THE Election - Made your mind up yet ??

[Bookworm]

Well the new government has a bit of a mess to sort out that it didn't create. You can blame it on who you like but you can't blame it on the Lib Dems or the Conservatives. It has to be sorted out and we all knew that whoever got in, taxes would have to rise.

Oh yes, I forgot, Labour is to blame for everything, so even if the ConDem renege on every one of their pledges, that will STILL be Labour's fault!

 

I suppose their attempt to ensconce themselves in the Commons by raising the percentage to 55% so they can never be kicked out no matter how much they f*** up is to be blamed on Labour too?

 

 

Oh, and apologies to AC, I thought the fact that you have been posting links to all the "good" things the ConDem are supposed to be doing for us was a deliberate attempt to prove a point that you were right, I never realised that it was purely a coincidence that of all the press available, it was only the rose-tinted ones that made it past your cut and paste skills!

[locutus]

Anyone else think the 55% thing is just incase the ConDem coalition breaks down so the conservatives still keep power?

[Bookworm]

Surely not? Rigging the system? Shame on you for even suggesting it!

[locutus]

Anyone else think it's strange that timing of this rise to 55%? It comes at a time when the conservatives have just over 47% of the votes! Is it a coincedance that all the others added together only equal 53%?

 

Edit: Meh didn't think I submitted the 1st one

Edited May 15, 2010 by locutus
See Edit:

[Fred Bassett]

Look on the bright side. At least Gordon has been booted out.

[angry cat]

by Booky:

 

Oh, and apologies to AC, I thought the fact that you have been posting links to all the "good" things the ConDem are supposed to be doing for us was a deliberate attempt to prove a point that you were right, I never realised that it was purely a coincidence that of all the press available, it was only the rose-tinted ones that made it past your cut and paste skills!"

 

Did I infer that the content of the link was good, or bad?

 

No, I did not!

 

To reiterate, I simply posted the link up, because I came across it on the AOL home page and thought that it would be of interest to members.

 

Good God, these little side swipes are extremely tedious...

[angry cat]

Look on the bright side. At least Gordon has been booted out.

 

Indeed!

[locutus]

Gordon is out but someone else i don't trust is in... makes very little difference to me.

 

All this talk of "political reform" seems to just make it harder to vote anyone else in so far, and the "alternative vote" doesn't go anywhere near close enough to making it fair.

 

Still, I'm feeling like the eternal optimist falling off the empire states building... passing the 35th floor, everything is OK so far!!

[Fred Bassett]

Gordon is out but someone else i don't trust is in... makes very little difference to me.

 

All this talk of "political reform" seems to just make it harder to vote anyone else in so far, and the "alternative vote" doesn't go anywhere near close enough to making it fair.

 

Still, I'm feeling like the eternal optimist falling off the empire states building... passing the 35th floor, everything is OK so far!!

 

I know what you mean. For 35th floor, read year 10 of the last Labour Government.

[Bookworm]

by Booky:Did I infer that the content of the link was good, or bad?

 

No, I did not!

 

To reiterate, I simply posted the link up, because I came across it on the AOL home page and thought that it would be of interest to members.

Of course. Hence the apology. If you're being sincere, then I must be too.

Good God, these little side swipes are extremely tedious...

So sorry, m'lady. I know, I know, life would be soooo much easier if the people would know their place and stop agitating and expressing their opinion so! I guess that's what comes with giving the common people education and a vote.

[Bookworm]

Look on the bright side. At least Gordon has been booted out.

Oh yes, the bright side. Looks suspiciously like the flames of Hell from where I am standing.

 

The light at the end of a tunnel... except it's actually a train rushing towards you.

 

[Fred Bassett]

Oh yes, the bright side. Looks suspiciously like the flames of Hell from where I am standing.

 

The light at the end of a tunnel... except it's actually a train rushing towards you.

 

 

We've had 13 years of Gordon Brown, his stealth taxes, his lies and his broken promises. 4 days on and already you're whinging about the new government. We'll all be paying for Brown's efforts for the next 20 years or so and the equality agenda is unlikely to get us out of this mess, so you'd better get used to it.

[Fred Bassett]

Just as a reminder, here are Gordon's first 90 stealth taxes - just the ones until 2004:

 

July 1997

01 • Mortgage Interest Tax Relief At Source (MIRAS) reduced from 15% to 10%

02 • Dividend Tax Credits for pension schemes abolished

03 • Income tax relief on health insurance abolished

04 • Insurance Premium Tax extended to some health insurance

05 • Road Fuel Tax escalator increased to 6%

06 • Vehicle Excise Duty increased

07 • Tobacco duty escalator increased to 5%

08 • Stamp Duty raised to 2%

09 • Carry back of Corporation Tax losses limited to 1 year

10 • Windfall tax on utilities

March 1998

11 • Tax relief for the married couple's allowance (MCA) cut to 10%

12 • Top rate of Insurance Premium Tax extended to travel insurance

13 • Exceptional increase in tobacco and alcohol duties

14 • Duties on casinos and gaming machines raised

15 • Road Fuel Tax escalator increase brought forward

16 • Tax on company cars increased

17 • Tax relief on foreign earnings abolished

18 • Tax concessions for certain professions abolished

19 • Capital gains tax imposed on certain non-residents

20 • Restriction of Capital Gains Tax relief on reinvestment

21 • Corporation tax payments on account brought forward

22 • Stamp duty increased again

23 • Certain hydrocarbon duties increased

24 • Additional diesel duties introduced

25 • Landfill Tax increased

26 • Double tax credits on certain dividends restricted

 

March 1999

27 • National Insurance Contributions earning limit raised

28 • NI Contributions for self-employed increased

29 • Tax relief of Married Couple's Allowance abolished

30 • MIRAS abolished

31 • Self-employed contractors to pay NI and income tax as if employees

32 • Company car business mileage discount limited

33 • Double escalator on tobacco duties

34 • Insurance Premium Tax increased to 5%

35 • Vocational training relief abolished

36 • Employer NI Contribution base broadened to include all benefits in kind

37 • VAT on some banking services increased

38 • Tax on reverse premiums paid to tenants by landlords introduced

39 • Duty on domestic fuel oils up

40 • Vehicle Excise Duty for lorries increased

41 • Landfill tax escalator introduced

42 • Stamp Duty rates raised again to 2.5/3.5%

 

March 2000

43 • Tobacco duties increased above inflation

44 • Stamp duty raised for 4th time, scope of duty extended

45 • Extra taxation of life assurance companies

46 • Rules on tax havens tightened up

47 • Company car taxes raised

 

2001

The Chancellor gives the exhausted nation a year off – no new stealth taxes!

 

April 2002

48 • Personal tax allowances frozen

49 • National Insurance threshold frozen

50 • NI Contributions for employers raised

51 • NI Contributions for employees raised [Class 1 up 1%]

52 • NI Contributions for self-employed raised

53 • North Sea taxation increased

54 • Duty on some alcoholic drinks raised

55 • Stamp duty thresholds frozen

56 • Tax relief on investment in film industy restricted

57 • Rules on corporate debt tightened

58 • Nil-rate threshold for inheritance tax raised by less than the rate of inflation

 

April 2003

59 • VAT imposed on electronically supplied services

60 • Domestic staff on £89/week to pay NI & income tax, employers to pay NI

61 • Betting duty increases

62 • Tax on red diesel and fuel oil increased

63 • Anti-tax haven rules tightened to cover more UK firms with Irish subsidiaries

64 • Vehicle excise duty raised

65 • Personal tax allowances frozen again

 

July, 2003

66 • £35 added to all fines and £3 added to the cost of a home insurance policy

 

September, 2003

67 • Price of petrol raised 7p per gallon (with the VAT)

 

October, 2003

68 • Up to 8 times increase in the stamp duty on leases for retail premises

69 • Airport Tax doubled

 

December, 2003

70 • 40% extra Council Tax on second homes was sneaked in while the Westminster Wonders were breaking up for their hols a whole week before Xmas.

Additional info : It has been pointed out that a number of councils gave an even bigger discount for second homes and the increase for some people can be 80%. Plus the usual 6-18% annual rise, depending on how bloated the council's operations have become.

Exemptions may be granted if the second home owner (1) has to live somewhere because of his/her employment, (2) the dwelling comes with the job, or (3) there are special threat/security reasons involved. All of which excuses apply to 10, Downing Street, the home of a certain Mr. Anthony B. Liar. (Thanks to M.K.)

 

January, 2004

71 • £60 per day fine for late submission of self-assessment income tax forms

72 • Traffic wardens to receive powers to impose fines for a whole bunch of offences to keep poor people off the roads. The offences will include parking more than 19 inches from the kerb (£100) and dithering by people who are lost over, and who don't know whether to make a turn or keep straight on

73 • A 'Victims Fund' surcharge fine on everyone who passes through the courts. £5 for speeding up to £30 for murder.

74 • Legal Aid for the middle classes abolished

 

February, 2004

75 • £40 per week charge to middle-class parents for formerly free nursery places

76 • £200 per year charge to middle-class parents for places on formerly free school buses

77 • £250 per hour charge from the fire brigade for non-fire-related call-outs, e.g. clearing up after road accidents and rescuing pussy cats from trees

 

March, 2004

78 • £550 tax rise (at standard rate) for people using a company van or people-carrier out of work time

79 • Council Tax will rise at least 7.4% next year (according to the Budget)

80 • The tax incentive for owner-operator small businesses to become companies abolished

81 • Tax on cross-border payments for goods and services between multi-divisional companies extended to transactions within the UK

82 • Tax on trusts up from 34% to 40%

83 • Duty on red diesel up 1p/litre above inflation (57% rise)

84 • Duty on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) used as fuel up 1p/litre above inflation (45% rise)

85 • Personal allowances for taxpayers under 65 frozen

 

April 2004

86 • PEPs and ISAs containing shares lose their tax break on dividends and the annual ISA allowance cut by £2,000 to £5,000

87 • The 100% tax allowance for small businesses & self-employed on new computer/advanced telephone equipment cut to 50% for 2004/5 tax year

88 • Passports – in addition to costing twice as much as the present price of £42, the new 'biometric data' passports will be valid for half as long. They will have to be renewed every 5 years instead of every 10 years, which doubles the cost yet again.

89 • £100 per year 'lighthouse tax' on small boats over 8 metres long. Commerial shipping lines think they should pay £2.6 million per year towards the annual £73 million cost of maintaining lighthouses and navigational equipment.

 

May 2004

90 • Council Tax bills to rise a further £110 in the affected areas to pay for 'Two Jags' Prescott's regional assemblies

[Bookworm]

4 days on and already you're whinging about the new government. .

a) I am not "whinging" about anything, I am expressing quite firmly my extremely legitimate concerns about the way this new government, as soon as they are in, seems to want to change the way they traditionally get challenged in such a way that they can no longer get ousted! If that trampling on democracy doesn't worry you, then that's your choice of course.

 

b) I started worrying about the new government long before day ONE of it, never mind 4, no "already" about it, "still" may be more accurate. And I can pretty much guarantee I will be doing so, me and the hell of a lot of people who did NOT vote for this, for a very very long time... and no doubt even longer if they get their way with the 55% fix they're trying to pull.

 

Thankfully, even Cameron didn't foresee the backlash this odious attempt at manipulating the Commons system would create, and I read earlier that he is already backpedalling on it. Thank goodness for small mercies if that's true.

 

As for getting us out of this mess, if you really believe that salvation lies with that shower, then you truly are deluded.

[Fred Bassett]

a) I am not "whinging" about anything, I am expressing quite firmly my extremely legitimate concerns about the way this new government, as soon as they are in, seems to want to change the way they traditionally get challenged in such a way that they can no longer get ousted! If that trampling on democracy doesn't worry you, then that's your choice of course.

 

b) I started worrying about the new government long before day ONE of it, never mind 4, no "already" about it, "still" may be more accurate. And I can pretty much guarantee I will be doing so, me and the hell of a lot of people who did NOT vote for this, for a very very long time... and no doubt even longer if they get their way with the 55% fix they're trying to pull.

 

Thankfully, even Cameron didn't foresee the backlash this odious attempt at manipulating the Commons system would create, and I read earlier that he is already backpedalling on it. Thank goodness for small mercies if that's true.

 

As for getting us out of this mess, if you really believe that salvation lies with that shower, then you truly are deluded.

 

I'm not sure who salvation lies with except that it certainly isn't with the rabble that created the mess we're in to start with.

 

But Gordon's gone so relax, things can only get better.

[woody1066]

Ther best thing to come out of all of this is that there is a very good chance that both the tories and the lib dems have shot themselves in the foot in creating this unwanted alliance and, as a result will find themselves unelectable for (and I qoute the govenor of the bank of England here) a generation.

[Fred Bassett]

Ther best thing to come out of all of this is that there is a very good chance that both the tories and the lib dems have shot themselves in the foot in creating this unwanted alliance and, as a result will find themselves unelectable for (and I qoute the govenor of the bank of England here) a generation.

 

It's quite possible that might happen. Logic says that Labour should have been wiped out at the election just gone, but they weren't because not enough people trusted the opposition parties. As to the calibre of the two geek-looking brothers standing for leadership of the labour party at the moment, it is more likely that the 'none of the above' will be the voters' first choice come the next election.

 

You just don't know though. Let's face it, some people are still stuck in a 'I hate Maggie' timewarp, so what's to say the same won't happen to Labour, especially when every tax rise will be attributable to Gordon Brown and Labour.

 

We'll find out in 5 years time, unless of course 55% of MPs can vote the current government down. Personally, to borrow a phrase, I'm intensely relaxed about the whole thing.

[locutus]

We'll find out in 5 years time, unless of course 55% of MPs can vote the current government down. Personally, to borrow a phrase, I'm intensely relaxed about the whole thing.

 

I'd be ralaxed if all of labour, all of the lib dems, all of the independants, all of the smaller parties also needed 5% of my own party to vote for a dissolution of parliament!

[angry cat]

We've had 13 years of Gordon Brown, his stealth taxes, his lies and his broken promises. 4 days on and already you're whinging about the new government. We'll all be paying for Brown's efforts for the next 20 years or so and the equality agenda is unlikely to get us out of this mess, so you'd better get used to it.

 

Labour hid ‘scorched earth’ debts worth billions - Times Online

[angry cat]

:

Maude, who has been given the task of reducing Whitehall waste, insisted that ministers were not scaremongering to paint their predecessors in a negative light. He said there was widespread concern that Labour had become particularly spendthrift in the run-up to the election campaign.

 

“We put the last government on notice that contracts should not be signed without specific ministerial direction,” he said. “We are now seeking to find out what has been committed in the last few months.”

[angry cat]

:

 

...The “black holes” that ministers have already unearthed include:

 

- A series of defence contracts signed shortly before the election, including a £13 billion tanker aircraft programme whose cost has “astonished and baffled” ministers.

 

- £420m of school building contracts, many targeting Labour marginals, signed off by Ed Balls, the former schools secretary, weeks before the general election was called."

 

Absolutely Outrageous!!!

[Fred Bassett]

Well that should come as no surprise to anyone, especially this bit: £420m of school building contracts, many targeting Labour marginals, signed off by Ed Balls, the former schools secretary, weeks before the general election was called.

 

Here in Dorset, the funding per pupil is the lowest in the country, yet still the schools are in about the top third according to the league tables (I'll bet somebody will be on here moaning about league tables next, but they are the only thing parents can use to compare). It does show that throwing money at problems isn't always the answer though which is just as well because areas like Dorset were deliberately neglected by Labour because down here we don't vote for them. The people of Weymouth had a mad moment at the last election but this time around common sense and normality has been restored.

Edited May 16, 2010 by Fred Bassett

[angry cat]

Well that should come as no surprise to anyone, especially this bit: £420m of school building contracts, many targeting Labour marginals, signed off by Ed Balls, the former schools secretary, weeks before the general election was called.

 

Here in Dorset, the funding per pupil is the lowest in the country, yet still the schools are in about the top third according to the league tables (I'll bet somebody will be on here moaning about league tables next, but they are the only thing parents can use to compare). It does show that throwing money at problems isn't always the answer though which is just as well because areas like Dorset were deliberately neglected by Labour because down here we don't vote for them. The people of Weymouth had a mad moment at the last election but this time around common sense and normality has been restored.

 

An old article but relevant!

Ed Balls accused of wasting £1bn on red tape | Education | guardian.co.uk

[angry cat]

Ed Balls forced to drop key reforms | Education | guardian.co.uk

[determindator]

I say! Home Sec's new aide was the star of Jilly Cooper style bodice ripper | Mail Online

 

Page 3 Mail on Sunday today, made me grin!