Blah Blah

lol yeah and you get the feeling that's not all there is. The problem is that never again can he claim we are all in it together, and that he is for hard working families and all the other BS he comes out with. Of course he's been asked about this in the past, esp in relations to that viscount who's a family relative. And then there's this little gem from 2013 :D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qjBec3fpBI

Aren't rising unit rents somewhat to blame as well for overpiced 'boutiques'?

Thise stats would not suprise me at all Parkdrive if true. It's an interesting discussion about legality and morality but no-one has yet mentioned fairness. A min wage PAYE worker (or any PAYE worker for that matter) has no say in how much tax they pay. And this is perhaps what is really wrong with the tax system, in that we catagorise workers and businesses in such a way that the more you earn, the more you can do to legally avoid paying tax. When looking at offshore havens, we could be literally talking about at least ?20 trillion, but don't really know for sure because of the secrecy involved. This amounts to 10-15% of global wealth - so the amounts lost in tax are huge. I don't know how much is lost in tax not paid on cash payments, and I know a lot of freelancers who struggle to make ends meet too, but I doubt it amounts to anything like ?20 trillion. Most workers are still paid PAYE though, so most workers are still paying their tax whilst the wealthy and corporations aren't.

That's why the only way to deal with it Seabag, is to not make it possible in the first place.

The media response has been interesting to say the least. There is definitely a sense of closing ranks in some quarters. I saw Toby Young even trying to say it was really a non issue on BBC news - incredible! And of course, this firm is just one of many accross the world doing the same thing. Trying to even imagine how much tax has not been paid from all of that wealth is mind boggling. Even the Brinks Mat bullion ended up there! I do think it's just part of a wider problem around finance and secrecy. Loretta Napoleoni, in her book 'Terror Inc' talks about this and how much money for both rogue governments and terrorist organisations sits in Swiss banks accounts for example. It's going to take a global solution and a massive reform of bankng and accounting practise to wipe all of this corruption out. I think the UK has 13 territories that operate as tax havens, so a massive part of the industry. we'd have to impose direct rule to shut them down, but don't because there are other places the money can go. It's all rather depressing.

I don't think anyone is at all suprised to see any of this or those names on the lists. The question is what do we do about it when so many 'masters of the universe' are involved, including those in top level politics. Even if Cameron doesn't beneift from it now, his privileged upbringing certainly did. Does he have any defense when HMRC go after ordianry people with a vengence, and 'we are all in it together' sounds more hypocritical than it ever has.

And libraries offer free internet and other services besides the loan of books. For the unemployed and poor with children, libraries are a valuable resource. How much do we put on the cost of every child having an equal stab at literacy for example, of which early access to books and language plays a huge part. Small local libraries tend to be used by the young and the old. And if you take a look at any of the large libraries offering things like study space, they are always oversubscribed. These things can not be measured in terms of financial profit. They are a public service central to both culture and learning. Just on the point of there being two libraries within walking distance of each other, well Lambeth are closing both - so that's not really an argument is it. If one were being closed and the other kept open that would be different. Lambeth are doing to the Library system the same thing that has happened with other sectors, by trying to centralise the service into larger venues. But they are completely missing the point of libraries.

I'm an 'IN' vote.

I also think that what is behind this is a money raising exercise. There can be no other explanation for replacing a public service with a commercial enterprise. There is no interest whatsoever from the council in the keeping libraries open. It's the same with the Cressingham and Central Hill proposals - no interest in community led alternative porposals over profitable sell offs to the highest bidder. A shelf of books within a gym is NOT a library, neighbourhood or otherwise, and Lambeth are taking people for fools if they think no-one sees past the stupid use of words to try and suggest otherwise.

The behaviour of some councillors has been childish and disgraceful. This is something to take up with their CLPs - especially given that they are paid around ?15k a year to serve - more if they hold cabinet or special positions. If they are going to make unpopular decisions, they should stand and defend those positions.

Bic Basher Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Lambeth Labour is apparently being run by a right-wing faction of the party called 'Progress' > who have voted through these extensive cuts to library services. That might also explain why they are trying to demolish Cressingham Gardens and Central Hill estates too instead of considering alternate proposals for refurbishment. Equally baffling is why in the leadership election, Camberwell and Peckham CLP voted to support Liz Kendall - the candidate that I would say least represented the social makeup of those wards. There does seem to be a disconnect between some local Labour CLPs and the people they represent.

I agree with Burbage. If Lambeth council were closing one to keep another open, I think we could accept cuts as part of the reasoning. But what is happening is turning it into a gym with a side room labelled as a 'neighbourhood library'. I'm guessing the proceeds from the gym will fund the side room - except I've heard it will be staffed by volunteers, so not even a paid librarian. Lambeth council don't use the word 'gym' though. They use the words 'healthy living centre'. It's not a huge building. It's clearly the imposition of a commercial interest in place of a public service.

You have my support. Can't be there due to work but totally disgusted that a Labour council are doing this.

What is the point of AV, firewalls, malware defenders etc if they don't stop these things? I had something get through that turned windows updater into a massive CPU leak and ended up having to completely reinstall my laptop.

The government might backtrack on this though. Don't think even they want Teachers striking as well as junior doctors.

We got back from an Easter break to have completely missed the storm but our back garden looks like the gnomes all had a rave before collapsing in drunken heaps. No trees down though thankfully.

There is a school that still teaches side saddle for 'ladies'. I grew up with horses but I can't recall ever seeing anyone compete riding so. As a mount it's as steady as riding cross saddle but I can't see it being more comfortable. A rider needs to be able rise and I would imagine side saddle being much harder work, especially at a trot. My wife beats me every time being a nordic giant Loz. She was born wearing skis I think and gets right down into a fetal position when hurtling down the piste. As for me, my 6 ft plus doesn't do crounching and wind resistance alone keeps me in my place. I'm not a great skier - a bit of a scaredy cat really :D

Female downhill skiers tend to be very tall though. I don't know the physics of it all but all things being equal there has to be more to it, otherwise every skier would achieve the same speed. Om half pipe etc, I wonder if it's just a case of less girls snowboarding. How many girls skateboard for example?

The block and tackle takes all the strain in sailing and modern racing yachts use winches and rachetts because sails have to be trimmed quickly. And women and men compete against each other in many sailing events. Equestrian is another one. Women don't seem to have any less of a problem sending a horse over huge fences than men do they.

I think Labours problems with the left are a certain type of misguided activist who still dreams of a truly socialist revolution that is never going to happen. And those people would rather see Labour lose elections than seek to truly represent everyone. To be honest, the Tories are now so far to the right in economic thinking that Labour don't need to leave the centre ground on the economy anyway.

So what about sports like curling? Or skiing? Or figure skating? Or sailing? There are plenty of sports that have no discernable difference between men and women. And actually, very few sporting events are televised anyway, even at the top level. Most sport needs massive sponsorship to even exist.

We made some Mary Berry hot cross buns with the kids last weekend and the ingredients were very cheap, so it's hard to see why ?1.50 a bun would be justified, even with the recent rent hikes on retail space in ED.

Sometimes though, the unelectable leaders are needed to get a party to the leader who is electable. It's almost a necessry form of metamorphosis after a long time in power. The Tories went through the same merry-go-round after the demise of Thatcher.

If the Tories ditch Osborne, they may find a replacement that actually knows what they are doing.

Not sure I agree with that. Men setting rules that exclude women from a whole range of activities is as clear as it gets. History is full of examples.