Blah Blah

I don't hate Tories Dave. I just hate policies that penalise the poorest and most vulnerable. It's a different thing. But it is daft to pretend to know what 76.5% of the electorate think, and to assume how far within that hatred of the Tories goes. You have no way of knowing if it is a minority of that or not.

DaveR Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I think many people who hate the Tories don't > realise that they are in a minority. Would that be the 76.5% of the electorate who didn't vote for them then 😁 Seems a daft thing to say Dave.

LondonMix Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I wasn't being sarcastic. I'm not sure why you > think I was. > > You saying there was no growth, when there was > clearly growth is just factually incorrect. > Growth in 2014 was 2.9% and in 2015 was 2.2%. > That compares favourably to the global average and > is high relative to other developed countries. > > My view that the record pre-Brexit wasn't bad is > my view and I have clearly stated that I think the > referendum was a mistake and will ultimately be > Cameron's legacy. What exactly is your problem > with me talking about his record pre and post > Brexit? > > If you can't take people disagreeing with you > without becoming petulant I'm not sure what you > enjoy about debating issues on the forum... And now you resort to accusation of petulance. I think it's you unable to allow other perspectives here. By the way I never mentioned growth. I referred to investment being at an all time low. I prefer facts that relate to production, not figures that relate to the value of things ( things like rising house prices) as growth figures do.

LondonMix Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Making cuts isn't easy politically or practically. > Also, the economy has grown-- actually up until > Brexit the economy with the cuts was the fastest > growing in Europe and unemployment was also low > which was finally starting to feed through to real > wages. Again, I have my criticisms of Cameron and > Osborne (some scathing) but they are balanced by > at least being able to acknowledge the facts of > what they have done. 'Up until Brexit' (which they have led us to btw) - and then let's try comparing the UK to any number of nations instead of equally stagnant EU countries. I'll spare you the same sarcasm directed at me by your selection of 'facts'.

Making cuts is easy LM. Any accountant can do that. The real measure of achievement is growth, investment, improved social mobility, improved living standards. Osborne achieved not a bit of any of that. He treated the nations economy like that of a household, when the two are not the same. He is one of the most unimaginative chancellors of all time.

Cameron and Osborne protected those that vote for them, such as the over 65s, and ringfenced so many areas (to get votes) that welfare was only one of three areas open to them for cuts. At the same time, investment and growth have fallen to all time lows, (and quantative easing is no replacement for public investment). Osborne achieved practically nothing in 6 years of government. And yes, our welfare state, NHS etc were born into an era of higher income tax, and not just by one or two pence either. It seems ridiculous that income tax remains some holy grail that can not be touched.

That is one of many ironic acts of Cameron. Creating tons of peers while seeking to cut the number of MPs - to erm cut costs. Would have nothing to do with increasing the power of the Tories in either house then? Agree with all the comments above.

Cameron was the end product of a party in opposition for a long time. They'd tried everything else. He was without doubt politically naive and it got him in the end. But he won't suffer in the way everyone else does if they quit their job. It was on his watch that welfare reform means that leaving a job denies benefits for six months, irregardless for the reasons for quitting. If only we could all leave our jobs when we don't like the new boss. I had no respect for him as PM and I have even less for him now. There is nothing 'nice' about Cameron. Self serving, arrogant, and as ruthless as they come.

She is going to have problems getting anything through the Lords that wasn't in the election manifesto. The Lords can only hold up a manifesto pledge for a year, but everything else, they can regect outright, if they wanted to. Backbenchers too, will never rebel against a manifesto pledge, but they may do so for anythng else and that majority is so slim. Worth bearing in mind too that we only know about these plans because of a sharp eyed photographer - otherwise we'd still be none the wiser. Party conference should be interesting!

I had no idea. Always assumed it was a free call because it is to the Police.

Try cola instead of beer. They like sugar too.

Saw one of their guys without lights nearly get hit by a car tonight as he cut accross the road without looking. Again dark clothing. A high vis vest with their logo on is all it would take to vastly improve the visibility of their riders. The size of the box etc, isn't really a problem. I cycle with pannier bags crammed full of stuff and the average pannier can take up to 25kg of weight anyway. You don't notice the weight when cycling. But some reflective strips on those pannier boxes would again be helpful. We also have to remember that the diliveroo business model isn't a very good one for the riders. They are paid per drop, not per hour, and some riders struggle to make the equivalent of min wage when business is quiet. So it is understandable why on busier nights they cut every second they can getting from A-B. It's why motorcycle couriers are also prone to more accidents. Commission based pay and wheels are never a good idea.

The problem is that Corbyn seems to have cast some magical spell on people who don't think polling, or election results or performance at PMQs matters. Who knows how they think Labour will win the next election. That's what irritates me most. The naval gazing and ignorant blind faith, and there's no reasoning with them. Like you Rendel, I had great hope for Corbyn, and voted for him. But I also didn't know very much about him and can now see what a disaster he is for the party. But as you say, his ego is massive, and he is living in the past.

Not a mention of the EU or G7 from Corbyn at PMQs today. What planet is he on? Even on the topic of housing, he failed to mention the upcoming homelessness resolution debate. He seems to deliberately sidestep anything that is topical and it is just far too easy for May. And Labour look likely to be stuck with him.

If X = X, what is the value of X? This is the nonsense we are now being presented with. Eventually May has to tell us exactly what X is. She can only stall for so long.

Ask him if he has now started using that offshore account he set up a couple of years ago?

May has no choice but to spin the brexit means brexit line. Two thirds of conservative voters voted for it. She also has a party full of eurosceptics.

But that's because most people, no matter where they come from around the globe, vote out of self interest.

I completely agree Joe. May is quite the strategist here. And yes, we haven't even got the beginnings of a plan, because as you say, the three amigos can't agree amongst themselves.

And to follow that, here is last years VFM self-assessment from Wandle. http://www.wandle.com/media/file-browser/Wandle%20Value%20for%20Money%20self%20assessment%202014-15.pdf It contains the projections that the HCA think to be optimistic in their report.

It's also why May has appointed three fervent Brexiters to now negotiate the deal they promised they could deliver.

There are 650 MPs uncleglen. They are being reduced to 600 with coming bondary changes. We need that many to ensure every region of the country is represented in parliament.

The recent injection of another ?70bn quantative easing into the markets tells you all you need to know about the pandora's box this has unleashed. Personally can't see us leaving. We'll end up with a Norway type deal to protect those exports that are vital to jobs and our now tanking economy. So we'll still pay into the EU and have no say in the directives we have to keep, like free movement of people. Those who voted for Brexit will feel cheated but no-one will really be happy and Cameron will go down in history as possibly the most foolish PM we've ever had. I too can't see an election before boundary changes in 2018. If Labour tank in those local elections, I think May will seize that as her opportunity to call an election, to take advantage of both the boundary changes and Labour's position. She will do everything possible to stave off a recession in the meantime, so expect to see borrowing for capital investment from central government, and more quantitative easing, while she scraps the human rights act that is and whatever other telling signs of the right wing style of government that awaits. Labour and Corbyn have 18 months max to get their act together. I'm not hopeful.

Very sad to hear of your loss. Sounds like he was a real character and will be missed by many x

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/540318/Wandle_Housing_Association_RJ.pdf Worth a look. The HCA references the cost of rebuilding as something that may give Wandle cause for concern when managing their fiscal viability over the coming years.