abbey and Milsom Street.
Mr. Isam, indeed. Anti-depressant rates are so high that there are trace amounts in the water.
They're given too readily, and then people, as your friend's example indicates, struggle to get off them.
I've recently been on Sertraline, which work well and are not particularly addictive. Zopiclone (a sleeping tablet) reduced my IQ to that of a Labrador, never been so befuddled in my life. No, I'm not on them now .
Mr. Slackbladder, whilst Fry can be full of himself, I do agree with your assessment.
There are also rumours of Doctor Who either being axed or changed to a few long 'films' [think Sherlock].
Dr Who came back well but began to lose its way some time ago. It's not the choice of actors for me but the general rushing round gabble babble gabble emoting unthinking unfathomable blarney of it all. Dr Who lands, Dr Who has adventure (that you can follow!), Dr Who leaves. What's wrong with that?
Mr. Slackbladder, whilst Fry can be full of himself, I do agree with your assessment.
There are also rumours of Doctor Who either being axed or changed to a few long 'films' [think Sherlock].
The problem with QI is not merely the Quota for unfunny women, the core problem is Alan Davies who over the last 3 or 4 seasons has reduced much of the humour to puerile penis jokes which fall flat ...
Well, it's probably hard for a man of his age to keep it up for series after series.
Mr. Pulpstar, and perhaps more likely to be leftwing, given the divergence between polling and reality ahead of the last election?
That was only a few months ago. Seems bloody ages.
People who are more politically interested (Outside of professional interest) tend to be more leftwing I think. Politicalbetting.com is the exception that proves the rule.
How does that explain right-wing people being more likely to vote? When elections have low turnouts and are limited to the more politically interested, the right always does better.
I think it just seems like there are more politically interested left-wingers, because they have less self-awareness about sharing their views. Shy Tories and all that.
Mr. 63, venison's delicious. And we have too many deer. These two facts present the obvious course of action of shooting and cooking lots of deer.
Venison may be my favourite meat. Using a George Foreman Grill, there's zero fat produced from cooking a venison burger, compared to a reasonable (though not enormous) quantity from a beef burger.
Agree entirely but society at large won't accept it, try to get a child to eat deer or, dare I say it, horse. There's perfectly edible cheap meat everywhere but most people would rather have a take away.
Mr. Flightpath, quite. And destroying the cybermen with emotions is utterly tedious.
However, I did happen to see the last episode (it was that or the English rugby team) and must say I really rather enjoyed it.
Mr. Herdson, it's a rather obvious approach, if an organisation chooses to adopt it. Just cut something much loved and high profile, then blame it on cuts whilst executive pay remains undiminished.
That said, I think Top Gear went because of Cohen et al's personal dislike of Clarkson. Punching a colleague is a serious business, but a former director general had, earlier in his career, bitten someone, and that didn't harm his prospects.
Edited extra bit: Mr. 63, *ask* a child?! What a notion.
Cook a meal, and offer the options of eating it or going without (and a chocolate dessert if you eat it). Watch the minors' resolve crumble beneath the invincible power of Behaviourism!
That said, I do seem to have a completely contrary approach (to other people) when it comes to food. Gluttony is the sin with which I have struggled the least.
Mr. Pulpstar, and perhaps more likely to be leftwing, given the divergence between polling and reality ahead of the last election?
That was only a few months ago. Seems bloody ages.
People who are more politically interested (Outside of professional interest) tend to be more leftwing I think. Politicalbetting.com is the exception that proves the rule.
How does that explain right-wing people being more likely to vote? When elections have low turnouts and are limited to the more politically interested, the right always does better.
I think it just seems like there are more politically interested left-wingers, because they have less self-awareness about sharing their views. Shy Tories and all that.
I think there is a massive centre ground of people who don't particularly care too much about politics on a day to day basis, but will vote and are perhaps just a touch right of centre.
The left is a weird coalition of the profoundly noisy (twitter) and the completely disinterested (Non voters).
Mr. Pulpstar, and perhaps more likely to be leftwing, given the divergence between polling and reality ahead of the last election?
That was only a few months ago. Seems bloody ages.
People who are more politically interested (Outside of professional interest) tend to be more leftwing I think. Politicalbetting.com is the exception that proves the rule.
How does that explain right-wing people being more likely to vote? When elections have low turnouts and are limited to the more politically interested, the right always does better.
I think it just seems like there are more politically interested left-wingers, because they have less self-awareness about sharing their views. Shy Tories and all that.
Bingo. Because their views are acceptable - right wing views are considered distasteful.
Looking at the tax credit case Corbyn quotes, the PM's folk should crunch the numbers afterwards and see how "worse off" that lady will be over the course of the 5 years. With a circa £2.00 an hour NMW rise (just under 30%) on top of the rise in the basic starting point for income tax and any other elements such as housing rent decreases and nursery provision, it maybe that she has an overall increase outpacing predicted inflation by 2020.
Looking at the tax credit case Corbyn quotes, the PM's folk should crunch the numbers afterwards and see how "worse off" that lady will be over the course of the 5 years. With a circa £2.00 an hour NMW rise (just under 30%) on top of the rise in the basic starting point for income tax and any other elements such as housing rent decreases and nursery provision, it maybe that she has an overall increase outpacing predicted inflation by 2020.
£3,790.80 salary increase - which will be tax free if they keep their pledges.
"Mr. Flightpath, quite. And destroying the cybermen with emotions is utterly tedious.
However, I did happen to see the last episode (it was that or the English rugby team) and must say I really rather enjoyed it ..."
Yes it looked OK from what I saw. Leaving aside the typical barb about the exec and his billion pound bonus, it looked like a regulation adventure. With good effects.
Well I thought Corbyn pretty pathetic on PMQ. Cannot think quickly on his feet; will need monumental back-up if he is not to sink in the quicksands of the commons.
Mr. Flightpath, quite. And destroying the cybermen with emotions is utterly tedious.
However, I did happen to see the last episode (it was that or the English rugby team) and must say I really rather enjoyed it.
This seaason does seem quite excellent so far with some scares that I'm sure will be giving kids lots of nightmares (as they should). The Hand Mines in the season premier were excellently chilling.
They seem to be returning to more of an old school Who (without the crappy effects and acting) which is fun. Hopefully Moffat can keep it up all season.
Mr. 63, venison's delicious. And we have too many deer. These two facts present the obvious course of action of shooting and cooking lots of deer.
Venison may be my favourite meat. Using a George Foreman Grill, there's zero fat produced from cooking a venison burger, compared to a reasonable (though not enormous) quantity from a beef burger.
Agree entirely but society at large won't accept it, try to get a child to eat deer or, dare I say it, horse. There's perfectly edible cheap meat everywhere but most people would rather have a take away.
Hmm there isn't really an overabundance of wild horses in the UK though. Saying that I didn't see it on the menu down in Devon where it could be viable.
Whisper it... I actually though Jeremy Corbyn was quite good then. David Cameron - admittedly good at thinking on his feet - looked a bit discomfited.
It can't be comfortable for a PM of any party to know that the public finances are in such a state that £1800 in annual tax credits needs to be taken from a lower-income worker, or that a £450k house in London falls within the "starter home" bracket.
Corbyn is certainly a better operator in parliament than he is among the media/wider political bloodsport.
"Can I bring the prime minister back to reality," says the Labour leader.
HAHAHHAHAHhHAHAHaHHAhaaHAHAHA
Reality like not being able to afford to buy a house and like being £1000+ a year worse off due to tax credit cuts. Not a laughing matter IMO
Since when was £450k ever a starter home though ?
That's a second or third home for most people.
I doubt the Gov't has ever labelled a 450k home as 'starter'... the line of attack is a nonsense. There's nothing wrong with 450k homes being built, all increase to supply of homes is good in the round.
"Can I bring the prime minister back to reality," says the Labour leader.
HAHAHHAHAHhHAHAHaHHAhaaHAHAHA
Reality like not being able to afford to buy a house and like being £1000+ a year worse off due to tax credit cuts. Not a laughing matter IMO
Since when was £450k ever a starter home though ?
That's a second or third home for most people.
I doubt the Gov't has ever labelled a 450k home as 'starter'... the line of attack is a nonsense. There's nothing wrong with 450k homes being built, all increase to supply of homes is good in the round.
God, Cameron being held responsible for estate agents' marketing fluff. This is the robust opposition that we've been lacking for so long.
The commentariat seem split on whether Jeremy Corbyn's style works, and not along party lines.
Andrew Sparrow in the Guardian:
That was a creditable performance from Jeremy Corbyn - serious and abuse-free, in a manner that seemed to go down well last month (see 11.51am) - but, even though Corbyn was using follow-up questions today, he has not worked out how to “weaponise” them, and Cameron was hardly discomforted at all.
Patrick Wintour, also of the Guardian:
By recounting stories of real people in poverty or struggling with housing, Corbyn dignifies PMQs, and raises the tone. It's progress.
Tim Shipman:
Better outing from Corbyn. Tax credits a useful scab to pick at. Cameron sound on the big economics. But the Corbyn deprecation of Dave good
Jim Pickard of the FT:
Jim Pickard Retweeted Sam Macrory I think Corbyn is playing this rather well
Paul Waugh:
Corbyn first follow up Q was ok, second fell flat. Cameron allowed to repeat child poverty stats and fiscal charter borrowing message
Whisper it... I actually though Jeremy Corbyn was quite good then. David Cameron - admittedly good at thinking on his feet - looked a bit discomfited.
It can't be comfortable for a PM of any party to know that the public finances are in such a state that £1800 in annual tax credits needs to be taken from a lower-income worker, or that a £450k house in London falls within the "starter home" bracket.
Corbyn is certainly a better operator in parliament than he is among the media/wider political bloodsport.
Quite possibly, but i think it's also negated PMQs as much of anything at all.
He'll be 'ok', but it won't give Corbyn any big wins, and thats what he needs to get his party even moderately behind him.
So Corbyn didn't ask about Saudi Arabia. I wonder what he was scared of?
I think (as you intimate?) scared of his own disreputable Middle East connections being brought up. This is something of a stalemate - by the same token I expect Cameron to avoid bringing up Hamas and Hezbollah un-bidden so as not to provoke retorts from Corbyn about our cosy relationship with the KSA.
The commentariat seem split on whether Jeremy Corbyn's style works, and not along party lines.
Andrew Sparrow in the Guardian:
That was a creditable performance from Jeremy Corbyn - serious and abuse-free, in a manner that seemed to go down well last month (see 11.51am) - but, even though Corbyn was using follow-up questions today, he has not worked out how to “weaponise” them, and Cameron was hardly discomforted at all.
Patrick Wintour, also of the Guardian:
By recounting stories of real people in poverty or struggling with housing, Corbyn dignifies PMQs, and raises the tone. It's progress.
Tim Shipman:
Better outing from Corbyn. Tax credits a useful scab to pick at. Cameron sound on the big economics. But the Corbyn deprecation of Dave good
Jim Pickard of the FT:
Jim Pickard Retweeted Sam Macrory I think Corbyn is playing this rather well
Paul Waugh:
Corbyn first follow up Q was ok, second fell flat. Cameron allowed to repeat child poverty stats and fiscal charter borrowing message
Listening to it (rather than watching), they both sound pretty evenly matched - Cameron on the data, Corbyn on the 'people bit'.
For once Robertson muffed it - asking a very partial question on Syrian refugees which was deservedly squashed.....
"Can I bring the prime minister back to reality," says the Labour leader.
HAHAHHAHAHhHAHAHaHHAhaaHAHAHA
Reality like not being able to afford to buy a house and like being £1000+ a year worse off due to tax credit cuts. Not a laughing matter IMO
Since when was £450k ever a starter home though ?
That's a second or third home for most people.
I doubt the Gov't has ever labelled a 450k home as 'starter'... the line of attack is a nonsense. There's nothing wrong with 450k homes being built, all increase to supply of homes is good in the round.
Mr Cameron should have rammed home the messages about Help to Buy and shared equity on those, and compared achievable numbers with JC's borderline case.
Whisper it... I actually though Jeremy Corbyn was quite good then. David Cameron - admittedly good at thinking on his feet - looked a bit discomfited.
It can't be comfortable for a PM of any party to know that the public finances are in such a state that £1800 in annual tax credits needs to be taken from a lower-income worker, or that a £450k house in London falls within the "starter home" bracket.
Corbyn is certainly a better operator in parliament than he is among the media/wider political bloodsport.
Quite possibly, but i think it's also negated PMQs as much of anything at all.
He'll be 'ok', but it won't give Corbyn any big wins, and thats what he needs to get his party even moderately behind him.
Yeah, I don't think he'll get headlines on the 10 o'clock news but he's a decent operator in parliament and he can use PMQs to serve two purposes: 1. Raise morale of the PLP and 2. Use genuine emails from genuinely suffering people to gain traction with the political writers.
But I guess it's all a moot point because the performance of the shadow cabinet outside of parliament so far has been woeful. I still think the Labour party will split under his leadership. His supporters and the PLP are so at odds it can't possibly work.
Seems the football equivalent of both sides 'parking the bus' and messing about in the middle of the pitch.
Cameron can't directly attack the questions as they come from 'members of the public', but Corbyn can't make any direct hits as the questions and follow up aren't directed enough, and easy to fob off with stats.
Looking at the tax credit case Corbyn quotes, the PM's folk should crunch the numbers afterwards and see how "worse off" that lady will be over the course of the 5 years. With a circa £2.00 an hour NMW rise (just under 30%) on top of the rise in the basic starting point for income tax and any other elements such as housing rent decreases and nursery provision, it maybe that she has an overall increase outpacing predicted inflation by 2020.
I think the point is that, as always, the cutback elements of the tax credit changes are front loaded, while the living wage increases are heavily phased. Deficit comes down faster, but at the expense of a one or two year cash flow crisis for the poor.
Likewise with the reductions in benefits, the effect is front loaded with the new and especially quality jobs (as opposed to minimum wage, ZHC and poverty-line self-employment) to come later.
Or housing benefit cuts to drive rent reductions.
The destination sounds good, and the opposition should not just simply say 'Can't get there from here', but pointing out that the Conservatives have chosen to build this road along the cheapest but most damaging route has got to be legitimate.
"Can I bring the prime minister back to reality," says the Labour leader.
HAHAHHAHAHhHAHAHaHHAhaaHAHAHA
Reality like not being able to afford to buy a house and like being £1000+ a year worse off due to tax credit cuts. Not a laughing matter IMO
Have a look at the Daily Mail's article on 1970s Glasgow. We've collectively come a long way in 50 years.
That's not to denigrate people who (as always happens) suffer when circumstances change - be that the economy, government policy and so on. We just have to keep a sense of perspective.
"Can I bring the prime minister back to reality," says the Labour leader.
HAHAHHAHAHhHAHAHaHHAhaaHAHAHA
Reality like not being able to afford to buy a house and like being £1000+ a year worse off due to tax credit cuts. Not a laughing matter IMO
Since when was £450k ever a starter home though ?
That's a second or third home for most people.
I doubt the Gov't has ever labelled a 450k home as 'starter'... the line of attack is a nonsense. There's nothing wrong with 450k homes being built, all increase to supply of homes is good in the round.
Mr Cameron should have rammed home the messages about Help to Buy and shared equity on those, and compared achievable numbers with JC's borderline case.
Telegraph, couple of days ago:
"The price of these "starter homes", after the discount is applied, will be capped at £250,000 across the UK and £450,000 in London."
"Can I bring the prime minister back to reality," says the Labour leader.
HAHAHHAHAHhHAHAHaHHAhaaHAHAHA
Reality like not being able to afford to buy a house and like being £1000+ a year worse off due to tax credit cuts. Not a laughing matter IMO
Since when was £450k ever a starter home though ?
That's a second or third home for most people.
I doubt the Gov't has ever labelled a 450k home as 'starter'... the line of attack is a nonsense. There's nothing wrong with 450k homes being built, all increase to supply of homes is good in the round.
Mr Cameron should have rammed home the messages about Help to Buy and shared equity on those, and compared achievable numbers with JC's borderline case.
Telegraph, couple of days ago:
"The price of these "starter homes", after the discount is applied, will be capped at £250,000 across the UK and £450,000 in London."
I'm never keen on these sorts of policies. They seem like enormous giveaways to a handful of people, rather than addressing the underlying causes to the problem to make affordability better for all.
I doubt the Gov't has ever labelled a 450k home as 'starter'... the line of attack is a nonsense. There's nothing wrong with 450k homes being built, all increase to supply of homes is good in the round.
No, it's a Government figure - they will count £450K AFTER the discount as a starter home in London. It's weird, and therefore quite reasonable to attack it!
Seems the football equivalent of both sides 'parking the bus' and messing about in the middle of the pitch.
Cameron can't directly attack the questions as they come from 'members of the public', but Corbyn can't make any direct hits as the questions and follow up aren't directed enough, and easy to fob off with stats.
''The London housing market is bananas anyway though. ''
There is evidence it is coming off the boil, big time. The standard reported last night about huge discounts being given to get premium properties away.
Only a matter of time before it filters downwards.
I doubt the Gov't has ever labelled a 450k home as 'starter'... the line of attack is a nonsense. There's nothing wrong with 450k homes being built, all increase to supply of homes is good in the round.
No, it's a Government figure - they will count £450K AFTER the discount as a starter home in London. It's weird, and therefore quite reasonable to attack it!
A house is a house though, I have no idea what the obsession is with 'starter homes' though (Seemingly on both sides of the political divide). Like money, houses are fungible and don't particularly care if they are lived in by first time buyers or second time sellers. The increase of supply is the important part.
"Can I bring the prime minister back to reality," says the Labour leader.
HAHAHHAHAHhHAHAHaHHAhaaHAHAHA
Reality like not being able to afford to buy a house and like being £1000+ a year worse off due to tax credit cuts. Not a laughing matter IMO
Since when was £450k ever a starter home though ?
That's a second or third home for most people.
I doubt the Gov't has ever labelled a 450k home as 'starter'... the line of attack is a nonsense. There's nothing wrong with 450k homes being built, all increase to supply of homes is good in the round.
Mr Cameron should have rammed home the messages about Help to Buy and shared equity on those, and compared achievable numbers with JC's borderline case.
Telegraph, couple of days ago:
"The price of these "starter homes", after the discount is applied, will be capped at £250,000 across the UK and £450,000 in London."
I'm never keen on these sorts of policies. They seem like enormous giveaways to a handful of people, rather than addressing the underlying causes to the problem to make affordability better for all.
Can you not see all those poor people queuing up with their £450K
I doubt the Gov't has ever labelled a 450k home as 'starter'... the line of attack is a nonsense. There's nothing wrong with 450k homes being built, all increase to supply of homes is good in the round.
No, it's a Government figure - they will count £450K AFTER the discount as a starter home in London. It's weird, and therefore quite reasonable to attack it!
A house is a house though, I have no idea what the obsession is with 'starter homes' though (Seemingly on both sides of the political divide). Like money, houses are fungible and don't particularly care if they are lived in by first time buyers or second time sellers. The increase of supply is the important part.
Sure, but if the Government devises a policy explicitly based on the assumption that £450K is a starter home, they can't complain if they're criticised for it - the point is that it plays to the "out of touch" image. (I was disagreeing with your saying that it was a nonsense line of attack.)
How can anyone who wants to release ferocious, wild, possibly man eating animals into the wild..be taken seriously. Just hire a specialist for the day..
Quite. More deer = more venison burgers. I don't see the downside.
"Can I bring the prime minister back to reality," says the Labour leader.
HAHAHHAHAHhHAHAHaHHAhaaHAHAHA
Reality like not being able to afford to buy a house and like being £1000+ a year worse off due to tax credit cuts. Not a laughing matter IMO
Have a look at the Daily Mail's article on 1970s Glasgow. We've collectively come a long way in 50 years.
That's not to denigrate people who (as always happens) suffer when circumstances change - be that the economy, government policy and so on. We just have to keep a sense of perspective.
Blinking 'eck. I just saw those Glasgow homes on the Mail website. Bonkers.
Mr. Isam, indeed. Anti-depressant rates are so high that there are trace amounts in the water.
They're given too readily, and then people, as your friend's example indicates, struggle to get off them.
There is a new novel out about society's reliance on them to make children behave (the modern cane for children that don't do as they are told) called 'concentr8'... Might be an interesting read
The précis didn't float my boat at all tbh. Big pharma..... ADD.... medicalising non-existent conditions.... rough kids... Just a whole mish-mash of issues in various shades of conspiracy theory.
Not inaccurate though. Although, to be fair, most big pharma have steered very far away from ADD.
Oh for the day when a whole raft of common mental and behavioural conditions can be not only explained but moreover diagnosed by directly measuring the underlying genetics and biochemistry rather than by primarily classifying illness with the type of questionnaire based diagnosis that the DSM system codifies, with all its associated pitfalls.
It's coming. Biomarkers are the most important area of research right now.
The concept of "starter homes" is not really an incentive to atually build more homes. It's mostly designed as a distributive effect, i.e. who buys the homes that there are.
From my perspective whatever I think of that it is a distraction compared to the systemic reasons too few homes are being built (materials, labour, sites, planning, competition).
I feel the same way about Labour efforts in the same vein, including rent controls.
"Can I bring the prime minister back to reality," says the Labour leader.
HAHAHHAHAHhHAHAHaHHAhaaHAHAHA
Reality like not being able to afford to buy a house and like being £1000+ a year worse off due to tax credit cuts. Not a laughing matter IMO
Since when was £450k ever a starter home though ?
That's a second or third home for most people.
I doubt the Gov't has ever labelled a 450k home as 'starter'... the line of attack is a nonsense. There's nothing wrong with 450k homes being built, all increase to supply of homes is good in the round.
Mr Cameron should have rammed home the messages about Help to Buy and shared equity on those, and compared achievable numbers with JC's borderline case.
Telegraph, couple of days ago:
"The price of these "starter homes", after the discount is applied, will be capped at £250,000 across the UK and £450,000 in London."
I'm never keen on these sorts of policies. They seem like enormous giveaways to a handful of people, rather than addressing the underlying causes to the problem to make affordability better for all.
It's a way of appearing to do something. Cameron claims his hero is Macmillan but there's no sign of him following the former PM's massive house building programme (300K a year!).
Oh dear dear dear. It seems some people here are more than a little upset that the report does not state (as would have been quite within its remit without apportioning blame) that the missile was fired from rebel held territory. Keep flapping guys, I'm sure no-one will notice...
Why would they prejudice the Dutch Criminal investigation?
How much of the report have you read?
It sets out fairly clearly the area where the missile was likely fired from .....who did the firing is not in their remit.....
Shilling for Putin is not an easy ask at times like this.
Lucky is always willing to give it his best shot though
"Burnham made the usual tit of himself at the Immigration debate yesterday..Someone has told him that if he shouts very loud and s l o w s his speech d o w n then no none will spot the inane blather he comes out with".
Does your blithe partisanship under every circumstance and on all occasions ever embarrass you?
Amazingly pathetic field on the Dem side this election. Bernie, the ageing socialist; Biden, not actually running but at 20%; and the favourite, Hillary!
Comments
"One of the questions that people in Britain might think about is obviously that [Japan has] very, very low immigration and very, very low, in fact negative, population growth, they have got a shrinking population.That has, of course, contributed to the long period of economic stagnation they are going through..."
I don't know why we bother to keep track of what Boris thinks, really. He seems utterly flexible according to who he's talking to - the ultimate personality politician with no particular views at all. That can be seen as positive - I'd admit that as a Labour supporter I think he's not been that bad a mayor, as he's tried to keep in with London voters. But electing him to anything serious would be a bit unnerving, since there seems literally no way of predicting what he might say or do.
Are we playing "I Spy" now
Venison may be my favourite meat. Using a George Foreman Grill, there's zero fat produced from cooking a venison burger, compared to a reasonable (though not enormous) quantity from a beef burger.
Ach no fun malc - you probably never leave your central belt pile anyway.
It would probably be more helpful to The Malcoholic if you indicate where you are by naming local public houses.
Mr. Dair, haven't watched QI habitually for a few years now, and I agree that a large part of that is the rather cheap cock jokes [not that I'm against cock jokes, but just as I don't watch Top Gear for the cars, I don't watch QI for that].
I see your such a cretin you have to repeat your moronic supposed wit ad nauseum. What a loser.
Plastic Scot Malcolm has a lovely view of Bath Abbey and Milsom Street.
I don't go to the central belt , I am a country boy.
dribble , dribble , dribble
Dr Who lands, Dr Who has adventure (that you can follow!), Dr Who leaves. What's wrong with that?
I think it just seems like there are more politically interested left-wingers, because they have less self-awareness about sharing their views. Shy Tories and all that.
Does the UK exist outside London for some of these MPs?
However, I did happen to see the last episode (it was that or the English rugby team) and must say I really rather enjoyed it.
Mr. Herdson, it's a rather obvious approach, if an organisation chooses to adopt it. Just cut something much loved and high profile, then blame it on cuts whilst executive pay remains undiminished.
That said, I think Top Gear went because of Cohen et al's personal dislike of Clarkson. Punching a colleague is a serious business, but a former director general had, earlier in his career, bitten someone, and that didn't harm his prospects.
Edited extra bit: Mr. 63, *ask* a child?! What a notion.
Cook a meal, and offer the options of eating it or going without (and a chocolate dessert if you eat it). Watch the minors' resolve crumble beneath the invincible power of Behaviourism!
That said, I do seem to have a completely contrary approach (to other people) when it comes to food. Gluttony is the sin with which I have struggled the least.
The left is a weird coalition of the profoundly noisy (twitter) and the completely disinterested (Non voters).
With a circa £2.00 an hour NMW rise (just under 30%) on top of the rise in the basic starting point for income tax and any other elements such as housing rent decreases and nursery provision, it maybe that she has an overall increase outpacing predicted inflation by 2020.
HAHAHHAHAHhHAHAHaHHAhaaHAHAHA
That said, I did like the stats on Jeremy's constituency. 28% homeowners, 73% don't own a car. Just like the rest of the country
They seem to be returning to more of an old school Who (without the crappy effects and acting) which is fun. Hopefully Moffat can keep it up all season.
It can't be comfortable for a PM of any party to know that the public finances are in such a state that £1800 in annual tax credits needs to be taken from a lower-income worker, or that a £450k house in London falls within the "starter home" bracket.
Corbyn is certainly a better operator in parliament than he is among the media/wider political bloodsport.
Cameron claims the Afghan government is in control of Afghanistan.
That's a second or third home for most people.
I doubt the Gov't has ever labelled a 450k home as 'starter'... the line of attack is a nonsense. There's nothing wrong with 450k homes being built, all increase to supply of homes is good in the round.
Andrew Sparrow in the Guardian:
That was a creditable performance from Jeremy Corbyn - serious and abuse-free, in a manner that seemed to go down well last month (see 11.51am) - but, even though Corbyn was using follow-up questions today, he has not worked out how to “weaponise” them, and Cameron was hardly discomforted at all.
Patrick Wintour, also of the Guardian:
By recounting stories of real people in poverty or struggling with housing, Corbyn dignifies PMQs, and raises the tone. It's progress.
Tim Shipman:
Better outing from Corbyn. Tax credits a useful scab to pick at. Cameron sound on the big economics. But the Corbyn deprecation of Dave good
Jim Pickard of the FT:
Jim Pickard Retweeted Sam Macrory
I think Corbyn is playing this rather well
Paul Waugh:
Corbyn first follow up Q was ok, second fell flat. Cameron allowed to repeat child poverty stats and fiscal charter borrowing message
In today's Daily Telegraph. http://t.co/lH22yp1kEF
He'll be 'ok', but it won't give Corbyn any big wins, and thats what he needs to get his party even moderately behind him.
For once Robertson muffed it - asking a very partial question on Syrian refugees which was deservedly squashed.....
But I guess it's all a moot point because the performance of the shadow cabinet outside of parliament so far has been woeful. I still think the Labour party will split under his leadership. His supporters and the PLP are so at odds it can't possibly work.
Cameron can't directly attack the questions as they come from 'members of the public', but Corbyn can't make any direct hits as the questions and follow up aren't directed enough, and easy to fob off with stats.
Likewise with the reductions in benefits, the effect is front loaded with the new and especially quality jobs (as opposed to minimum wage, ZHC and poverty-line self-employment) to come later.
Or housing benefit cuts to drive rent reductions.
The destination sounds good, and the opposition should not just simply say 'Can't get there from here', but pointing out that the Conservatives have chosen to build this road along the cheapest but most damaging route has got to be legitimate.
That's not to denigrate people who (as always happens) suffer when circumstances change - be that the economy, government policy and so on. We just have to keep a sense of perspective.
"The price of these "starter homes", after the discount is applied, will be capped at £250,000 across the UK and £450,000 in London."
Did you feel the Bern during last night’s #DemDebate?
Twitter users certainly did: http://onforb.es/1Mz7N1c
Bernie sanders won the Democratic debate on twitter.
New thread please!
http://en.europeonline-magazine.eu/sidebarone-in-three-germans-wants-merkel-to-resign-over-refugee-crisis_417564.html
There is evidence it is coming off the boil, big time. The standard reported last night about huge discounts being given to get premium properties away.
Only a matter of time before it filters downwards.
I hope she resigns as an MP if she's so pig-thick as to believe that is workable.
Those pictures remind us all what the labour party was for.
Is it a victim of its own success?? is its mission over???
http://cdn.static-economist.com/sites/default/files/images/2014/06/blogs/buttonwood039s-notebook/20140510_woc873.png
From my perspective whatever I think of that it is a distraction compared to the systemic reasons too few homes are being built (materials, labour, sites, planning, competition).
I feel the same way about Labour efforts in the same vein, including rent controls.
New Thread New Thread
PV is flawed but useful in some circumstances. Electronic voting is utterly flawed and totally useless.
"Now, Biden's orbit has put out word that he’s going to take another week to make a decision"
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/clintons-boxing-biden-out-214778#ixzz3oXme1gTH
Putin's little poodle.
After all the scandals and personal nastiness it's incredible. There's a great piece on Harpy Rodham Clinton at: http://john-moloney.blogspot.com/2015/04/normal-0-21-false-false-false-pl-x-none.html